CARD NUMBER 19. – The Temple struck by lightning. The Capitol (The Prison).

Upright. – Poverty, ruin, misery. Near card number 10: prosecution for a political or religious matter. Near card number 62: quarrel with a friend.

Reversed. – Imprisonment, oppression, captivity. Near card number 59 : perils at sea (or more generally – difficult journey).

“Surviving is the only glory in war.” – Samuel Fuller

Prepare For The Struggles Ahead

Life is filled with ups and downs that sometimes manifest in the extreme. In situations where we feel as though we’ve hit rock bottom, it can be incredibly difficult to see any kind of silver lining. Not all suffering has inherent meaning, but we are always able to learn something from the way that we react to it.

The Tower stands strong against the coming storm, even as its walls are ravaged by the forces of nature. It maintains its posture even in the most trying of times, and is far more concerned with protecting what it is inside of it than rescuing those that are outside. While some may interpret this as selfishness, The Tower’s knack for self-preservation allows it to survive through the worst of the worst. We can’t always save everyone, and sometimes we have to focus on saving ourselves first.

Now is the time for you to steel yourself against coming tragedy, even if this means distancing yourself from the vulnerabilities of others. Not every struggle is one that is meant to be faced as a group. However, this does not necessarily mean that you should refuse outside assistance; instead, be sure not to concern yourself with the personal issues of others at this time.

Focus on yourself and the situation at hand, as it will take all of your attention and fortitude to make it through the coming trials. Have faith that this time will pass. While it may b easy to fixate on ways that you can fix the situation, it is best for you to accept that it may be out of your hands. Focus the majority of your energy on guarding your weak spots and vulnerabilities, as they may be the primary target of the assault that is to come.

Our romantic lives aren’t always going to be filled with true love and raw passion. Hearts will be broken, we will fall into fits of loneliness, and we will realize that some people simply aren’t worth loving; this is a completely natural part of the quest for true love.

We have a tendency to focus on the lack of love that we feel, as opposed to the potential that we have to find true romance, and this can easily lead us down a path of depression and dissatisfaction. This is not to say that these heartbreaks aren’t serious; instead, we will oftentimes find that the pain of this distress will be solved with time and retrospection. While there is no surefire way to heal from these situations quickly and completely, we will be far better equipped to cope with them if we accept the fact that not every romance is fated to succeed.

Now may the time for you to look at your current romantic situation with a stern eye; as difficult as it is to accept, heartbreak may be on the horizon. If you have noticed things going poorly recently, then this may be a sign that it is time to end your relationship. On the other hand, there is always the chance that this change will come completely unexpectedly, leaving you blindsided as you try to deal with the damage it leaves behind. Be realistic as you consider the nature of your current relationship, and don’t be afraid to prepare yourself for the worst.

The most important thing right now is your health. If this means removing yourself from a toxic situation, then that is what must be done. Don’t listen to the criticisms and insults that may be thrown your way; they are empty and baseless, thrown out as a weak attempt at self-preservation. Allow yourself to feel freely, but have confidence in the fact that you are making the right choice.

SIXTEEN. THE TOWER

Occult explanations attached to this card are meager and mostly disconcerting. It is idle to indicate that it depicts ruin in all its aspects, because it bears this evidence on the surface. It is said further that it contains the first allusion to a material building, but I do not conceive that the Tower is more or less material than the pillars which we have met with in three previous cases. I see nothing to warrant Papus in supposing that it is literally the fall of Adam, but there is more in favor of his alternative—that it signifies the materialization of the spiritual word. The bibliographer Christian imagines that it is the downfall of the mind, seeking to penetrate the mystery of God (Nature). I agree rather with Grand Orient that it is the ruin of the House of Life, when evil has prevailed therein, and above all that it is the rending of a House of Doctrine. I understand that the reference is, however, to a House of Falsehood. It illustrates also in the most comprehensive way the old truth that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”

There is a sense in which the catastrophe is a reflection from the previous card, but not on the side of the symbolism which I have tried to indicate therein. It is more correctly a question of analogy; one is concerned with the fall into the material and animal state, while the other signifies destruction on the intellectual side. The Tower has been spoken of as the chastisement of pride and the intellect overwhelmed in the attempt to penetrate the Mystery of God (Nature); but in neither case do these explanations account for the two persons who are the living sufferers. The one is the literal word made void and the other its false interpretation. In yet a deeper sense, it may signify also the end of a dispensation, but there is no possibility here for the consideration of this involved question.

Coping with stressful situations in our career can be a particularly harrowing experience. There are very few things in life that hold as much importance as our career, as it essentially dictates the parameters of our material capabilities. Work allows us to earn money through which we buy and do most things, gain essential skills that will lead us down new paths, and make connections that may last a life time. It is the avenue through which we enrich our material lives, and dealing with any major changes in employment can translate to massive amounts of distress.

Trouble may be on the horizon for your career; now is the time to hunker down and hold onto that which you value the most. This trouble can manifest in a variety of ways: you may get fired from your job, be temporarily suspended, or even face a decrease in pay or benefits. While this doesn’t spell the end of the world, it does mean that you will need to learn how to cope with these new circumstances. Put away any money that you can for an emergency fund, and avoid putting yourself into any risky situations. Keep your head down low and try not to draw too much attention to yourself; while you may not be able to completely avoid the disaster that is about to unfold, you can still try to minimize the damage that it will cause. No matter what, find peace in the fact that there is nothing you can do to completely turn the situation in your favor; this chain of events has been set in motion by forces far beyond your comprehension.

The extreme lows of life are terrifying, but just like everything else, they too will come to an end. When The Tower appears in the reversed position, it may be a sign that the period of struggle you haven been dealing with recently is finally nearing its end. Now is the time to acknowledge what you have left and begin considering how to start picking up the pieces.

Find peace in the fact that the worst has now passed. The period of your life that came before this tumultuous period is now closed off to you, and there is no point trying to revive a time that has long since passed. Instead, move into the future with the lessons that these trials have taught you. Look at this as a fresh start, and a chance to begin anew with fresh ideas and perspectives.

The Tower is a card of chaos and destruction. This card means you should expect something in your life to be uprooted. The Tower indicates a large change and is depicted by lightning striking a tower whilst people jump from the building to safety. In conclusion, The Tower is in fact, a largely YES card.

• The Tower Upright – Yes or No
• The Tower Reversed – Yes or No
• The Tower Upright Meaning for Love – Yes or No
• The Tower Reversed Meaning for Love – Yes or No
• The Tower as Advice Upright – Yes or No
• The Tower as Advice Reversed – Yes or No
• The Tower Upright Meaning for Career – Yes or No
• The Tower Reversed Meaning for Career – Yes or No
• The Tower as an Answer to ‘Am I Cursed?’
• The Tower as an Answer to ‘Will I be Rich?’