16 THE TOWER XVI

KEYWORDS:
Quarrels, disruption, upheavals, catastrophe, Divine intervention, stroke of fate, reversal of fortune, destruction of old structures and ways, misfortune, accident, humiliation, sudden change, upheaval, pride, liberation.

ASTROLOGY:
Aries



PLANETS:
Mars



NUMBER:
16   
7    



GNOTHOLOGY:
Harmony



ELEMENT:
Fire



CORRESPONDING RUNE:
Hagalaz        
 

CORRESPONDING I CHING:
Deterioration



DIVINTORY MEANING:
The breaking down of existing forms; sudden unexpected changes; changing false structures and finding true values.



ANIMAL/S:
Vulture
Dove
Lion
Snake


(Spiritual Animal Symbology) 


ASSOCIATED COLOUR: 
Red



MASTER:
The Master for The Tower is the Master Ragoczy. The Master Ragoczy was known as the Compte de St Germain in one incarnation on the Earth plane. His interests include overseeing the growth of consciousness and manifesting the return to more harmony, and also melodious musical sounds.



The Master Ragoczy identifies with the Violet Flame, amethyst, and the frequency of gold.



The Master Ragoczy works with the energy of the 7th Ray of Ritual and Ceremony, the number 16, and the month of July.



TREE OF LIFE:
On the Tree of Life, pathway 16 connects sephira HOD  (8) keyword: splendour to NETZACH (7) keyword: victory



The energy of The Tower combines splendour and victory to bring about radical upheavals. These upheavals are generally caused by a false sense of security.



HERB:  GARLIC

Garlic is a stimulant, an aromatic, a calmative, an anti-biotic, a tonic and an emmenagogue. It is used for digestive and circulatory problems, and also for lung and bronchial problems.



Garlic’s strong odour will cut through most blockages and obstacles, which is why historically it has been known as the ‘Herb of Breakthroughs’.  When other antibiotics fail or do not work, use garlic.



Symbolically, Garlic is used for personal breakthroughs in relationships and for becoming more attentive to others. It also helps one to become more tolerant and more flexible.



The Divinatory meaning is to make one humble. Garlic prepares the way for true realizations and awakening the truth.



THE MESSAGE:
The Tower is the only man-made image in the tarot, and as such, represents the constraints of society’s demands and the strict requirements of convention. Sometimes we are so afraid to commit a wrong in society’s eyes that we commit a wrong to ourselves instead. We are so ashamed of our shadow that we build a persona or labyrinth within to hide it. We then find ourselves in the unhappy position of having to put more energy into the disguise than anything else.  Psychologically, we use more energy to keep secrets of which we are ashamed.



The Tower tarot card illustrates that neither the physical nor emotional structures we build are stable or permanent, but rather, can be destroyed suddenly, bringing with it the changes we attempted to avoid.



A sudden change symbolized by the crumbling tower tells us to let go of outgrown beliefs and values, and to let go of unhealthy relationships and old ways of life. Sudden changes free us to walk our own paths, enabling us to reach our potentials. It allows us to move forward in our lives instead of sitting stagnant, and this enlightens us along our path.



The Tower card reflects what happens when we hide from the truth and refuse to confront our own transgressions. It may start with a small lie that grows and grows until it forms a tangled, complex web, and the disguise starts to cause more discomfort than the initial lie itself.



As we become increasingly aware of how much we are betraying our true selves, we start to welcome the ‘bolt of lightening’ which destroys the façade.



The Tower tells of the effect of your actions on other people in the future.



The Tower tells of quarrels, disruption, upheavals and the release of old ways. It can represent destruction and opposition and asks that you look at the fact that change must happen and that the more you fight change, the more difficult it can become  -  for it is only after the change (or destruction) that your enlightenment will come.



The Tower can be considered a ‘cleansing’ card, particularly of things that are not on a firm foundation or footing.



The Tower tells that pride comes before a fall, so we need to do things with humility. It also indicates that you must get yourself into gear and makes sure the right attitude is present.



The Tower indicates the shedding of old layers and removing debris to clear the way for positive change. Often, for positive change to occur some unpleasantness may transpire in the process. The ultimate result though, should affirm an improved state of being after the necessary actions have taken place.



The Tower presses us into action so that we can change our circumstances. These disturbances will ultimately turn out for the best, but we may beg to differ when the cataclysms are occurring because, when it is all over, our lifestyle will have dramatically changed. These changes will ultimately turn out for the best (a ‘blessing in disguise’) – as we will see with hindsight  -  but when the cataclysms are occurring we certainly won’t see it as such. Because of this, when it is all over, our lives and lifestyle will have dramatically changed.



The Tower is said to be derived from the Tower of Babel. The Tower of Babel contained all the knowledge of the world in a library. God destroyed this library to show that knowledge alone does not make a person great  -  a person needs humility and wisdom. The Tower then, is symbolic of false hopes and ideas.



The two falling figures (one male, one female) are indicting that perhaps the foundation was not steady to begin with, and that there is a need to build a firmer foundation.



The yellow flames shown are indicative of the life-force. 



The lightening flash, the ultimate fire, brings unprecedented spiritual growth and soul illumination. The gold arrows (the lightening) tell of awareness being brought about in a flash, and the breaking away of old structures. The lightening is representative of Divine Fire, which will destroy only that which is considered ‘evil’ and purifies that which is good. 


The Tower, appearing to be struck by lightening and starting to crumble, tells us the unexpected is to be welcomed as it liberates us from stale routine and jaded opinions.



The crown represents materialist and superficial thoughts falling from high.



Being ruled by Mars, the planet of war, not only does The Tower denote upheaval and destruction, but it also relates to sexual energies and the energies of desire, as these attributes are also ruled by Mars. Along with the energies of Mars comes a great influx of energy, and these energies are quick-acting and fast-moving. This is often caused because of smouldering thoughts and feelings that have been kept in for too long suddenly erupt to the surface in a rush.



In association with Aries, which states, ‘I seek myself’, The Tower represents the individual ego and carries the vibrations of insecurity, brashness, rashness and high-powered energy. The Tower tells of a crisis that may free one from their ego.



The Tower is related to the number 16 which is a karmic number. 16 asks that you keep your feet on the path of higher learning. The number 16 reduces to the
number 7 which is called the ‘Sacred spiritual number’  -  the number of the mystic. The 7 vibration represents rest, contemplation, spirituality, sensitivity, sympathy and mastery. 7 indicates a time of solitude and asking questions of oneself.



MEANING:
In a reading, The Tower tells you to be prepared for rapid changes as situations in your life are moving fast. Change is inevitable as karmic forces will cause breakdowns in relationships of all kinds (including business and financial situations) - particularly those you consider to be of a permanent nature. Accept the changes, and plan for the future as clinging to the past will hinder your progress.



In a reading, The Tower may be indicating sudden unexpected changes, and/or changes in one’s behaviour or misguided beliefs is needed.



The Tower informs you of unexpected positive changes. It brings flashes of intuition and breaking free of restrictions and tells of sudden events occurring that will bring a new direction. 



The Tower tells of the need to take a long look at your life, and accept that sweeping changes may need to be made.



The Tower in a reading asks that you be willing to make the effort to break through pretence, sparing yourself a great deal of anguish. 



Appearing in a reading, The Tower can be an indication of the need to break down unhealthy structures within yourself. The Tower card can be seen as an indication that the time has come to make a new start. You should have inner-peace and be aware of the whole picture rather than be held back by dwelling on the negative changes.



The Tower represents an unexpected blow to the ego or pride, which at first can seem humiliating and damaging. With hindsight though, it proves to be a useful experience from which lessons will have been learned.



In a spread, The Tower may indicate a physical injury, which is not as severe or damaging as it may have first appeared.



REVERSED MEANING:
Keywords:
Distress, procrastination, self-injury, self-sabotage, separations, unwelcome changes, unexpected events, adversity, deception, ruin, oppression, imprisonment, tyranny, ongoing depression.



The Tower reversed signifies some misfortune or unpleasant event which could have been avoided or which has been allowed to develop over a period of time. In a sense, the resulting injury is self-inflicted.



The Tower appearing reversed in a reading may be inferring that you feel dominated by someone or something and feel powerless to fight back. You should concentrate on the future and on ways to redress the balance of power.



When The Tower appears reversed in a reading it indicates that things are changing for a good reason. Try not to resist the inevitable destruction of present circumstances as they are necessary.



The Tower indicates that you are to expect change for the worse, maybe even an unforeseen catastrophe. It signified that plans may be brought to an abrupt halt.



The Tower reversed may be warning of sudden unemployment, loss of security and position.


When The Tower appears reversed in a reading, it is warning you that you can be (and possibly are) your own worst enemy. Do not be so self-destructive.



The Tower reversed indicates chaos to do with financial issues or emotional upheaval – possibly even both.



Reversed, The Tower tells of the wrong use (or abuse) of personal will and power.


The reversed Tower can refer to false imprisonment, false accusations, oppression and/or being trapped in an unhappy situation or relationship/s. The Tower reversed asks that you be courageous and face the difficulties and obstacles ahead, and deal with them.



Reversed, The Tower asks you to look at things as they really are  -  face the facts. Don’t be put off by false ideas.  Ignore any opposition.



The Tower appearing reversed may be indicating that you are reaching a boiling point where you can no longer live within the confines that surround you.



The Tower reversed may be warning that you or someone around you is displaying a false persona. Remain aware.



PLACEMENT:

The other cards surrounding The Tower will indicate in which areas of your life the unexpected changes are most likely to occur.


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Joanne Walmsley
Sacred Scribes
NUMEROLOGY - The Vibration and Energy of Numbers
ANGEL NUMBERS - Repeating Number Sequences