RELEASE
DOWNFALL
REVELATION
The Tower is an unsettling card. Fire, lightning, falling on jagged rocks – looks like trouble! Card 16 will not be welcomed by those who dislike change. It represents a sudden, dramatic upheaval or reversal in fortune. Usually, change is gradual, giving us time to adapt, but sometimes it is quick and explosive. This is the action of the Tower.
In films, the hero sometimes slaps someone who is groggy or babbling. Having tried everything else, he finally resorts to a sharp sting to snap him out of it. Crises are life’s way of telling you to wake up.
Something’s wrong, and you’re not responding. Are you too full of pride? Expect a blow to your ego. Are you holding back your anger? Expect the dam to burst. Are you stuck in a rut? Expect a surprise.
How you respond to the Tower’s change makes all the difference in how uncomfortable the experience will be. Recognize that the disruption occurred because it was needed. Perhaps embracing the change is too much to ask, but try to find the positive in it. You may feel tremendous release that you have finally been forced in a new direction. You may have a burst of insight about your situation and reach a new level of understanding about it.
going through sudden change
- experiencing upheaval
- having plans disrupted
- being surprised
- undergoing a crisis
- having routines shaken up
- being in chaos
releasing
- exploding
- having an emotional outburst
- erupting in anger
- crashing through ego defenses
- breaking through pretense
- letting everything go
falling down
- being humbled
- experiencing a crash
- toppling from the heights
- having a downturn in fortune
- suffering a blow to the ego
having a revelation
- suddenly realizing the truth
- exposing what was hidden
- having a burst of insight
- seeing through illusions
- getting the answer
- seeing everything in a flash
Some possibilities
- Chariot – victory, control
- Temperance – middle ground, staying together, contained
- Star – serenity, calm
- Six of Wands – acclaim, pride
- Ten of Cups – peace, serenity
Some possibilities
- Death – sweeping impact, powerful forces
- Sun – enlightenment, revelation
- Five of Pentacles – hard times
There are no separate explanations for reversed cards. The meaning of a reversed card depends on what the card would mean if upright. A reversed card shows that a card’s energy is present but at a lower level. For some reason, the energy cannot be expressed freely, normally, or completely. It may be:
- still in its early stages
- losing force and power
- blocked or restricted
- incomplete
- inappropriate
- being denied
- only present in appearance
See Lesson 17 for more information on reversed cards.