The Tower – Tarot Card Meaning

The Tower is a difficult card. It speaks of endings, break ups and sudden changes. Hit by lightening, the tower is set on fire and nothing much held in it can be saved.

The Tower, when used for predictions, announces drastic changes. For better or for worse, everything will change, even if just one aspect of your life is directly affected by it.

The Tower can be a card of relief. It can speak of leaving a house that was not the right place for you or even of the end of a mental or physical problem.

Like the Devil or the Hanged Man, the Tower is an easier card to deal with when drawn reversed.

The Advice of The Tower: let go of a situation that has become impossible. Accept a short painful moment to start over again.

The Warning of The Tower: something is about to give. Prepare for sudden drastic changes. Difficult times ahead.

You may also want to check out this blog post about the positive sides of Tarot’s scariest cards.

UPRIGHT MEANINGS (negative meanings)

The Tower is the card of endings. In a negative spread or situation, it can speak of a break up, the loss of a job, the sudden collapse of a situation that seemed stable. Expect disappointment at best, physical injuries at worst.

Keywords: the end, break up, accidents, bad surprise, collapse, treason, pain, death, grief

REVERSED MEANINGS (positive meanings)

When drawn reversed, the Tower loses some of its power and negative influence on the spread. It becomes a warning more than a prediction. A disaster can be avoided. This could also be the ending of something without any drama involved such as moving houses or changing jobs for the better.

Keywords: changes, salvation, moving, blessing in disguise, warning, disaster avoided

LOVE

Positive meaning: forget what you know, your love life tomorrow will be something completely different. Expect the unexpected. The end of a difficult relationship. Relief.

Negative meaning: sudden break up and disillusion. What you held for stable is about to end for good. This could also be the end of a friendship.

FINANCES

Positive meaning: the end of a situation in which you were at risk. Disaster avoided. You got out of it  just in time.

Negative meaning: financial loss. Bankruptcy. Your social rank is deeply affected.

WORK

Positive meaning: For good or bad, your work life is about to change completely. If you’re lucky, you’re leaving behind a career that wasn’t for you and never look back.

Negative meaning: sudden job loss, exams failed.

PEOPLE

Positive meaning: a rebel. Someone walking into your life and causing big changes.

Negative meaning: a materialist. Someone extremely dangerous with no law and no mercy.

THE TOWER & THE SUN

The Tower and the Sun announce a break up. But if the Sun follows the Tower in your spread, the break up will be followed by reconciliation. In a reading not concerning love: woe and difficulties will be overcome and followed by peace of mind and balance.

THE TOWER & THE HERMIT

An incident in your life will cause you to be isolated temporarily. A moment of solitude after loss or hurt. An important life lesson. Time spent in a hospital or in convalescence. With the Magician: temporary unemployment.

THE TOWER & THE STAR

Only a card with the powerful healing energy og the Star can really balance the difficult aspects of the Tower. Something ending is bringing you closer to your destiny. You are ending a painful relationship or leaving a soul crushing job. A liberation. Deep relief.

WITH WANDS

The Tower with Wands often speaks of difficulties at work.  With the 3 of Wands: negotiations are being stopped. With the 10 of Wands: a major obstacle in your way.

WITH CUPS

The Tower and the Cups announce break ups, love that is not shared by your partner or a sudden crisis. With the Ace of Cups: an engagement is cancelled. With the 4 of Cups: a divorce.

WITH COINS

Tower and Coins announce financial loss. A source of income is no longer active. With the Queen of Coins: a rich and powerful woman is your enemy. In a positive spread: Inheritance.

WITH SWORDS

Tower and Swords are one of the worst association in Tarot. It is difficult to balance. These speak of conflict, failure, accidents or violence. With the 2 of Swords: an argument with your partner.