The Tarot is one of the most misunderstood cards in the deck. Bringer of chaotic change, it is usually received with fear and dread. Nothing could be further than the truth! The Tower is a sign of the infinite love of the universe. You have built a wall and have been taking refuge behind it. However, this has only succeeded in putting you into a Tower in your own isolated corner of the World. The universe has decided to shake things up so that you may be free of being led by your assumptions. The Tower shows up when one is living in self-denial and has perfected the illusion to such a degree that it is the "absolute truth". This self-delusion is akin to building a house on sand. A house on sand can never survive. The universe loves you enough to make sure you build on solid ground. It ensures that your denial needs to be interrupted and thus hits you with a dose of reality from which there is no escape. The lightning that strikes the tower, is that jolt that causes the house built on sand to collapse. This jolt can be painful, but it is also cathartic. It is the fear of facing up to facts that are painful that keeps us trapped in denial. If there is no problem, then there is no need for a solution. There is no need to take on heartache and no need to confront the truth that may not be welcome or palpable. However, since a self-delusional kind of situation cannot last forever, the lightning bolt from the sky makes sure to reveal the truth in a manner that you cannot unsee. Now!! You are free to live the life that is true and that will give you wings so you can soar! Yes, the revelation is bright and drastic, but you are a masterpiece that is being put back in a manner that will make you more glorious than you were before. The love of the universe, forces you to confront, that which you were hiding from. There is pain, sadness and grief, but this too shall pass. Now the healing can begin. You will be put back stronger and ready to take on the world. Someday when you have been actively working on breaking all the walls of illusion, self-denial and fantasy, the Tower will no longer be a dreaded card but will become a beacon of enlightenment. It is a friend that says, I'm here to hold your hand, and show you the world. Sometimes the Tower can just mean an earth-shattering experience in a positive way too!! With the Lovers or the Two of Cups, it may mean seeing someone who rocks your world.
Meditation on The Tower
People don't need sudden revelations. They get what they need when they need it, thought by thought by thought. It's a constant thing when the mind starts to wake up to itself. Byron Kathleen
The Tower is not a step-by-step process of revelation. It is the jolt that occurs when a person has been missing, the logical thought process, where the mind wakes up. An example of this would be the spouse who is living in denial about the inevitable ending of the marriage and is served a divorce notice that shakes her or him into reality in a manner that is painful and brutal. Whilst all their friends could see the marriage was over this person was in denial. Now that their world has been rocked the healing can begin and after that would be the step of building on solid ground!
When have you been unable to see a situation or have lived in denial?
What fears were keeping you trapped in your delusion or in The Tower?
What was your lightning bolt?
How did you feel when lightning hit your metaphorical tower?
How do you feel when you look back at the Tower?
Images Used on The Site. Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, known also as the Rider Tarot and the Waite Tarot, reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902. c. 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc