The Tower

✦ CHANGE; CATACLYSM; DANGER; EPIPHANY

✦ Shattered Figures

A figure is shattered into pieces, a sudden and violent event. The Tower card indicates that a great change is coming. It will be unexpected and it will be uncomfortable.

✦ Symbols of Power and Peace

To the figure’s left floats a crown, a symbol of power and control, cut in half. To her right is a bouquet of flowers, indicating peace and beauty, also cut in half.

✦ Unpredictable Events and Insight

Events feel unpredictable and disparaging, but the figure holds in her hands a glowing glass orb. It is cracked and vulnerable, but there is an insight to be gained. A massive eye opens in the dim background: keep your senses open and learn from this experience.

✦ Symbolism of Sudden Change

The Tower symbolizes sudden change, but also the possibility of a great epiphany and moment of realization. Ensure this uncomfortable moment is a learning experience.

✦ ADDITIONAL ARTWORK:

✦ Fox and the Grapes

Beside the figure are the Fox and the Grapes, a parable that exemplifies Cognitive Dissonance. In this parable, a fox sees a bunch of grapes. It attempts to reach the grapes but eventually realizes it cannot. Rather than admitting its own shortcomings, it convinces itself that the grapes themselves are sour and that it should not bother.

✦ Understanding Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive Dissonance is an uncomfortable in-between mental state, a result of an action and a belief being incongruent, e.g., loving animals and eating meat, or believing oneself honest while lying. This incongruence leads to distress as the person attempts to reconcile the opposing belief and action in one of three ways. Using the latter example, these are: 1) change the behavior (I will stop lying) 2) justify the behavior (I needed to lie) and 3) deny the information (white lies are not lies).

✦ Correction of Actions

The Tower card asks us to realize the unpleasant truth: that we are wrong and must correct our actions.