The Tower Tarot Card Meaning

This tarot card depicts the moment of a high tower's collapse, topped with a crown in place of a dome. It appears sturdy and is still standing, but the cracks and fire indicate that the tower is doomed, and destruction is inevitable. The dark background of the 16th tarot card only underscores the grim mood of the event.

The man and woman plummeting headfirst from the Tower are the victims of the ongoing collapse. This tarot card reminds us of the Tower of Babel, which was destroyed by God in biblical times due to the pride of its builders. It speaks to the idea that human overconfidence will, sooner or later, lead to downfall.

The upright Tower tarot card signifies catastrophic changes in life, fateful twists of circumstances, the sudden collapse of plans, and significant losses. In a practical sense, the appearance of the Tower card in a spread can herald any misfortunes - from the breakdown of a marriage and fires to bankruptcy or even imprisonment.

The sixteenth tarot card may foretell illness - either your own or that of someone close, theft or job loss, a natural disaster, war, revolution, accident, or catastrophe. Any spread that includes this Major Arcana assumes a negative shade.

Changes for the worse may happen suddenly or predictably - as a result of previous life events. In any case, the Tower tarot card predicts a painful period when it feels like the ground is falling away beneath you. Consider the Tower card as a test of resilience! If collapse is inevitable, it's essential to muster courage and endure the losses. Brace for the best - a new phase of life will follow the breakdown of the old.

Key Meanings of the Upright Tower Card

• Total failure, shocks, disgrace, destruction of plans, divorce, bankruptcy, force majeure circumstances.
• Subjugation, deprivation of freedom, incarceration.
• Significant losses, stroke of fate, serious illness, physical injuries, suffering.
• Devastation, shock, upheaval of self-perceptions, perspectives of the world and those around, destructive conflict.

The inverted Tower card in Tarot signifies that unpleasant events are bursting into your life, and it's impossible to avoid. Losses haunt you like a cruel fate. Things that were very dear to you, without which you could not imagine existence - a loved one, friends, work, health, home, previous plans, ideals and beliefs, are leaving your life. You feel disappointed, vulnerable, and utterly helpless, unable to change anything.

The inverted Tower card is always about losses, ruins, and negative events that bring pain, worries, tears. Everything that you clung to, lived by, and valued, is destroyed. However, the 16th arcana predicts that this period is necessary to clear your life of unnecessary and development-restraining things, relationships, and circumstances, and to start everything from scratch. The dark period will end, and a stage of building a new life will come!

Key meanings of the inverted Tower card

• Oppression, bad news, changes for the worse.
• Misfortunes, deceit, personal, material and spiritual losses.
• Restriction of freedom, hostage to circumstances, stress, depression, pain.

The upright Tower card in love spreads is a sign that the relationship has taken a dangerous tilt and is close to destruction. Perhaps the union only appeared strong and stable, but in reality, problems have long been brewing that can only be solved one way - by tearing everything down to the foundation.

Partners are panicking, adding even more confusion to life. The situation is such that each person will have to save themselves, without relying on the help of a loved one. But following the breakdown of the old and outlived always comes a rebirth!

In the reversed position, the card's meaning changes, indicating less destruction and the mending of relationships after conflict.

When Reading for a Suitor, Beloved

In readings about a suitor or partner, the upright card implies that love for your chosen one is a tragedy! They are prepared for the torment of unrequited love or, if a relationship has already formed, they fear losing it. This leaves a peculiar imprint on their feelings.

The reversed card indicates that your chosen one has been haunted by losses and failures in love, most often due to reasons beyond their control.

In business readings, the meaning of the Tower tarot card is generally unfavorable – job loss, the breakdown of partnerships, bankruptcy, defeat, and poverty. The most dreadful aspect is that plans collapse suddenly, and there is no opportunity to prepare for such an event. Even if some force majeure factors were accounted for beforehand, losses are still unavoidable.

Perhaps to solve these problems, one will need to display considerable inventiveness, embrace unconventional solutions, and break old patterns. When reversed, the card signifies financial troubles and fiascos in projects that appeared profitable.

Reversed, the meaning of the card changes, indicating a delay in changes or the fortunate chance to avoid unpleasantness.

When interpreting the Tower tarot card in a reading for an individual, the upright position signifies a strong person. They have endured a very challenging period but have not lost their resilience, inner strength, and self-belief.

When the card appears in a reversed position, it represents a person with life experience and a complex destiny. In the past, they have gone through a significant loss and had to start many things from scratch.

In the upright position, the card advises you not to give up in the face of the twists and turns of fate and to accept the circumstances that you cannot change.

Appearing in a reversed position in the spread, the card advises you to mobilize all your strength to combat the adversities.

If the card appears upright, the forecast for your situation is unfavorable. Your plans may be disrupted due to unfortunate circumstances.

When the card appears in a reversed position, the forecast for your situation remains unfavorable. Your plans may be hindered by an extremely unfortunate combination of circumstances.

With the 0 Fool card - Dangerous foolishness or negligence, making an irreparable mistake, letting someone down unknowingly.

With the 1 Magician card - Fumbling, having to start over, poor preparation, or a tragic turn of events, the breakup of a young family.

With the 2 High Priestess card - Upset plans, learning something unpleasant, feeling like it's all over.

In combination with the 3 Empress card - An unsuccessful marriage, a sad experience, disputes with family members.

With the 4 Emperor card - The destruction of a family, related to its head, business going downhill, negative influence from above.

With the 5 Hierophant card - A collapse of beliefs, a crisis of faith, losing connections with society or losing support.

With the 6 Lovers card - A difficult separation, cooling of relations, mutual reproaches, going in the wrong direction.

With the 7 Chariot card - Danger of a road accident, problems with a vehicle, an unsuccessful journey, or the end of a romance.

With the 8 Strength card - Losing faith in oneself, energy depletion, crumbling under pressure from circumstances.

With the 9 Hermit card - Sudden solitude, the crown of celibacy, not finding understanding and encouragement from the surroundings.

With the 10 Wheel of Fortune card - Luck has run out, cannot continue as before, a streak of misfortune.

With the 11 Justice card - Unlawful actions, judicial errors, or the collapse of a case, abuse of power.

With the 12 Hanged Man card - The peaceful life has ended, getting injured, dangerous inaction.

With the 13 Death card - Nothing will be as it was before, threats and pressure, rapid changes for the worse, or a divorce.

With the 14 Temperance card - Troubles that can be overcome, coping with consequences, a wise approach in a critical situation.

With the 15 Devil card - Hexing, financial manipulations, destructive addictions.

With the 17 Star card - There is hope, hold onto a straw, be optimistic in adverse circumstances.

With the 18 Moon card - Madness, unhealthy attraction or obsession, deteriorating health.

With the 19 Sun card - Stress will turn into success, tempering under the influence of adversity, finding positives in negatives, or coming out unscathed.

With the 20 Judgment card - Fate is trying to teach something, losing in court, not getting along with a former partner.

With the 21 World card - Rediscovering oneself, danger and troubles behind, learning an important lesson from what happened.

The Ace of Wands - There is a high likelihood of a fire, exerting efforts to preserve family or work, but it might be a futile persistence.

The Two of Wands - Feeling stuck, burdened with too much responsibility, and risking breaking something due to indecisiveness.

Combined with the Three of Wands - Loss of connections, missed opportunities, and a predisposition to expect failure.

The Four of Wands - Not all is well at home, tension within the family, diverging views, or an early divorce.

The Five of Wands - Quarrels and scandals, domestic violence or pressure, undeserved reproaches.

The Six of Wands - Dismissal or demotion at work, loss of power or influence, stepping down from a leadership position.

The Seven of Wands - Feeling powerless to resist, bending against one's own beliefs, committing something reprehensible.

The Eight of Wands - Misfortune never comes alone, the consequences of carelessness, feeling weighed down under public condemnation.

The Nine of Wands - Taking a defensive stance, attempting to hide from negativity, and a negative forecast being confirmed.

The Ten of Wands - The final straw, wanting to give up everything and leave, risking one's health.

The Page of Wands - Overcoming arrogance, the heavy lessons of life, and disappointment in expectations.

The Knight of Wands - Taking things too far, being left without support or material assistance, a competitor without principles.

The Queen of Wands - Unsuccessful pursuit of fame, unprofitable creativity, and a crisis of inspiration.

The King of Wands - Pessimism, callousness, or one-sided judgment, excessive stubbornness, and the risk of losing a business.

The Ace of Swords - Abuse of power, destructive energy, arrest, or detention.

The Two of Swords - Carelessness can lead to trouble, medical error, lack of professionalism will ruin the case.

Combined with the Three of Swords - Unforgivable betrayal, loss of self-control, fixation on something irretrievable.

The Four of Swords - Losing inheritance or property, the danger of imprisonment, fate has pushed you out of the comfort zone.

The Five of Swords - Setback, quarrel with friends or colleagues, breaking business agreements.

The Six of Swords - Escape is not an option, a bitter experience, a journey to nowhere, or exchanging former spouses.

The Seven of Swords - Utter disappointment, marauding, someone profiting from misfortune.

The Eight of Swords - The danger of losing control, carelessness leading to trouble, a failed attempt to escape vice.

The Nine of Swords - Domestic violence, psychological exhaustion, undeserved punishment.

The Ten of Swords - Becoming a victim of malice, cruel bullying, persecution, losing faith in people.

The Page of Swords - Self-destruction, a desire to harm loved ones, impulsiveness, and hurtful words.

The Knight of Swords - One-sided judgment, recklessness, an overly impulsive admirer, bad selfishness.

The Queen of Swords - Anger and hypocrisy, intending to undermine someone's career, vengefulness.

The King of Swords - A deceitful partner, suffering due to the imperfection of the system, a powerful adversary with ill intentions.

The Ace of Cups - Yielding to emotions, destructive compassion, putting others before oneself to one's detriment.

The Two of Cups - Returning to an old love, attempting to save a marriage, finding a soulmate, amidst adversity.

Combined with the Three of Cups - Joining a support group, bad reputation, falling into bad company.

The Four of Cups - Alcohol dependence, drowning in misfortunes, refusing help or fearing pity.

The Five of Cups - A heavy loss, an emotional crisis, realizing it too late.

The Six of Cups - Holding onto eternal values, finding solace in helping others, self-sacrifice.

The Seven of Cups - Dangerous plans, clouded judgment, escaping reality or experiencing schizophrenia.

The Eight of Cups - A joyless celebration, a forced parting, weariness from unpleasantness.

The Nine of Cups - Breaking free from control or guardianship, a disappointing start, not everything is as rosy as desired.

The Ten of Cups - Leaving the family, falling into extremes, heeding bad advice.

The Page of Cups - Unpleasant friends, becoming a victim of attacks, being in a precarious situation.

The Knight of Cups - Exposing a fraud, loss of reputation, usual methods won't work.

The Queen of Cups - A troubled engagement, contract termination, relationship breakup due to rumors or bad behavior.

The King of Cups - A scandalous troublemaker, falling for the "bad boy," a serious conflict in the workplace.

The Ace of Pentacles - Loss of wealth, a severe financial blow, market crash, or irreversible crisis.

The Two of Pentacles - Losing the last resources, borrowing or getting into debt, being deprived of means of subsistence.

Combined with the Three of Pentacles - Losing to a competitor, dismissal, unprofessionalism.

The Four of Pentacles - Living on the last savings, not having enough until payday, stopping savings for emergencies.

The Five of Pentacles - Poverty, losing housing or the means to afford it, rent increase.

The Six of Pentacles - Lack of disposable income, funding ends, reduced benefits.

The Seven of Pentacles - Losing a bank deposit or losing money on the stock market, investing in a dummy venture.

The Eight of Pentacles - Work not working out, a person not in the right place, losing interest in earning.

The Nine of Pentacles - Policies affecting financial well-being negatively, tax increases, devaluation of savings.

The Ten of Pentacles - Family relations in discord, conflicts over inheritance or family business management.

The Page of Pentacles - Spending a month's salary in a few days, failing exams, not completing studies.

The Knight of Pentacles - A beloved project collapsing, loss of prestige, not keeping up with changes, going bankrupt.

The Queen of Pentacles - Criminal wastefulness, carelessness about the overall budget, living beyond one's means.

The King of Pentacles - Senile confusion, using demagoguery instead of concrete actions, keeping money under the mattress.