The Tower - Should one be passive or active?

[Riesj-Heart]

In various card readings and numerology (number 16) i always struggle with what to do when the tower comes up. I think i understand it’s meaning (big change, stress, etc) but in all the information i can find about the tower it always looks as if a big interference is happening from outside. Aa something you don’t have any control over and will give you a lot of stress and will finally change your perspective or actions. To me it presents itself as something one has te endure but not act upon.

 

To give an example: i recently had two towers in a numerology reading (as two periodic influences). In this case the working environment was very stress full and starting to get more exhausting by the day. But i didn’t understand how to act. Does that mean one can’t act to solve the problems? Like quitting or changing jobs? Or just endure?

In general: Could the tower be a sign one should come in action and change an uncomfortable pattern? Or should one sit back, endure and wait for the patterns to change from the outside?

Edited August 25, 2022 by Riesj-Heart

[joy]

Hey @Riesj-Heart as you are interested in Numerology I assume you know what the 16 has in store? And it also equals to 7 which talks about spiritual and emotional challenges. The number 16 / 7 also is about surrender. So I think the Tower makes sense, surrender to what happens, you can not fight it.

 

But of course like in your example you can quit a job, the cards do not tell you what you have to do, it is your decision in the end. However depends on what happened and why it happened it could be it is a pattern and will be repeated in the next job.

 

Just a couple of days ago I read an interesting description of the Tower: think about a plant in a pot. The plant is outgrown of the pot and because of that, the expanded roots break the pot.

 

It all needs to be put in context to really understand the full meaning of any card in my opinion.

[Raggydoll]

Majors are typically representing forces outside of our control. That doesn’t mean we won’t do our best to prepare or to manage the situation. It also depends on the reading and the question you asked. Sometimes it’s valuable to ask further questions when cards like the tower shows up, especially if you would like to act on it but don’t know how. 
 

Also, if predictive readings stress you out then you might want to ask questions that are specifically geared towards guidance instead of the typical ‘past, present, future’. 

[DanielJUK]

I always think in many of the card pictures that The Tower is built on unstable foundations, in RWS on craggy rocks. Your structure is going to be challenged but you were going in a direction without strong foundations. It's sometimes a revelation and sometimes it can be a positive life change, like someone is single for a long time and meets someone who rocks their world! Something will be challenged and tested!

 

This is something that needs to happen, it will put you on the right track and eventually you will realise this change had to happen. It can bring an awakening and freedom from a bad situation.

 

I don't think you can avoid or change things with The Tower, it comes out of the blue from a direction you are not expecting! Also it can be positive and / or it might put you in a much better path in life or a situation. Yes it can bring pain and change but it's destined. The lightning hits the tower out of the blue in most cards, yes you could put one of those Lightning Rods on the tower that conduct the electricity to ground it but will it still hit the roof and cause it the collapse due to the unstable footings? Every time the tower has come up for me, I have not seen how it's going to be! If you want to do something active about it, just be ready to be calm and try to relax with your emotions, you will get through whatever happens for sure 🙂

[maira]

Great insights here!

 

The way I see it the Tower has both passive & active elements. Passive in the sense that how it was said here, it usually refers to situations/events that simply just happen. Everything seems ok and then out of the blue something you considered so solid is challenged and crumbles before your eyes. And usually there’s little you can do about it.

HOWEVER, The Tower is connected to the Chariot (1+6=7). To me it means that once the Tower moment hits, you need a great amount of fortitude and determination to not only release what needs to be released but to fiercely change routes in your best interest. That is pure chariot energy right there!

Also, let’s not forget that after the Tower it comes the Star. A time to envision how you would like to rebuild and work from there, from a much more genuine & fulfilling place.

If your job sucks you cannot stay there. Once you have the realization that comes from the Tower it’s up to you to make the adjustments needed. But again, only the realization is not enough. An action is needed there.

It’s Mars (Tower - Fire) & Cancer (Chariot - Water) energies intertwined.

Again, both passive & active elements to it.

 

English is not my first language, hope it makes sense 

Edited August 25, 2022 by maira

[Eric13]

There was an excellent discussion a couple of years ago on the Tower specifically. What the Tower actually represented in earlier times of tarot. It was a representation, or even a metaphor, which a lot of tarot is also based on, the human body. The Tower can also be looked at as a card of union. As in a joining together of two different people, ideas, and so on. And like Raggydoll said, Majors also represent something out of our control, a major influence over us. I also liked what Joy said about the numbers, 16/7. That's an option to consider as well. (Actually, I like all the responses, even the OP!) But, it always helps to have a direct reason to be looking at the cards also.