The Tower
The Tower symbolizes ill fortune, material loss, and dismantling the ego. It suggests a connection to the Wheel of Fortune, balancing the elements that destroy and rebuild. The imagery of the card conveys themes of hubris and the necessity of calamity to test and ultimately strengthen one's resolve.
Keywords
Ill Fortune and Elements
The Tower is the card of ill fortune, material loss, and dismantling the ego. I wanted it to reference the Wheel of Fortune, and so once again all four elements are present. Waves slam against the rocky earth from which the Tower rises; fire blazes from the lightning-struck turret; and winds sweep away the crumbling edifice. Blue has been an accent color for a lot of the more peaceful cards and therefore an odd choice for such a tempestuous image, but I chose it for the Tower as a reminder that there is always a calm that comes after the storm.
Symbolism
The figure was originally conceived of as Icarus, a fitting symbol of hubris brought low. But Icarus was also a dreamer, a prisoner seeking escape. It feels cruel to mock him for flying too close to the sun, when we know that what he flies from is the darkness of the labyrinth. The figure can also be seen as Lucifer in the midst of his fall, a proud angel defying God, and brought low by challenging the established authority. With both those figures we tend to feel kinship and sympathy despite what they are meant to represent in the dominant cultural narrative.
Resilience Through Calamity
In my original sketch, the Tower was still intact, and my husband rightfully pointed out that it should not be able to withstand the calamity of violent weather that assaults it. The Tower must be broken down for its mettle to be tested, and for it to be rebuilt again stronger. Without calamity, we can’t know happiness, and without surviving catastrophe, we would never know our own strength and endurance. What does not kill us makes us stronger.
Fyodor Pavlov tarot
💜 Please support creators. Buy official decks.
ℹ️ Disclaimer
All card images and descriptions are taken from public sources. They are used for review purposes only. All rights to these images and descriptions belong to their creators. If you believe there is a copyright infringement, please contact us at [email protected].