THE
TOWER -
THE CARD OF CRISIS AND CHANGE
This article is
the first of three which will address
the "bad boys" of
Tarot (The Tower, Death, and The Devil),
which can immediately elicit the "deer
in the headlights" expression on a
client's face and create a sense of apprehension
in a reading.
The first twenty-two
cards of the Tarot are known as Major
Arcana and reflect the
spiritual aspect of life and our relationship
to it. Cards such as The Tower impress
one with fearful images and a destructive
nature which may overwhelm a reading without
an understanding of both black and white
(negative and positive) aspects of each
card individually. I once heard a speaker
say, "There are no bad cards, only
negative-thinking readers." I agree
with that statement and encourage readers
to be willing to go beyond the obvious
symbols and to research the shadow side
within themselves where they will find
deeper intuitive meanings for such dark-image
cards.
Most Tarot decks depict The Tower (my
deck of reference here being Rider-Waite)
as a crumbling structure, struck from above
by lightning as human images fall toward
a rocky island being lashed by angry waves.
Its foundation is firmly planted upon a
solid surface and will remain unaffected
by the falling tower: a new structure can
be rebuilt. Some deck artists choose to
soften and/or change this scenario, but
the message remains essentially that of
a sudden, unequivocal change thrust upon
an individual from a Divine (outside) source
which forces a definite, meaningful choice
or action. I see this card's meaning as
God's way of snatching away the remote
control, thrusting us by force from our
comfort zone and insisting that we react
one way or another and DO SOMETHING!
This force may
be reflected in a reading by extremes
and emotionally stressful situations,
but the fact remains that nothing predictive
or subjective in a reading is cut in stone
- ever. You always have free will and the
power to react to the potentially problematic
situation positively and heal it; or to
wallow deeper in a crisis, seek pity, place
blame, and continue to feed it energy until
it is out of control. I feel that as a
Tarot reader, one is essentially a counselor,
and as such, the client should walk away
from their reading with some answers to
bewildering situations and tools to deal
with them. Perhaps this and the subsequent
articles will shed some new light on the
Tarot "bad boys" and direct interpretations
toward a more positive outlook for clients
who are dealing with them.
A significant and powerful metaphor for
The Tower Card in its negative aspect is
9/11, as the Twin Towers in Manhattan were
destroyed before the eyes of millions.
Major Arcana cards, as exemplifed by The
Tower, are powerful messengers to the human
psyche from the Divine and, therefore,
we can compare the image of the Tarot's
tower to the destruction of the World Trade
Center. A prior attempt to fell these world
power icons occurred when a bomb-laden
vehicle was driven into the base of one
tower. Similarly, on The Tower of the Tarot,
the base remains intact despite the devastating
explosion above. In a reading, this card
often provides a warning of a pending disaster
which is inevitable if changes are not
made or attention is not immediately considered;
and, in our metaphor, perhaps that attempt
which failed to destroy The Tower should
have been heeded. Instead, it was repaired
and life returned to normal. One might
wonder if that lesson were one of a Tarot
reading, could 9/11 have been avoided?
When an individual becomes complacent
or avoids dealing with small problems,
they become vulnerable to attack. In the
Tarot, our tower has a potentially positive
side when it is seen as a heads-up and
an opportunity to take action to correct
a situation. It is a powerful feeling to
look back on the problem from the newly-constructed
tower (new life situation - e.g., a new
relationship which sprang from the ashes
of a divorce). Similarities become apparent
when comparison is made between the The
Tower card of the Tarot and the Twin Towers
of the World Trade Center. When struck
from above, the structures could not withstand
the powerful outside force, and crumbled
in fire, dust and debris. On 9/11, the
birds took the form of airplanes, the lightning
took the form of explosive jet fuel, and
the perpetrators were at the direction
of an outside force who believed that it
was an expression of rightness against
a perceived enemy and fueled by a firm
belief in Allah (God). The falling of the
Twin Towers was a disaster which affected
an entire world; the effect of The Tower
of the Tarot can be as devastating to an
individual and their immediate family.
Though we do not willingly welcome crisis,
if we could learn to embrace change as
an unexpected opportunity to experience
growth long before it becomes a crisis,
we could avoid that rude push from the
Divine.
The Tower does have another side which
can be perceived as hopeful, healing, and
positive. The way The Tower affects the
reading's interpretation depends upon its
position in the layout and the surrounding
cards. For our purposes, we will focus
on the position indicating Hopes/Aspirations
or Fears (positive and negative aspects,
respectfully). Based on this position,
I hope to shed some new light on this rather
dark card and expand interpretations based
on several levels -- physical, emotional,
mental, elemental, and spiritual.
* Physical: The
Tower may indicate a sudden health-related
situation or major
upheaval to material life or property.
Although worrisome, there can still be
a positive side if the appearance of this
card is taken as a warning and attention
is directed immediately toward solutions.
It may indicate various degrees of illness
from simple colds/flu to debilitating diseases
(even possible death, if left unattended).
If the indication points to issues dealing
with a threat to material things or financial
issues, then steps can still be taken to
avoid them altogether or lessen their impact.
In both high-stress cases, additional health
issues may ensue based on the body's reaction
in addition to the other factors. When
The Tower effects the "now," it
is still possible to lessen or avoid further
struggle, if the individual is wise enough
to take a doctor's advice, obtain financial
or legal advice, or take any immediate
steps to attend to matters. One must direct
energy toward rebuilding before The Tower
has completely fallen to dust. When dealing
with The Tower, it is wise to remember
the adage, "forewarned is forearmed."
* Emotional: There
is a basic human emotion which emerges
from deep within our psyche
and stems from early ancestral roots called "fight
or flight." Whenever life becomes
disrupted, whether of our own making or
not, we may feel completely vulnerable
to fate. Modern man is not immune to such
things, despite his efforts to create a
civilized world filled with technological
marvels. The unreliability of our earthly
endeavors is never as obvious as when we
are beset with a devastating situation.
If we can step back and get perspective
on the situation without emotional attachments,
we can see opportunities presented for
all forms of personal and spiritual advancement.
The "bolt out of the blue" imagery
may be seen as a smack on the back of the
head to awaken us from lethargy - sort
of a "D'oh!" from God, if you
will. The Tower card presents the issues
we would prefer to ignore, repress or leave
incomplete. In metaphysical terms, this
repression eventually gets us when least
expected -- and we come face-to-face with
the dreaded "Dark Night of the Soul," ready
or not. The Tower is symbolic of the spine
and whatever affects it, influencing the
entire bodily system. The emotional center
(Heart and Solar Plexus) is located in
the upper center, remaining somewhat unaffected
by the crumbling tower. In stressful situations,
one should take time to ground, center
and draw from inner emotional strength
and power. Our core emotions are tied to
our individual beliefs, values, and personal
truths. When stirred during any turmoil,
these values and beliefs come under attack,
though not necessarily destroyed in the
process. They become the foundations upon
which new beliefs and feelings emerge and
the willing soul fills with renewed hope
-- a reflection of the old and the result
of healing which has taken place for an
injured heart.
* Mental: Observe
the lightning bolt striking the top of
The Tower (head/mind)
and the golden rain from God - inspiration
by Divine force for mental activity and
spiritual enlightenment. Our daily thoughts
are usually rooted in worldly endeavors
and striving for material riches. We may
become outwardly wealthy and successful,
but out of balance with our inner self
and spiritual well-being. The Tower speaks
of destruction of outdated attitudes holding
us prisoner in the ivory tower and an outmoded
belief structure bombarded by a new realization.
Turmoil manifests in our life, making us
susceptible to problems from simple headaches
to nervous disorders or depression to mental
breakdown. Most doctors will acknowledge
that if there is a positive mentl attitude
the mind is capable of healing many difficult
problems or illnesses, even when given
a placebo rather than conventional medication.
The Tower can be a reminder that we ultimately
choose whether the lightning bolt will
inspire us toward healing life's situations
or allowing it to destroy us through fear
and dark thoughts. Knowledge can be a blessing
or a curse. Prayer and magic work in much
the same manner. Thoughts are energy/power
and all energy follows thought. This means
that a simple "bright idea" may
result in a new project or life direction
for a hopeful individual or go further
and become a novel idea or invention to
assist mankind as a whole.
* Elemental: Fire is the element of action
and appears to be destroying The Tower
indiscriminately. It is not clear whether
the prince and pauper have willingly jumped
from The Tower to save themselves, escape
the destruction, and be able to rebuild
their values; or if they have been tossed
from their lofty ideals by the gods for
their refusal to accept change. No one
is immune to the effects of The Tower:
whether one lands on the feet or the head,
it is inevitable that all old ideals, beliefs,
and attitudes crumble and are replaced
with new ones as we experience and learn.
In nature, lightning can spark a forest
fire, destroying the old trees completely
to make way for new growth. The mythical
Phoenix is consumed by his own flames when
his plumes are old and outmoded, and is
reborn brightly-plumed and renewed from
his own ashes. These examples remind us
of the transformation possible from the
alchemical force represented by The Tower
- a remarkable change from what was dark,
raw, and unproductive into something golden,
growth-oriented, and valuable. Even shattered
bricks can be reused to construct a beautiful
new tower from the rubble of the old. In
the aftermath of a serious illness, a divorce,
a financial failure, a loss of a home or
a loved one, there is a future filled with
new paths which offer a fresh outlook,
potential for improvement, different relationships
and opportunities for the healed individual.
All five elements are depicted by The
Tower:
- Earth -- Rocky foundations (or sand
for the foolish) upon which one may build
and base their lives and ideals;
- Air - Dark, stormy skies indicating
tumultuously change with lighter clouds
above, reminding us that there is a silver
lining if one will but search for it;
- Water - Crashing waves and a rainstorm
indicating emotional turmoil, but seas
calm once again at the end of the storm;
- Fire - The old structure is destroyed
by both lightning and fire, making way
for a new structure, stronger and more
beautiful; and,
- Spirit - Indicated by birds, golden
rain, and the lightning bolt which God
has directed to destroy the outdated
and outmoded ideals of man's construction.
If we recognize our personal free will
and employ a positive manner, we can
turn any crisis into an advantage.
* Spiritual: The
lightning is the symbol of spiritual
illumination and realization
in the form of a sudden "flash of
inspiration." Enlightenment and aspirations
often appear to us disguised as ego and
fear. Interestingly, these are equal and
dependent upon each other, for without
one the other would result in stagnation
and the hopelessness of an unfulfilled
life. There is only one path out of this
proverbial rut, and that is to actively
seek change: even simple things such as
shopping at a different store or taking
a new route off the beaten path will begin
the process. The life forces demonstrated
in the Major Arcana point the ego-self
to and out of situations that appear as
crossroads, through change, growth, and
new directions. Whether we consciously
choose to take a difficult step which may
have an undetermined outcome or are unexpectedly
faced with a debilitating illness or financial
crisis, we are gifted with the free will
to make wise or foolish choices. It is
facing a crisis that even skeptical individuals
realize the need to feel protected and
watched over from above. This guidance
takes the form of a realization that we
have Divine intervention and guidance from
Spirit Guides and/or Angels from God, depending
on one's perspective. This is shown in
the symbols of the Tarot by golden rain
which soothes and heals. Metaphorically,
the falling tower expresses the transient
nature of earthly endeavors expressed as
the "fall of the house of falsehood." The
birds and clouds indicate the "flight" of
man's aspirations and hopes toward the
spiritual. Metaphysical teachers describe
Earth as a school, where we are spiritual
beings having a learning experience in
a body. Yet, as spiritual beings, while
in this realm, we are not immune to cosmic
law and eventually our foolish endeavors
bring about a fall from the gilded towers
if we become locked in an unhealthy or
dangerous situation. The greatest truth
is that hope is always renewed once the
crisis has passed; the quicker we realize
that we must act toward healing the quicker
we will be looking back.
In the future, when The Tower appears
in your reading and it is difficult to
find the silver lining in the clouds above
your crumbling, burning structure, remember
that a rainbow follows a storm. First,
accept only your responsibility for the
events, then draw from your inner power,
and begin rebuilding as soon as possible.
YOU are a Phoenix and can absolutely rise
from the ashes. Despite any negative aspects
of The Tower, there is an important positive
-- The Divine does not destroy indiscriminately
without possibilities and messages for
our growth, if we are wise enough to heed
them.
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