Shock. Chaos. Catastrophe. Devastation: These are some words that spring to mind upon pulling the formidable Tower card of the Tarot.
The Tower Tarot card is not for the faint-hearted. It is one of those cards that is always guaranteed to have a powerful impact, no matter what reading it turns up in.
It comes straight after the Devil card and just before the Star card, making it a card representative of a powerful transition. It’s that wake-up call, that earth-shattering news you receive out of the blue. The Tower card is very much a “bolt-out-of-the-blue” card designed to shake up your world.
When the Tower appears, you know something big is coming.
But we shouldn’t think to ourselves that the Tower means bad news. There is no such thing as a good card and a bad card. Some may have more negative meanings associated with them (as can arguably be said about the Tower), but every card has its good and bad sides.
One thing is for certain, though: whether negative or positive, the essence of the Tower remains the same. Shock and upheaval. Something is about to come crashing down to build the way for something better.
As a Major Arcana card, this is not usually something in the power of the individual but something out of their control. Very often, the Universe will throw situations at us to jolt us out of our comfort zone – this is what the Tower is.
Related article: Each Major Arcana Card Explained
What Does the Tower Card Mean?
The Tower can take on different meanings depending on the context it is being read. Its main meanings are:
- Experiencing upheaval
- Undergoing crisis
- Emotional outbursts
- Anger eruptions
- Experiencing humility
- Being exposed to the truth
- Revelation
- Seeing things for what they truly are
- Sudden shock
What Does the Tower Card Mean in Love & Relationships?
If you get the Tower Tarot card in a relationship reading, it means that something in your relationship is going through a dramatic change. Often, there has been a shocking revelation.
This is the card that appears if you suddenly find out a spouse has been unfaithful. Or if your partner presents you with news you were not expecting. Or if you find out your partner is leaving you and you had no idea they were thinking in this way.
This is the card that appears when you have a sudden realization about your relationship—that it may be best to walk away or that something has to change. You could realize that you no longer feel the way you used to about your partner.
It is best to look to surrounding cards to determine exactly what the Tower means.
It is important to remember that when the Tower appears in a relationship reading, it is to break something down in order for something better to build. This is why the Star card immediately follows the Tower. The Star is about hope, faith, and recognizing that when one door closes, a new—better—door opens.
The Tower in a relationship reading can also represent the climax of a sexual relationship, a mind-blowing orgasm. If you get cards such as the Ace of Wands or Knight of Wands in the mix, the card may take on a sexual meaning.
What Does the Tower Mean in a Career Reading?
In a career reading, the Tower can mean sudden news relating to your career—it could range from anything, from getting fired to suddenly being promoted.
The Tower can mean an “A-ha!” moment you have. You might realize that the career path you are on is not the one for you, and you may change direction.
No matter what the Tower relates to in your career, it will always be something relating to upheaval which will change everything for you. Sometimes, this could simply be the way you feel about your career. The change could be internal or external.
Related article: Let Tarot Help You Make Your Next Big Career Change
What About the Tower as an Obstacle?
The Tower is very much a card that represents things that are not in our control, so as an obstacle, it could mean a sudden shakeup that you are powerless to stop.
Obstacles pave the way for solutions, so if you cannot fight the tide, then the advice would be to go with the flow and trust that things will work out.
The Tower card is one that teaches us how catastrophic and sudden things can be, but it also reminds us to have faith in the Universe and to trust in ourselves.
Remember, the Star follows the Tower.
What About the Tower in Reverse?
As a reversed card, the Tower is not as powerful or impactful as it is when it is upright, but it still represents significant change.
Reversed, the Tower often represents a change you are going through internally, as opposed to external changes that are not in your power to control.
This card reversed can also mean that big changes are on the horizon, and you may be in the process of preparing for them. Reversed, this card can serve as a warning that big changes are on the way.
How to Make the Tower Work for You
To make the Tower card work for you, try the following:
1. Meditation
Meditating with the card can help you understand that card on a deeper level.
To start, dim the lights, put some relaxing music on, and look at the imagery.
Consider: What thoughts come to mind? How does it make you feel?
2. Use the Tower on Your Altar
Place the Tower card on your Tarot altar.
Placing the card on your altar can help its energy seep throughout the atmosphere and provide you with a reminder of the Tower and its meaning—that when sudden upheaval happens in our lives, it’s time for change!
3. Journaling
Write down five keywords that you associate with the Tower. Think about how these keywords impact your life right now.
Consider: What is the deeper meaning behind them?
Not sure how to use a Tarot journal? Read: How to Keep a Tarot Journal
Let the Tower Guide You
The Tower can be a frightening card for some because it represents sudden and sometimes unpleasant change that can turn our world upside down.
But with the Tower, it’s important to remember that when we go through catastrophe and crisis, it is to pave the way for something better in our lives.
If the Tower’s energy is playing a role in our lives at this time, it means we are moving onto a new level in our spiritual journey. In the long term, this is a good thing. It’s just that to get to the good, sometimes we have to go through a bit of bad first!
So don’t despair when the Tower appears. Nothing good or great ever came easy.
Read this next: You Pulled the Star Tarot Card – Now What?