The Tower Tells Us to Destroy What Isn’t Working: A Look at the Impact of Major Arcana Card Sixteen
Oh, The Tower. I’ve monikered Major Arcana guide sixteen “the most feared card in the tarot deck” and described it as “one of the only cards where upright and reverse it’s all kinda bad news.” And yet, I believe The Tower is quite amazing when it appears in a reading. Sixteen is my lucky number, and I believe a little wakeup call now and then is necessary.
The Tower threatens to bring the pain. It often does, as it means we are either avoiding a fearsome change to our detriment (reverse) OR we are in the midst of said fearsome change and it feels like the resulting turmoil will end life as we know it (upright).
And it might! Removing the unnecessary, outdated and inauthentic thoughts, beliefs, behaviors and ways of being often feels like death. It is a death of sorts—one that requires us to burn everything to the ground and rebuild anew. This process may not literally end our life, per se, but it will certainly transform it.
Regardless, there’s no need to fear The Tower. It is a card that speaks to us with our best interests in mind. The Tower would not ask you to eliminate what is helpful, essential, authentic. Instead, it calls you to be honest about what is all sparkle and no substance, what prevents you from finding balance and centeredness.
As always, the decision to embrace upheaval is yours. You can take action now or attempt to delay the inevitable. It’s going to be difficult either way. Choose your kind of difficult and accept the consequences of that choice.
What follows are four general energy readings. These readings use tarot cards to give an overarching perspective about someone’s present circumstances. It is not meant to answer a specific question. The main purpose of this post is to show how The Tower impacts and is impacted by the tarot cards around him. Each reading is written as if I am speaking directly to you.
One other thing to note: This blog post is written in conjunction with the Cup of Sugar tarot newsletter. While you do not need to receive the newsletter to understand the readings below, it will give greater context to the cards. If you’d like to sign up to receive the remaining newsletters in the series, you can do that here.
Spread 1: Devastating Loss Leads to Financial Independence and a Fresh Start
A fear of instability is holding you back from what needs to be done. The Knight of Coins is methodical, consistent, careful. He knows what he has, and he is content to continue the actions that have led to his prosperity and abundance. In reverse, this card indicates that you may have been on a bit of a bender. It can be hard to cut back on our current lifestyles in order to prepare for a future we cannot know.
You’re seeing the impacts of his mentality now. Things are beginning to crumble beneath you. The Tower in the upright position indicates that any changes to your spending habits and financial wellbeing feel challenging, overwhelming and disorienting. They need to be made regardless. Something big is coming, and delaying preparedness will only make the situation worse.
Something that might help is knowing what lies on the other side of these changes: a fresh start (The Fool) and financial independence and freedom (Nine of Coins). Is it a carefree life you seek? One filled with wonder, joy and confidence in building a fortuitous future?
All this goodness lies on the other side of The Tower’s warning. You cannot be carefree about the path forward if you continue to act carelessly now. Buckle down and do what needs to be done. Future you will be grateful for the tough times you’ve endured to get where you need to go.
Spread 2: A Fulfilling Life is on the Other Side of Upheaval
Is it possible to greedily grasp for more than your fair share while also feeling completely unfulfilled and alone? Apparently it can, as that seems to be your current situation. The Seven of Sword tells me that you’ve betrayed your principles to get ahead. It has not only failed to make you happy, it has also left you completely alone (Four of Cups), crying over everything you don’t have (while ignoring everything you do).
This cycle of suffering is a direct result of the choices you’ve made. Still, it can be hard to break from the patterns we’ve cultivated and become accustomed to. The Tower is telling you that the time for change is here. It’s seriously going to suck for a while. I won’t sugarcoat it. You need to start being honest, forthcoming and generous—and it wouldn’t hurt to be a little apologetic and remorseful for past wrongs.
This will feel like a blow to the ego, but the only way to move to a place of unity, friendship and inner happiness is to look hard at your faults and make things right. The Three of Cups confirms that you will survive this period of making amends (to yourself and others). In fact, you’ll be far better for your efforts. The Three of Cups is a card of overcoming conflict to achieve free-flowing abundance. Keep this image of contentment in mind. It will help guide you through the dark ahead.
Spread 3: Fear of Change Limits Stability, Clarity and Focus
When you feel less than grounded, big changes can feel particularly fearsome. There is an understandable tendency to want to bunker down to avoid any further disruptions. Unfortunately, friend, that simply isn’t possible. The reversed King of Coins tells me that you’re feeling a bit shaken right now. Things are not growing and prospering in the way you’d like, and it’s making you a bit panic-y.
The reversed Tower is an indication of this panic. You’re trying to limit the implosion, but that’s highly unlikely to happen. This is the time to go all in on the chaos. Things need to blow up a bit. Continuing to hunker down only delays an event that will be destructive to what you have created. There’s no easy way to say it. You have to take your ego out of the equation and let that shit go.
Continuing along the path of avoidance creates bigger problems than simply putting off something that’s bound to happen anyway (how long can you really appease a volcano before it does the damn thing in spite of your blind trust that it won’t?). It also prevents you from seeing clearly and taking purposeful action toward your ultimately goal.
The Ace of Swords is a powerful card of new beginnings. You need to strike while the iron is hot, as it only offers a flash of clarity and inspiration. Clinging to something that no longer serves you prevents the Ace’s potential from reaching you fully. The Knight of Swords is a card of action.
Similar to the Ace, the Knight can only act in your favor when you let him in. The Tower in reverse creates a horrific diversion, pulling your attention away from where it needs to be. Stop watching this metaphorical car crash in slow motion. Release the need to be right. It will empower you to destroy what holds you back from a bigger, better idea and smarter, more decisive action.
Spread 4: Denying Your Darkness Leads to Fear, Emotional Volatility and a Whole Lot of Unhappiness
Why is it we deny our moody shadow side? I have a theory that it’s related to our culture’s obsession with positivity that leads to toxic positivity and this incessant need to be cheerful at all times. Digression aside, you’re not doing yourself any favors by ignoring the darkness within you.
The reversed Moon is an indication that your less-best self is running the show right now, and it’s scaring you a bit senseless. It feels likely that your greatest fear is that it will overtake you, that you will surrender to the point of no return. And yet, denying those feelings and fears is only making them stronger. The reversed Tower tells me that you’re trying to hide, and that this approach to the problem will blow up in your face sooner rather than later.
The reversed King of Cups is a great example of what happens when we don’t give our shadow selves space to exist. Instead of riding the waves of negative or unpleasant emotions without allowing them to overwhelm us, we are constantly tussled and turned upside down by the volatility of what we feel. We stop riding the wave and begin to drown in the undertow.
This way of being in the world is also making you unhappy. The reversed Six of Wands is a card of struggle, unhappiness and defeat. You’re outmatched by your emotions right now. It’s OK to stop fighting and let the less-than-desirable thoughts and emotions flow through you. I think you’ll find more joy once you stop running away from what needs to be done. Your current struggles will not go on forever, but continuing to put your head in the sand will only prolong the agony.