The Tower, or House of God, is also sometimes known as the 'Tower of Destruction', the 'Lightning-struck Tower', or the 'Tower of Babel' blasted. It is a dramatic, apocalyptic image. The symbol is perhaps most obviously linked to the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, which was intended by its builders to reach heaven. These people, who were descendants of Noah, planned to invade God's domain to avenge their ancestors who were drowned in the legendary flood. This never happened, for God caused them all to speak different languages and thus they were unable to communicate with each other. Lightning itself is associated with both wrath and destruction, as well as with fertility and inspiration in myth. Zeus, the father of the gods, hurled thunderbolts around, demonstrating his power. The Devil, as Lucifer the fallen angel, was also believed to use lightning to strike at church towers, something he was rather successful at. In traditional Aborigine belief, the Lightning Snake precedes the Great Mother by bringing the all-important wet season; "When he raises his lengthening body from the springs, billabongs and rivers to the sky, flashing and roaring, the rains and floods come, and with them the wet season and the promise of life and increase for nature and man." In the Tarot, the Tower precedes the Star - a card representing energy and activity. As a god, Mars was the Roman god of war who formerly protected crops and animals from storms, droughts and pestilence. Interpretation The Tower Exhilarating change is about to turn your life upside-down. At first, this may seem disruptive, even violent, for the Tower carries extraordinary overtones. Yet this change is necessary and positive, for it brings freedom and enlightenment in its wake. The change signified by the Tower may take a number of forms. They can come from deep within the psyche, denoting a radical upheaval of beliefs, values or behaviour. These new ways of thinking may seem sudden, or even frightening for they are likely to erupt into consciousness without much prior warning. Sometimes the Tower suggests anger, and you may find yourself on a very short fuse under its influence. This is particularly true if you are someone who normally tries to keep the peace, repressing your own temper in the process. This card can also indicate a swift change of home. You may decide to sell; a buyer walks in the next day and you find the home you want with similar speed. Within a couple of months you are living somewhere else, and attempting to catch your breath. In terms of career, the changes are no less dramatic. You may suddenly hand in your notice; a new and unexpected source of income manifests 'out of the blue'; you are suddenly inspired to train for a new career, shocking friends and family. You may even find yourself redundant, but this will turn out to be very positive in the end. You are likely to have been in a rut, and this upheaval is giving you a chance to climb out of it. When the Tower refers to a relationship you are warned that things cannot carry on as before. Perhaps this association was not based on real feelings, or one of you was simply stringing the other along. If the relationship has a strong and enduring foundation it will be transformed for the better, although you may expect a bumpy ride before things settle down. Reversed The Tower reversed is even more disruptive and chaotic. The firm you work for collapses overnight, with loss of jobs all round. You could be sacked for totally unfair reasons and find yourself unemployed and financially insecure. Again, negative as these changes appear on the surface, there is a good reason behind them. It could take you some time to realise that you are free to do something more interesting. Similarly, relationships may break up very suddenly, leaving you vulnerable and puzzled. You want to know why, but the answer seems to lie hidden somewhere out of your reach. Depending upon the surrounding cards, the Tower reversed can also indicate some form of imprisonment. This can, of course, be literally interpreted but usually suggests that you are stuck in a negative situation where you cannot express yourself freely. You are unable to improve matters immediately, but this card promises that you will eventually achieve freedom - at a price. 0 - The Fool 1 - The Magician 2 - The High Priestess 3 - The Empress 4 - The Emperor 5 - The Hierophant or Pope 6 - The Lovers 7 - The Chariot 8 - Justice 9 - The Hermit 10 - The Wheel of Fortune 11 - Strength 12 - The Hanged Man 13 - Death 14 - Temperance 15 - The Devil 16 - The Tower 17 - The Star 18 - The Moon 19 - The Sun 20 - Judgment 21 - The World