The Tower - 16

Prepare for sudden and unexpected change

The Fool arrives at the Tower to find a terrifying scene.  Lightning from the heavens has broken the tower and lit it on fire.  As a result, the crown on top of the tower and the people within it begin falling in abandon towards the rocky cliffs below.  Despite all the terror, the golden drops let us know that this breakdown is divinely ordained and necessary for growth and peace in the future. This is a time of chaos and confusion where the foundation of the tower is challenged and we will see how strong it is.

Rider-Waite-Smith

Meanings

  • The Tower represents a sudden realization about a coming change or upheaval.  It may be material instability, feelings of loss, or unexpected change.

  • Long-standing beliefs in people and institutions will crumble if they’re built on poor foundations.

  • Even though intense change is painful, it is necessary to go through in order to rebuild on the other side.

  • When reversed or placed in a negative position, you may be doing your best to delay an inevitable breakdown.  Sometimes things have to fall apart in life in order to build back up – choose to let change happen.

Numerology - 16

Sixteen can indicate that trials and difficult and unsettling times are ahead.  This period requires time alone to hear intuition and inspiration. Sixteen also echoes the numerology of 7 (1+6) - sevens represent a time of learning and spiritual development and understanding illusion and deception. 

Tarot de Marseilles

Symbolism

Lightning – brings instantaneous destruction, can indicate judgement from above, a sudden breakthrough, or a push to make a change.

Fire – a sign of refining and purification, things may be difficult but if you can overcome them you will come out better on the other side.

Crown – the falling of the crown indicates the breaking of the ego and disruption of our crown chakra and the wisdom and life force that flow from it’s connection. 

Falling People – the people lack control at this moment, their fate is out of their hands.

Golden Drops – believed to be divine inspiration or influence.  The difficult times you are going through may be divinely designed.  The drops are said to be in the shape of the Hebrew letter Yod.

Foundation – this card is a test of your foundation.  Secure and strong foundations will support you, while weak foundations will crumble under the stress.

Hocus Pocus Tarot Deck

Associations

Fire – the suit of passion, creativity and making things happen, it is represented by wands in tarot.  The element of fire relates to your motivation, adventures, goals, and passion for what is in front of you.

Mars – the planet of war, conflict, and masculine energy.  It is associated with the kind of destruction necessary for true transformation.

Aries – leadership and courage, the passion and drive to make things come into fruition.  Aries has persistence that can move into the kind of stubbornness sometimes necessary for pushing through problems.

Tarot for Kids

Archetype - those whose worlds fell apart

  • Truman – The Truman Show

  • Neo – The Matrix

  • June – Handmaid’s Tale

  • Lucy Grey – Of Songbirds and Snakes

  • Scarlett O’Hara – Gone with the Wind

The Phoenix - Restart

Phoenix probably wanted another way, but sometimes you have to lose everything to be reborn into something beautiful. Don’t be afraid of destruction, good things are on the other side.

Sometimes we have to rebuild