The Tower

The human Babel that seeks heaven is doomed to divine judgment

The lightning bolt and the cloud on the left together form the Mars symbol ♂.

The fleeing hand represents a survivor who escapes in time—not struck down by lightning, but abandoning the climb halfway upon realizing the danger.

Six hands build the tower’s shaft, with one hand falling to the side. Together they create a “six-plus-one” motif, echoing the Tower’s number, sixteen.

Babel—also called the Tower to Heaven—appears in the Bible: people’s desire swelled until they tried to reach the heavens. When Yahweh learned of this, He angered, confounding their language; unable to communicate, they could no longer build, leaving an unfinished tower.

Twenty-two raindrops symbolize the twenty-two Major Arcana. Because the Majors concern the spiritual realm, these twenty-two different spiritual media fall together, bringing unprecedented chaos—an allusion to the linguistic confusion during Babel’s construction.

Corresponding Planet:: Mars (conflict, struggle, action, desire, ambition, the great malefic)

UPRIGHT

Meaning: sudden change, upheaval, collapse, turmoil, without warning, chaos, continuous trouble, revelation, awakening, hidden truths exposed, overthrow, shock, conflict, impulsive whim

REVERSED

Meaning: overthrow, collapse, chaos, dramatic change with signs, internal conflict, suppression, delayed decisions, fear, deadlock, calm before the storm, painful process

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