Tarot Card The Tower: Meaning and Interpretation

The Major Arcana card The Tower in the deck is numbered 16 and is considered one of the most grim and alarming cards in the deck.

Archetype of the Tower Card

The "Tower" card relates to notions of destruction, crisis, and unexpected events. It refers to the Old Testament story of the Tower of Babel. People decided to build a tower so high that it would reach the heavens and make them equal to God. But God noticed their efforts and made it so that all the nations involved in the construction began to speak different languages and couldn't understand each other.

The Tower refers to the legend of the Tower of Babel

This is a direct hint at the consequences of prioritizing material, "earthly" values over spiritual ones. You can hide behind them from the outside world, but it is an illusion that can be fatal. The most reliable things can break down and cause us pain, but in this pain, we can find the strength to grow.

Tarot readers interpreting this card may also see it as a symbol of human pride leading to tragic consequences. The Tower can point to situations where the chance to change something was missed, becoming the root of the problem.

Overall, the archetype of the "Tower" card is destruction, but it can also be interpreted as a sign that you need to change your life before it's too late.

Symbolism of the Tower Card

The card depicts a tall tower struck by lightning, causing its destruction. A crown falls from the top of the tower. People falling from the tower are overcome with fear and despair.

The tower itself symbolizes human pride. The crown, which recently adorned it, signifies a denial of higher authority and the perceived importance and significance of the building.

The lightning striking the tower represents higher will or unexpected circumstances that no one can prevent.

The two falling people are sometimes interpreted as the Hierophant and the Emperor—representatives of human authority, embodying power and material wealth. They can also point to situations where a person feels powerless and loses control over their life. They may also symbolize danger or uncertainty related to crisis and destruction.

The dark background of the card indicates that the warning of this arcana should not be ignored.

Overall, the Tower card in the Rider-Waite deck represents a strong image of destruction, crisis, and upheaval. This card may indicate the loss of the usual order, the downfall of social and material statuses, and the necessity of changes to avoid tragedy. At the same time, the Tower card offers the opportunity to recognize mistakes in time and make necessary changes for future well-being.

Key Meaning of the Tower Card

The key meaning of the major arcana "The Tower" symbolizes destruction and crisis. This card warns of significant changes that will likely be traumatic or destructive. It can indicate major life changes (losing a job, divorce, the death of a loved one) or more global events: natural disasters, wars, terrorist attacks.

Since one of the key meanings of the card is "unexpectedness," The Tower warns that the events it predicts may occur when a person is at the peak of success and least expects trouble. They will not be able to influence the situation after the fact – circumstances will be stronger.

General Meaning of the Tower Card in Upright Position

When the "Tower" card appears upright in a reading, it can indicate:

Crisis, trouble: The "Tower" card warns of significant changes, usually negative. A person may experience a strong shock that forces them to change their outlook on life and reassess their priorities.
Unexpected events and loss of control: A crisis can happen at any moment. The person may feel unable to influence what is happening and sense a loss of control over their life.
Global changes affecting not just an individual, but humanity as a whole.
Loss of money, status, and privileges: The "Tower" card might indicate the loss of social and material status due to unavoidable circumstances or short-sighted behavior.
Need for change: The card can signal the need for changes that should be made before the event occurs.

The destruction that the Tower card speaks of must simply be accepted

Overall, the "Tower" card in an upright position symbolizes destruction that must be accepted and endured, after which one can build a new life on its ruins. It can also indicate the need for changes that may lead to a better future. The "Tower" card reminds us that sometimes we need to go through difficult times to realize our mistakes and start a new chapter in life.

General Meaning of the Tower Card in a Reversed Position

When the "Tower" card appears in a reversed position in a tarot spread, it may indicate the following aspects:

Averting a crisis: Trouble is likely on the horizon, but there is still a chance to avoid it. However, there is little one can do – it might just pass by.
Warning of dangers: The "Tower" card in a reversed position can also serve as a warning about potential dangers. This suggests the need to stay vigilant and take measures to prevent unwanted events.
Need to accept changes: The reversed "Tower" card may also indicate the necessity to accept negative changes that life may bring.

The reversed Tower reminds us to stay alert and control the situation to prevent potential problems.

The inverted Tower gives a chance that the crisis can be avoided

The Meaning of the Tower Card in Love in the Upright Position

When the "Tower" card appears upright in a love spread, it can indicate the following aspects:

End of a relationship: The "Tower" card might signify a possible end to a relationship or a major upheaval that could lead to a breakup.
Changes in the relationship: The card can also symbolize unexpected changes that the couple may not withstand. There might be a sudden reevaluation of feelings.
Purification and restart: It could symbolize the destruction of old relationships and the opportunity to start a new phase in life based on new values and expectations. Perhaps the release from an unsuitable partner.
Forced separation, fraught with a psychological crisis.

Overall, in a love reading, the Tower does not bode well. It can be interpreted as a warning of possible changes that may destroy the couple or necessitate changes to avoid a breakup. However, the "Tower" card can also indicate a new phase in life.

The Tower does not bode well in a relationship

The Meaning of the Reversed Tower Card in Love

When the Tower card appears reversed in a tarot spread about love, it can indicate the following aspects:

A warning about dangers in the relationship, the need to stay alert and take measures to prevent undesirable events.
Stagnation. The relationship brings suffering, but a breakup doesn't seem possible in the near future.
New opportunities: In the reversed position, the Tower card can also point to new opportunities in the relationship that were previously unavailable. This may be related to changing circumstances or new opportunities for the couple.
Troubles averted: A crisis in the relationship will miraculously resolve.

Overall, the reversed Tower card in a love reading can be interpreted as a warning about dangers but can also indicate the avoidance of a crisis or successful crisis management. It can also symbolize the chance to start a new phase in life and build relationships on new foundations or the emergence of new opportunities in a relationship.

An inverted Tower often speaks about the possibility of crisis management

The Tower as the Card of the Day

When "The Tower" card appears in a "Card of the Day" reading, its meaning can be as follows:

Upright: In the upright position, "The Tower" card may indicate an unexpected event or upheaval that will happen today. This could be related to a loss of control or stability in a situation.
Reversed: In the reversed position, "The Tower" card may serve as a warning about dangers that may arise in the near future, suggesting the need to stay vigilant and take measures to prevent unwanted events.

In both cases, "The Tower" card may act as a warning about possible changes or unexpected events that could affect a person throughout the day. It may also indicate the need to stay alert and take steps to prevent a crisis.

What the Tower Card Warns About

The Tower card can warn of a crisis, loss of control, or unexpected changes. Depending on the context of the question, the card may offer the following advice:

Be prepared for changes: If the Tower card warns of possible changes, stay ready and don't panic. Accept events as they are and find ways to adapt to the new reality.
Embrace the shock as an opportunity for growth and development. Instead of feeling down, use these events as a chance to learn about yourself and your reactions to stress.
Don't let the crisis control you. Losing control over events can lead to fear or panic. Stay calm, think about your actions, and make decisions based on logic.
Start anew. The destruction of past relationships or breaking old behavior patterns can be painful but can offer hope for a fresh start. The card's advice may be to accept this as a chance to begin a new phase of life based on new principles.

Anita Martin astrologer