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Reversed

Major Arcana · XVI

The Tower Tarot Card Meaning

Arcana
Major Arcana
Number
XVI · No. 16
Yes or no
No

Upright meaning

Sudden upheaval · collapse · revelation

Something unexpected shakes the old structure. It is also a chance to build something stronger where it fell.

Reversed meaning

Disaster averted · delayed change · hidden cracks

You avoided the big shock, but the root problem remains. Fix it yourself first and it won't come crashing down.

In a yes-or-no reading

  • UprightNoThe card says it won't be easy as things stand.
  • ReversedNoThe card says it won't be easy as things stand.

Its place in the Major Arcana

The 22 cards of life's big currents and turning points. They are read as one person's journey from 0, The Fool, to 21, The World, and the more of them in a spread, the more the matter goes beyond personal choice.

Cards 15 to 21 are the stage of becoming one with a larger world through collapse and awakening, arriving at hope, rebirth and completion.

The 22 Major Arcana

All card meanings

Draw your own

Now that you know the card, think of one question and shuffle the deck yourself. Which of the 78 cards comes up is decided the moment you shuffle.

Card of the DayPast · Present · FutureYes or No

Meanings follow the widely used Rider–Waite tradition, and the pictures are simple designs drawn for this site. Please treat tarot as a light-hearted aid to reflection.