The Tower Tarot Card Meaning

The Tower is the seventeenth card in the major arcana and represents sudden change, an awakening, a break-through, upheaval and destruction. The Tower is represented by the number sixteen which breaks down to seven, so each number will have connections to the meaning of this card. The number sixteen is connected to things like wisdom, introspection, analytical thinking and independence.

The Tower is connected to the element fire and the zodiac signs Aries and Scorpio, as it’s associated with intense energies, transformation, breaking free and sudden life changes. This card can also represent a sudden epiphany, revelation and something that was built on a weak foundation. 

This card is connected to the planet Mars which represents ambition, passion, anger, action, aggression and assertiveness. Because of this, the Tower can also be connected to things like sudden change where you may feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you. This can be a time of awakening in your life where you’re awakening to new truths, realizations and gaining new awareness. 

The Tower Meaning

This card represents a shocking experience, sudden turn of events or a realization which creates a break-through allowing you to break free in an area of your life. When this card comes up in a reading expect the unexpected, as you’re about to experience a big wake up call. 

The image on the card shows a tower on fire which is also being hit by lightning and the roof has been blown off. On the card, there are people who have been thrown from the tower, forcing them to surrender to their circumstances. This shows that the Tower can create chaos and circumstances which are out of your control and that surrendering may be necessary.

So the Tower can mean that there’s something in your life which has been built on a weak foundation, whether it’s a relationship, mindset or even a goal. This card can act as a wake up call which is the catalyst for your awakening to this truth. This card can represent things like break ups, something that’s a deal breaker or something that shakes you to your core.

Therefore, when the Tower comes up in a reading it can represent a sudden change that’s acting to break something down or destroy a structure so that you can rebuild something else. Alternatively, the Tower can also represent things like the downfall of belief structures, inner change and liberation. Always look to the cards around it for clarification or to get a deeper meaning.

Upright

Sudden change, realization, awakening, inspiration, upheaval, a shocking experience, a turn of events, destruction, weak foundation, break-through.

Reversed

Inner change, the breaking down of belief structures, having the rug pulled out from under you, dark night of the soul, questioning your purpose and path.

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