Healing Light

There are only a few cards in Tarot that evoke an immediate reaction regardless of how much you know about the meanings of the different tarot cards. The Tower, number 16 in the major Arcana, is one of those cards. The image in the Rider Waite deck features a high tower rising up from a mountain set amid a black background with gray clouds and fire raining down from these. The Tower is aflame, set fire by a lightning strike, flames are coming out of the top and the windows, and there are figures jumping from the windows in the desperate act of trying to escape the destruction.

The imagery of the Tower card clearly points to destruction which is likely to trigger fear in most of us, right?  But a partner to destruction is the opportunity for release, and for many of us that may present as anticipation.  If you’re over 30, you’ve probably had your Saturn Return and understand what it is to destroy and rebuild. If you haven’t yet, then you’ve got something to look forward to 🙂.  

When this card comes up in a spread for you in a future position, you can be confident that some significant change is coming your way. If the card causes you to worry or sparks fear rather than hopefulness, consider these tips to turn your fear into anticipation. First, there are almost always parts of our lives that could use a reboot but for some reason, we sidestep making the needed changes. Set aside some quiet time to contemplate what areas of your life aren’t really working. Spoiler alert: you need to be honest with yourself. If you are in a relationship that isn’t satisfying you but you’re scared to let go of what you have for the ‘potential’ of what you really want and need, you’ve set up a Tower-worthy situation. If your career has stagnated but you are holding out, hoping it will somehow magically get better, the Tower may be pointing you to a ‘surprise’ job loss which will force you to find something that’s a better fit. Finally, if there are areas of your life that you know need to change, but haven’t been able to initiate that change, the Tower is here to show you the way from darkness to light—it just may not be easy.

The main message of the Tower card is that what exists must be destroyed in order for it to be rebuilt.  And with rebuilding, improvements, modernization and updates will be made so the new supersedes the old.  If you’re lucky, you will see the Tower card several times in your life.  This means that you are growing and keep transitioning.  Life isn’t meant to be stagnant, even if that is an easy and comfortable path.  Growth comes from change, and you’re here to grow, learn and elevate your awareness.  To quote Semisonic in Closing Time, “every new beginning, comes from some beginning’s end.” 

Blessed Be.