Understanding The Tower
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Jun 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| EminemsAngelBaby |
02 Jun 2005 |
|
I could really use some discussion on The Tower to help me understand this card better and how to use it in readings. Sometimes in a spread the meaning is obvious, sometimes I don't know what to make of it at all. I would really like to get a deeper understanding of this one. Thanks:). EAB.
|
| EminemsAngelBaby |
02 Jun 2005 |
|
Inana thank you:).
|
| Ace |
02 Jun 2005 |
|
Give us an example of when it didn't seem clear and we might be able to help you figure it out.
Ace
|
| Emeraldgirl |
02 Jun 2005 |
|
One of the best things I have ever read about The Tower is that the destruction of the old is essential if you want to rebuild it better. I have used that thought a lot when dealing with this card in a positive light.
|
| lunakasha |
03 Jun 2005 |
|
One of the best things I have ever read about The Tower is that the destruction of the old is essential if you want to rebuild it better. I have used that thought a lot when dealing with this card in a positive light.
That is exactly how I try to look at the Tower...although I must admit I was a *little* worried when I pulled it two days in a row as my daily card!!! :eek:
So far so good....nothing too catastrophic, hehehe.
:) Luna
|
| EminemsAngelBaby |
03 Jun 2005 |
|
Hey All, thanks for the ideas.
Ace, okay here's what I mean. Example of read where it makes perfect sense. I read for a friend the other day who ran into an ex out of the blue. In the reading the card representing his perspective of the situation was the tower which made so much sense....ii came unexpectedly out of the blue and also caused some problems on the homefront.
Example where I was very confused. I did a relationship reading for myself and another and The Tower came up as advice for approaching the relationship in a healthy way and helping it grow. But the change that happens in this card seems to come from unconscious sources.....beyond those we consciously decide to put into action.....so is the advice to wait until the thing blows up cause thats where its headed? I guess it's the "unexpectedness" quality that throws me for a loop. How to use this knowledge for oneself. In the reading I had also drawn The Hierophant as the greatest strength in the relationship which is true. This person is my teacher and mentor, and in the Romani deck which I used it shows at blacksmith in the midst of shoeing a horse. The tower also has horses, one going wild and kicking another horse and wagon off a huge cliff. The bottom of his hooves are shod which attracted my attention and I saw a connection in the two cards....my eyes going back and forth between the sets of hooves. I took this to mean literally kicking the "baggage" that we had in the relationship to the curb, and thus starting anew. But this would be a conscious decision and not something unexpected. Then I thought well maybe it's just pointing out that it will come to a head sooner or later and things will change...I don't know. I do know that I have no intention of stopping study with her. So, geez,......hope this gives you an idea of my confusion. Sometimes I don't know how to give people practical advice when this card shows up.
Lunakasha, once this showed up in my daily draw and I ended up breaking a tooth....it was one that had already been capped at that! I was horrified, didn't know such a thing could even happen. I'm all better now though but it sure wasn't cheap!!!! EAB.
|
| Fudugazi |
03 Jun 2005 |
|
I have had the Tower come up in readings as - what is locked in must come out; as a coup de foudre for someone (= love at first sight, but literally: lightning strike); as leaping rather than being thrown.
All these shake you up but not necessarily in a bad way!
In a relationship it could mean - introduce an element of surprise, or declare yourself (what is locked in comes out).
|
| Lady Mary |
03 Jun 2005 |
|
I often see the Tower as some sort of a prison (can also be very comfortable and even luxurious!). The card that comes before the Tower - no. 15 - the Devil - is (among other things) about obsession, about too much of something, about feeling stuck. And in no. 16 we're in the Tower of false beliefs, of old behavior patterns. But something new is on the horizon and it must break free. This can be some sort of catastrophe, but I think in many cases this can also be a quite positive and happy event. It includes the energy of building something new.
It was a Tower-situation when I got the phone call to pick up our baby. We didn't know up to this day if or when we'd be able to adopt a child. WOW - I can still feel this energy - my old life was gone within a second! But what a happy event. :)
Tower as an advice would tell me to be open for new opportunities, not to stay to long in the fragile safety of the Tower, not to plan to meticulously the future, always consider and rethink behavior patterns and beliefs, see what might be stuck, be honest to yourself about what might be false and not true.
|
| EminemsAngelBaby |
03 Jun 2005 |
|
Wow, I'm starting to get more of a handle on this card. Thank you both for your help.
Lady Mary,
Very interesting as the card I drew for myself, how I was approaching the relationship was indeed The Devil, and I have been feeling stuck. Looks like something may be changing of it's own accord and blow all that has been up to this point away. Will be interesting to see what this actually is. Especially since the card of advice in this spread pertains to both people.
|
| Inana |
03 Jun 2005 |
|
As has been said, Tower as advice, usually refers to not to keep your thoughts, feelings or resentments to yourself. Say what you need to say, even if it’s no easy. Don’t keep the issues private to you… or the situation will end blowing up.
Another possibility is the relationship need a bit of checking, acknowledging some truths that one is trying to ignore, and make some changes to build stronger foundations.
Finally, it also can point the need to break up the routine, make something new and unexpected that puts some adrenaline in your life.
|
| Ace |
04 Jun 2005 |
|
Example where I was very confused. I did a relationship reading for myself and another and The Tower came up as advice for approaching the relationship in a healthy way and helping it grow. But the change that happens in this card seems to come from unconscious sources.....beyond those we consciously decide to put into action.....so is the advice to wait until the thing blows up cause thats where its headed? I guess it's the "unexpectedness" quality that throws me for a loop. How to use this knowledge for oneself. In the reading I had also drawn The Hierophant as the greatest strength in the relationship which is true. This person is my teacher and mentor, and in the Romani deck which I used it shows at blacksmith in the midst of shoeing a horse. The tower also has horses, one going wild and kicking another horse and wagon off a huge cliff. The bottom of his hooves are shod which attracted my attention and I saw a connection in the two cards....my eyes going back and forth between the sets of hooves. I took this to mean literally kicking the "baggage" that we had in the relationship to the curb, and thus starting anew. But this would be a conscious decision and not something unexpected. Then I thought well maybe it's just pointing out that it will come to a head sooner or later and things will change...I don't know. I do know that I have no intention of stopping study with her. So, geez,......hope this gives you an idea of my confusion. Sometimes I don't know how to give people practical advice when this card shows up.
WOW! what a great reading! That part about kicking the baggage to the curb rings true, especially with what Lady Mary says. The Devil is mental baggage, resentments, and the Tower is "I am mad as Hell and I am not going to TAKE it anymore!" and breaking out of that bogged down in baggage state by exploding. It is uncontrolled, I think, but not always unexpected.
It is also sometimes very positive: Dynamite is a tool to clear jams. If you need dynamite to do it, then you use it. Not neccessarily the best approach but one that works. It is the believe that it must be UNEXPECTED that is blocking you from seeing the whole story here. You can have planned (if not always controlled) explosions.
Ace
|
| EminemsAngelBaby |
04 Jun 2005 |
|
Aha, I see...that makes sense. Thanks Ace. Lately I've been getting a real education in this card! In the last couple of days it's been showing up in readings for others reversed...hehe.......I'm getting a well rounded education.
|
| Fudugazi |
05 Jun 2005 |
|
The Devil is also our great Liberator - Lucifer, angel of Light, who has no times for taboos and self-imposed shackles (well, see what he does to those people who accept the shackles, lol!) : he is urging you to use that Tower Power - as Ace said - in a controlled explosion.
This use reminds me of what we do in the Alps after a heavy snowfall. In order to prevent a huge avalanch that can kill and destroy, explosives experts proceed to controlled dynamiting during the night or very early mornings in places where they can anticipate the path of the avalanch and channel it where it won't cuase harm to man or nature. That would be a "Tower as advice" use (quite literally). So not only to clear blocks (as Ace suggested) but also to provoke a "controlled crisis" that can be channelled. I have made use of that on one or two occasions with obturate or highly insensitive people - if not overused it can be very effective.
|
| full deck |
05 Jun 2005 |
|
I have had the Tower come up in readings as - what is locked in must come out; as a coup de foudre for someone (= love at first sight, but literally: lightning strike); as leaping rather than being thrown.
All these shake you up but not necessarily in a bad way!
In a relationship it could mean - introduce an element of surprise, or declare yourself (what is locked in comes out). I just did a reading relating to a question regarding a relationship that had sexual overtones and this card came up. I read it some what along the same lines as you did (for this person). The querant was a man, thus I took it also as being a rather phallic symbol of intent and result, not love at first sight, in this case. I also told him be very much aware of what he wanted and what he was getting.
|
| Ace |
05 Jun 2005 |
|
I just did a reading relating to a question regarding a relationship that had sexual overtones and this card came up. I read it some what along the same lines as you did (for this person). The querant was a man, thus I took it also as being a rather phallic symbol of intent and result, not love at first sight, in this case. I also told him be very much aware of what he wanted and what he was getting.
WOW! I have never seen a sexual side to the Tower, but it makes sense to me. An exploding tower could be rather orgasmic, and a reversed tower as impotence: can't "get it up" as it were.
EminemsAngelBaby; Think of the tower reversed as NOT what you see up side up. If you see the tower as break outs, then reversed (Rx) is not willing/able to break out. I think of the tower at times as "mental constipation": being stuck, and unable to move past a block. Not able to think "outside the box".
Ace
|
| EminemsAngelBaby |
05 Jun 2005 |
|
Hmmmm....Very interesting. Everyone, thank you. Helvetica, can you give me an example of using the "controlled crisis" with a person. Could it be any sort of "crisis"? I mean not necessarily verbal confrontation, but something else? Or would this be more of the type thing where you come home and beat up your pillows to get some of the negativity out? I fear if I say what I really want to say to her I'll ruin my chances of our being able to work together as teacher and student.
|
| Fudugazi |
05 Jun 2005 |
|
Gosh, I really couldn't say what you can do! But no, I don't mean beating the pillows up, not the way I've dealt with that type of Tower before. In my case it went through some sort of confrontation - I don't mean an attack, I mean prepared, precise and clear - a bomb you lay rather than one that blows up under you. It's always a risk (with real dynamite too!!) - because although you can control yourself and be very clear in your head, you can't control another human being (they're a bit different from snow ;)) But here we are entering the realms of psychology, which I am not qualified to talk about. I only now that confrontation comes with clarity and inner strength - but also with openness and willingness to understand the other side.
I suppose working off your frustration in some way or other is beneficial too - to you.
Maybe you could try and do a reading about the Tower in that advice sense, applied to that situation? Take it out of the pack and lay it down, then draw three cards (max) asking how to put this Tower advice into practice, what to beware of, what's helpful, etc. At the end of the day, using the Tower as a tool is always dangerous, but sometimes it is much less so than the alternative of letting the volcano build up and blow up despite you. So you can ask for gloves at least - in other cards!!
|
| EminemsAngelBaby |
05 Jun 2005 |
|
Ooh....I like that idea. Thank you. That's what I'm going to do:).
|
| january |
13 Jun 2005 |
|
I just got the Tower as the "probable outcome" in a relationship spread the other day and I wasn't too alarmed by it. With the 4/Pentacles as the current situation and the other cards pointing to avoidance and indecision the Tower was a blessing as in "something's gotta give". My advice was that these two people need to get everything out in the open and throw aside their defenses and stubborn pride. The Tower represented the metaphorical wall that they've constructed between themselves and had to come down if anything was going to improve.
|
The Understanding The Tower thread was originally posted on 02 Jun 2005 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.
|
