Mars: The Tower
Destruction or Deconstruction?
The 27th Path on the Tree of Life is associated with one of the most dreaded cards in a tarot pack: The Tower. Regardless of the deck, The Tower bears an image of destruction or, at the very least, disruption. No matter how well-dignified in a reading, the appearance of The Tower indicates a life-altering change. In this article, we will take a look at why this card has such a harsh reputation, what it can mean in a reading, and how to cope when you find yourself in a “Tower Moment.”
At the start of 2025, I was invited to discuss The Tower on the TABI Tarot World Podcast. I spent the months leading up to the recording studying the card, which I discussed with Gwen, Victoria, and Clair. We could have talked for hours and still not covered all of the related ideas and topics surrounding The Tower. This article reflects some of the topics we discussed and my personal insights since then. This piece has been one of my most challenging to write due to the numerous complexities related to The Tower. The cards I’ve written about before were easier to interpret, but The Tower, as you will see, is not so simple.
Astrology of The Tower
The astrology of The Tower may seem straightforward at first. It is associated with the planet Mars and, consequently, the element of fire and the color red. Mars conjures ideas of power, action, chaos, war, and destruction. The complexity emerges when one realizes that, as a planetary card, The Tower has a base level connection to all tarot cards ruled by Mars. This is most evident in The Emperor, representing Aries, and Death, representing Scorpio. Examining the titles of the Minor Arcana cards ruled by Mars reveals an interesting set of keywords that could serve as a summary of The Tower: Dominion, Cruelty, Valor, Disappointment, Works, and Satiety. Including Emperor and Death adds an even darker air to this list.
The Tower on the Tree of Life
On the Tree of Life, The Tower is assigned to Path 27 and the Hebrew letter Peh, which means “mouth.” If we combine the qualities of Mars with the word mouth, we see the potential for speech to be a powerful, possibly destructive force. The power of words is reflected in stories associated with this card, such as the Tower of Babel, where the introduction of new languages is used to disrupt communication and prevent the Babylonians from building a tower to Heaven. This could appear in a reading as chaotic communication or the use of harmful or confusing words for purposes of control. In the Thoth Tarot, this is illustrated with the mouth of Dis, the Roman God of the underworld, angrily breathing fire at the base of The Tower. The meanings associated with the word “dis” support these themes: to treat with disrespect, contempt, or to insult.
The colors assigned to this path are Scarlet, Red, Venetian Red, and Red rayed with Azure or Emerald. This palette of predominantly red colors reinforces the themes and mood associated with The Tower.
Path 27 lies between Hod and Netzach, Mercury and Venus, respectively. This suggests a balance between the individual mind and the group mind, as well as between the rational mind and emotions. The challenge of maintaining this balance is reflected in the placement of Path 27 on the TOL, where it intersects with Path 25. As the only intersecting paths below the Veil of Paroketh, the Formative World, and within the realm of human consciousness, Paths 27 and 25 must be dealt with in tandem at a place where thought is materialized. Therefore, The Tower and Temperance, the card of Path 25, are inextricably linked.
In the Golden Dawn initiation of Path 27, emphasis is placed on balancing the dominant force of Fire safely with water, thereby harmonizing the spirit and emotion. The imagery inscribed on Temperance, the card at the intersection of The Tower, depicts this harmonization.
Anyone who works with this horizontal Path 27, whether by choice or circumstance, must be stable enough to handle the vertical energy flowing down from Tiphareth to Yesod. The image of a lightning bolt striking The Tower warns of this sudden vertical blast. Temperance, the tarot card associated with the Path 25, echoes this idea by suggesting moderation and self-control as a means of stabilization.
Beyond Mars
By examining the number 27, we see another planetary connection, Saturn, and its dreaded return every 27 years. Saturn rules Capricorn and is therefore the planet of Trump XV, The Devil, which interestingly falls between Temperance (XIV) and The Tower (XVI). This sequence marks the changing of seasons during the Winter Solstice which reflects the challenge of these intersecting paths with its extended hours of darkness. Crowley notes in The Book of Thoth that these three cards represent “the process by which idea manifests as form,” pointing again to the concept of speech and the process of thought embedding into matter.
A count of the planetary connections at this unique intersection on the TOL reveals that every one of the classical planets makes an appearance here, giving us somewhat of an understanding as to why chaos, destruction, and extreme measures of control are themes of The Tower.
Path 27 = Mars between Venus and Mercury
Path 25 (the intersecting vertical Path) = Jupiter between the Sun and Moon
27 = Saturn’s Return
Divinatory Meanings
So, what does all this mean in a reading? It can be a heavy card to unpack for a querent. Common themes related to The Tower include change, ego, and vengeance, and how they initiate a reset. Whether that reset is executed through an act of destruction or deconstruction depends on the circumstances and one’s ability to take a fall from The Tower.
CHANGE
For some, The Tower indicates a sudden but necessary change—emphasis on necessary. Not the kind of random surprises that come without warning and alter the course of your life. The change represented by The Tower is the kind that’s been delayed for far too long. Now, a sudden shift is essential due to a decline in quality of life, like staying in a bad job or relationship for too long and then abruptly leaving without a backup plan because you “just can’t take it anymore.” It’s the kind of change that looks sudden to those around you, but has been on one’s mind for quite some time. Therefore, if well-dignified, it can signify that the moment has arrived for a change you have been building up to. It can also signal an uncomfortable change, but cleansing one, leading to a new beginning.
On a broader level, some changes can develop so slowly in the background that they go unnoticed until a sudden shift in perspective occurs. The dark side of this is evident in the shock we, as a society, experience when unresolved issues become normalized and eventually reach a breaking point leading to upheaval, revolutions, acts of war, mass shootings, or any large-scale eruptions that give a sense of order or control in the eyes of an initiator.
EGO
The Tower could suggest that a person’s sense of ego is of balance with the world around them, and that harsh realities are a consequence if not kept in check. Embarrassment comes to mind as a sudden remedy for a swollen ego. Similarly, this card may indicate that a querant has suffered shock or embarrassment caused by someone else’s hurtful words or actions. Either way, The Tower points to an ego control issue. This could be an overactive or diminished ego, depending on the situation, and it might involve the querent’s ego or that of someone in their life.
VENGENCE: CALLING ON THE TOWER
The Tower often appears when one’s life feels out of control, or as a symbol of revenge or vengeance. Unbalanced emotions, the water aspect of Path 27, emerge in a state of desperation. In these moments, we may call upon fire for destruction, feeling trapped and overwhelmed by our emotional fortress. The urge to burn everything down seems the only escape, as we want relief now and nothing left to remind us of bad times.
But the nuclear option offered by The Tower destroys everything, including the self, with no assessment of what is good or bad. Scorching the entire landscape to eliminate emotional floods isn’t the way to balance on Path 27, but it certianly is tempting. We see this playing out in real life as our politics have become like towers, the inhabitants of each threatening to tear everything apart if the other is perceived to be in power.
A controlled fire, taking down only the prison we’ve built for ourselves, is key to sanity, health, and peace. And, as for vengeance, we can all agree that the destruction of the future for the ideals of today is for comic books and movies, not for the good of humanity or the soul. Understanding why we build towers helps us to deconstruct instead of destroy.
Meditiating in the Tower
Some may disagree that The Tower is a good card for meditation. But for me, I found that entering The Tower can be a place of great catharsis, if you are ready. The walls clearly separate the inner realms from the outer world, thereby distinguishing whether one should look to the self or elsewhere for clarity. For example, if, upon entering The Tower, it seems still and quiet on the inside, then action in the outside world is needed to bring about change. But if you find chaos inside The Tower, a personal assessment would be advantageous.
You can listen to my discussion of The Tower with Gwen, Victoria, and Clair on the TABI Tarot World Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts or through the link below.
If you are interested in The Great Work Book or Numinous Press’s line of esoteric study aids visit our website or Etsy shop.