Tower vs Death divinitory readings

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

wolfen045	29 Sep 2003
I still have trouble picking up on the sutble differences between the Tower and Death cards in my readings. I know they are similar yet distinct but I still have a hard time keeping their meanings clear in my mind. At least for readings. When I use the cards for meditation they are clearer. Any comments anyone? Blessings, wolfen

Dark_angel	29 Sep 2003
I see the Death card as symbolising an important change in a person's life, usually a positive one which involves shedding negative issues. The Tower seems more like the destruction of long-established beliefs/attitudes due to a rude awakening. It doesn't necessarily mean that the person will change substantially (an almost identical tower could be built in its place) but that the opportunity is given to rebuild and redevelop out of date attitudes - the person has the chance to become more enlightened, but only if they are flexible enough to survive the fall. Hope that helps. xxx

Umbrae	29 Sep 2003
IMO, Death is change that occurs normally – the passage of time, it’s a wiping away of the old, a dumping of baggage. The Tower now, is a whole different thing. It’s about rigidity of self. That “I’m special” illusion. The "I’m separate from you and ‘oh-so-special’"…and the subsequent collapse of the illusion. It’s a moment when the house needs cleaning, and a fire-hose does the cleaning. The Tower tells us to “Take the cotton out of your ears, and stick it in your mouth, shut-up and listen.” Most folks have an issue admitting they are wrong. And The Tower can also remind us that losing all hope sets us free.

isthmus nekoi	29 Sep 2003
Death follows a sacrifice of will or acceptance (Hanged Man), it is letting go, reaching the final stage of something, completion, and the transition from one stage to the next. Tower follows bondange, control and fear (Devil), the root of the previous two qualities. It is destruction, it is change pitted against or in conjunction w/will, power and desire. I would say the former is characterized by the absence of fear, whereas the latter results from the presence of fear.

The Tower vs Death divinitory readings thread was originally posted on 29 Sep 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.