In this chapter of the tarot course we will see The Tower and its meanings. The hidden details for its interpretation in the tarot, its correspondence with numerology, the elements and kabbalistics.
What does the Tower card mean in the Tarot? What does the Tower card mean in love, work, money or health? What is its spiritual meaning and what does it reveal to us? What does the upside down or reversed Tower card mean?
The Tower in the tarot
The Tower is the major arcane numbered 16. The Tower is another card that causes impact when it is revealed in a spread, and certainly its meaning is decisive.
The Tower when it comes out vertically indicates, among many other things, disasters as something positive, inner turmoil, sudden change, revelations.
When The Tower comes out in reverse it indicates avoidance of risk-taking, fear of disaster, fear of change.
Correspondences of the card
- Kabbalistics associates this card with the planet Mars, with the letter Hain and with the number 70.
- Esoterically it is associated with the astrological sign of Capricorn, the element Earth and the season of autumn.
- In numerology it represents the number 16: 1 (God) + 6 (double trinity) = a happy number for some and for others it is nefarious. It can also be associated with the number 7, (16 = 1 + 6 = 7).
Graphic description of the card
The Tower in your figure presents a tall building, built on top of a very steep mountain. Flames shoot out of the windows of the building and a gigantic lightning bolt destroys the golden dome of the building.
People jump from the tower in despair, wanting to escape from the destruction and chaos that has been unleashed.
The tower signifies darkness and destruction on a physical scale, as opposed to a spiritual scale, and the tower itself represents ambitions built on false premises.
The lightning breaks existing forms in order to make room for new forms. It represents a sudden momentary vision of truth, a flash of inspiration that breaks down the structures of ignorance and false reasoning.
The lightning falls towards the earth representing the appearance of the spiritual. The falling people correspond to the fall of the chained prisoners in the Devil card.
They fall headlong, due to the sudden influx of spiritual consciousness represented by the lightning, totally upsetting all our old ideas about the relationships between the subconscious and the self-consciousness.
The flames are actually the Hebrew yods or Iods. There are 22 flames, representing the 22 Major Arcana. The gray clouds are the clouds of misfortune, which rain scatters all over the world indiscriminately.
What does the Tower mean in the Tarot?
The Tower and its meaning to the right, General meaning: Certainly The Tower is a fearsome card. The figure alone offers us a scenario of much change and also of destruction. But this destruction can clearly be positive.
The card represents disasters as positive, inner turmoil, sudden change, revelations. In its most negative phase it can be destruction, even death if other very specific cards accompany it.
It is a card of problems and deep and vital rethinking, because it is very possible that you are in a situation that no longer resists and, for your own good, must change at any cost.
You can’t do it anymore, so the Tower forces us to reflect seriously, discard what is no longer useful and take only what is going to be useful for our existence.
The tower is an experience with a tremendous impact, often unexpected and sudden, something that shakes our life in a fierce way. In extreme cases it can be a divorce, the loss of a job and financial ruin, the death of a loved one.
It is always something drastic, even if it is only an inner shock, a radical change of life, one of those rethinking that make us change the whole axis of our life.
The positive and constructive part of the tower is that after this experience, you will build a new life, a new you. The events have taken you out of your comfort zone and have now changed you, leaving you with a profound teaching that sooner or later will bring benefit to your life.
This card can also indicate an enclosure of yourself, you have walled yourself in with strong constructions and do not allow anything to move you.
This is a defensive attitude to avoid any pain, but above all, it is the disguise that to a greater or lesser extent we all adopt to adjust to life in society, to cope with social conventions.
It is that certain falsehood that we can use to avoid being out of step with the rest, to avoid offending, such as telling your boss’s wife that her dress fits her very well when in reality you think she is a circus tent.
These walls can also hide certain attitudes or behaviors, aggressiveness or selfishness, issues related to sexuality that you do not want to show at all. Well, you have to be attentive to what you have hidden because things can come to light when this card appears, leaving you exposed. This, a priori negative, will be positive in the long run.
Finally, the Tower card can point to your ego. The ego in its negative side, may be in a position where you feel somehow superior to others, either intellectually, culturally, socially, economically, therefore.
You must be very careful not to be controlled by this false attachment to yourself, understanding that each person is unique, full of nuances and that everyone can always teach you something that you do not know.
If this card shows a final result, it will not be positive, you will not achieve what you desire. If this card appears defining a person, it will tell us that he/she is in a process of great confusion and instability.
His transformation is in full course, making all kinds of questions and questions, both personal and life itself.
If we ask about a particular situation and we get this Tower card, it will indicate that the situation is angry, there is anger due to the great instability and confusion.
What does the Tower card mean in love?
Regarding love, it is a card that usually indicates endings, breakups, separations and divorces, although not exclusively. Other cards in the reading will affirm or deny this, but it is a negative card for love.
Even if there is no separation, it is a time of many doubts, questionings and serious approaches, both your own and your partner’s towards you.
The relationship itself is under scrutiny, and from these analyses there are only two possible paths: either a breakup occurs or the period of questioning ends up strengthening you to lead a much better love life.
There is a great possibility of interference of third parties in the couple, mainly the family, which will interfere to complicate things even more.
What does the Tower Card mean at work?
As for work: It is time for extreme caution in employment or activity, do not make mistakes, do the maximum, do not question authorities or enter into conflicts with colleagues or subordinates.
It is a card that usually indicates a change of job, either by rethinking about life, how you want to live and what you want to do, or for external reasons, such as being fired abruptly.
This will be indicated by the other cards in the reading. However, work is not exempt from this tremendous shake-up caused by the Rook.
What does the Rook card mean for money and finances?
This is not a time for risky investments, gambling, or thinking that the lottery will save you. You should take care of your savings to the maximum until better times come, which will certainly come.
If you were thinking of becoming a partner, open a new business, open another branch, this card asks you to think carefully, it could be a mistake at this time. If you owe money, do everything possible to pay off your debt and likewise, if it is owed to you, try to collect it.
What does the Tower Card mean in health?
In health, you should be very careful of stress and nerves at this time, which can become critical. You may literally be on the verge of a nervous breakdown if you don’t try to focus and calm down.
Try all kinds of relaxation therapies, yoga, readings and meditations to help you find a balance to cope with this time of turmoil.
What does The Tower mean spiritually?
Spirituality: This is a time to maintain a positive attitude as much as possible. New interpretations and insights can come to you in the blink of an eye.
Remember and keep in mind at all times that everything in this life is a cycle, inevitable as well, of light and dark, of good and bad things, and that everything comes, everything passes, everything changes and everything ends.
What does the Tower card upside down or reversed mean?
The Tower when it appears reversed, General meaning: The explanation of The Rook reversed is quite similar to its upside-down version, though rather less drastic. Profound changes are also foreshadowed here, they will happen, but it is a matter of you delaying those changes.
The fear and sometimes the panic that they provoke in you make you not want to see the reality. You delude and comfort yourself, trying to keep the inevitable change as far away as possible.
You may sense that change will be positive, perhaps necessary for you, but you are too afraid to let it happen. You should encourage yourself to take those big steps now.
In another aspect, this card indicates that this change will be less shocking or drastic because you are somehow forewarned, you see it coming or you sense it, so when it happens, you will be repaired and the impact of the surprise will be much less, which does not happen with the card in upright position.
What does the inverted Tower card mean in love?
In love it can also signal breakups and convulsive times, but it is much less serious in this inverted position. Things are not so violent nor the rethinking so extreme. Things can still be improved if you make an effort at communication and dialogue.
This is not the best time to try anything new or start a new romance as you are in a phase of much criticism and questioning. If you are in the process of divorce, get advice on legal matters, get informed so as not to suffer negative consequences.
What does the inverted Tower card mean at work?
At work indicates minor complications or less impact than in its upright version, but the questions remain. You may go through a period of depression or anger because of your work.
Things do not go as you want, you do not do what you like, you do not earn what you expected. All these questions will make it difficult for you. There is not so much risk of losing your job, but rather you can leave it yourself, based on your thoughts.
Remember what the chart tells us about the ego, it is likely to be a time of little understanding with people at work. Don’t take things strictly personally. People often speak without foundation.
What does the Inverted Tower card mean for money and finances?
For money and finances, this card tells us that you may have unforeseen and high expenses because of family or children, perhaps necessary home repairs, the car that breaks down and those things that alter our economy.
It also goes on to point out that it is not time for investments or new ventures for the time being. Save, tightly control expenses, plan. It is possible that you are not very comfortable with the money you receive and that you are afraid of losing it, of situations of poverty.
You must calm down. It is a hectic time of questioning of all kinds. The clouds will dissipate and you will see the sunlight again.
What does the card of the inverted Tower mean in health?
As far as health is concerned, it is a little more reassuring in the inverted position. However, as you go through a period of serious turmoil, it is necessary that you stay in control, paying attention and care in what you do. Being distracted can lead to all kinds of accidents.
What does the card of The Tower reversed mean spiritually?
Spirituality: As with the vertical sense, the Tower reversed tells us that this is a time to keep a positive attitude as much as possible, regardless of what is happening around you, count your blessings, and don’t take things personally as they are not.
