#16: The Tower
The Tower is the card of upheaval, sudden change, and breaking illusions. It represents moments when everything seems to collapse—but not without purpose. The Tower tears down what is unstable, forcing us to rebuild something stronger. In queer spaces, this card speaks to the moments of reckoning—when we break free from false identities, oppressive structures, or limiting beliefs. Though The Tower’s destruction can feel chaotic, it is ultimately liberating, clearing the way for truth.
UPRIGHT
Sudden change, upheaval, revelation, breaking illusions, transformation through destruction
REVERSED
Fear of change, resisting transformation, delayed upheaval, avoiding the inevitable
The Tower Overview
The Tower arrives like a lightning strike—sudden, intense, and impossible to ignore. This card does not represent minor shifts but deep, foundational transformations. Whether it's a belief system crumbling, a relationship ending, or a sudden life event forcing you to change, The Tower demands that the old fall away so something more authentic can take its place.
If The Tower appears in your reading, something unstable in your life may be coming to an end. This can be jarring, but it is necessary. What is falling apart is not meant to last—it was built on shaky ground. The destruction is not punishment but an opportunity to rebuild with clarity and strength.
Symbolism and Imagery
The Crumbling Tower – Represents structures that can no longer stand, whether they are beliefs, relationships, or circumstances.
The Lightning Bolt – A sudden force of truth, striking down illusions and forcing clarity.
The Falling Figures – People tumbling from the tower symbolize the loss of control but also the release from something that was never truly secure.
The Fire and Smoke – Represents destruction, purification, and the need for rebirth.
The Dark Sky – A moment of chaos, but with the promise that new light will come.
Upright Meaning
Upright, The Tower signifies an unavoidable change that shakes things up. While it may be difficult, this moment of upheaval is clearing space for something more aligned. Trust that what is being removed is making way for truth and growth.
In a reading, ask yourself: What in my life is crumbling, and why? Am I willing to release what no longer serves me? How can I embrace this transformation rather than fear it?
Reversed Meaning
Reversed, The Tower suggests fear of change or resisting transformation. You may be holding onto something that is already falling apart, delaying the inevitable. While avoiding destruction may seem safer, it often prolongs discomfort. Surrendering to the shift will bring clarity and freedom.
In a reading, ask yourself: Am I resisting a necessary change? What would happen if I let go?
Final Thoughts
The Tower reminds us that sometimes, destruction is necessary for growth. Though this moment may be difficult, trust that it is clearing the way for something more authentic. Let the old fall so the new can rise.
#16: The Tower
Queer and Transgender Meaning
The Tower is the sudden, life-altering moment when everything falls apart—the destruction of old identities, the collapse of false narratives, the breaking down of everything that no longer fits. It is terrifying, chaotic, and inevitable. But after the dust settles, there is something new: freedom. This card reminds you that sometimes, things have to fall apart so you can build something real.
UPRIGHT
Sudden change, upheaval, breaking free, destruction of illusions, revelation
REVERSED
Fear of change, avoiding transformation, clinging to the past, resistance
The Tower and the Trans Experience
Every trans person has a Tower moment. It is the realization that life cannot continue as it was. It is the moment when denial shatters, when the weight of pretending becomes unbearable, when the facade collapses and all that is left is truth.
For many, this card represents coming out—a moment of rupture, of truth breaking through repression, of irreversible change. It can also signify a period of loss—relationships ending, old versions of self crumbling, the structures that once felt stable turning to dust.
The Tower is painful, but it is also liberating. It clears away everything that was never meant to last. It strips away falsehoods and forces you to start again, this time on solid ground. This is the moment when you stop clinging to what was and finally step into what is.
The Tower asks: What are you afraid to let fall? What outdated structures are keeping you trapped? How can you embrace the collapse and build something new?
Symbolism and Imagery
The Tower’s imagery is all about destruction and revelation.
A burning tower struck by lightning – Sudden, unavoidable change. The destruction of something unstable.
Figures falling from the tower – The loss of old identities, the release of what no longer serves you.
Dark storm clouds – The chaos and fear that often come with sudden transformation.
Fire consuming the structure – A reminder that destruction is also a form of purification.
Upright Meaning: Radical Transformation
When The Tower appears upright, it signals a moment of intense change—one that may feel like an ending, but is actually a beginning.
For trans people, this might mean:
Coming out and facing the consequences – Some structures in your life may not survive your truth, but what remains will be real.
A sudden shift in identity or self-perception – Realizing something new about yourself that changes everything.
Breaking free from repression – No longer pretending, no longer fitting into someone else’s expectations.
Letting go of what was never meant to last – Old beliefs, toxic relationships, internalized shame—all of it must burn so you can move forward.
This card reminds you that the collapse is not the end—it is the beginning of something real.
Reversed Meaning: Fear and Resistance
When The Tower appears reversed, you may be resisting change, fearing the collapse, or trying to hold onto something that is already falling.
For trans people, this can look like:
Delaying transition out of fear – Knowing the truth but avoiding action.
Clinging to relationships or roles that do not align with you – Staying in spaces that do not affirm you.
Fearing the unknown – Worrying about what life will look like after everything changes.
Ignoring the signs of necessary transformation – If something feels unstable, it is time to let it go.
The Tower reversed is a warning: You cannot avoid the storm. The longer you resist, the harder the fall.
Final Thoughts
The Tower is the painful but necessary destruction of everything that no longer serves you. It is the moment when the old self dies and the real self steps forward.
This card says: Let it fall. The life that comes next will be worth it.