The Cards That Scare Us: Why the Tower Might Be a Blessing in Disguise

There’s a pause that happens—maybe even a flinch—when The Tower shows up in a tarot reading. You know the one. Lightning strikes a burning structure, people tumble from its heights, and the sky behind it all is dark and foreboding. It’s one of those cards. The ones we hope won’t appear. The ones that make our stomach drop.

But what if I told you The Tower isn’t a punishment? What if this card is actually an initiation?

Let’s unravel the myth of The Tower and look deeper into what it offers—not just what it takes away.

Why The Tower Shakes Us

The Tower represents sudden change, revelation, and the collapse of false foundations. It doesn’t ask for permission. It arrives when something we’ve clung to—a belief, an identity, a relationship, or even a worldview—has grown brittle with illusion. The Tower doesn’t destroy for the sake of chaos. It clears space for truth.

It feels scary because we instinctively resist disruption. But that resistance is exactly what creates the pressure behind The Tower’s dramatic arrival.

Crumbling Isn’t the End—It’s the Beginning

In coaching, I’ve often seen Tower moments show up in a client’s life right before a major breakthrough. A lost job that makes room for purpose-aligned work. A heartbreak that leads to self-worth awakening. A disillusionment with tradition that cracks open spiritual sovereignty.

When The Tower shows up in your reading, ask:

• What am I clinging to that no longer supports my growth?

• What truth is trying to break through the noise of fear or habit?

• What would happen if I stopped resisting and started listening?

The Tower’s gift is this: it clears the path so your soul can build something real.

Tarot as a Mirror, Not a Sentence

Remember, tarot doesn’t predict your doom—it reflects your inner terrain. If The Tower appears, it may not mean a dramatic event is coming. It may be urging you to initiate the change yourself before life does it for you.

This is a sacred opportunity to engage with the archetype consciously. Journal with it. Meditate on it. Even ask: What part of me is ready to be liberated through collapse?

After the Fall Comes Growth

The Tower doesn’t stand alone in the tarot’s architecture. After it comes The Star—a card of healing, clarity, and soft spiritual renewal. This is no accident. The Tower strips away what’s false so The Star can guide us home to what’s true.

So next time The Tower shows up, don’t panic. Light a candle. Breathe deep. Thank the rubble. You’re being freed.

The road ahead is unwritten, the cards unturned—until next time, walk between the worlds.

Carrie Slayton | Tarot Traveler ©2025