Upright: Catastrophe, Ego, Revelations
Reverse: Intact, Rebuilding, Survival
the lionfish prowls the depths, brilliant and beautiful among the reefs. its poisonous spines and bright colors warn others to stay away, but even those that flee don’t always manage to escape this hunter’s attentions. the lionfish is an invasive species, a creature with no natural predators. the appearance of one can spell disaster for an ecosystem, wearing away at its foundation until only ruin remains. appropriately, they symbolize hidden peril. likewise, the tower denotes the terrible power of chaos lying in wait. we are reminded that, no matter where we are in life, we are never safe from the sudden and unavoidable difficulties that life can throw our way.
when upright, the tower warns the user that something unexpected and notably unpleasant is going to happen in their life. the timing of this event can be less than ideal. your foundation is shaky and crumbling, but even among destruction lies the prospect for good. when fire tears through a forest, seeds are sown for the next generation. surrender to forces at work in your life and start thinking about where you can go once the ground stops shaking. there is a revelation at hand. hold onto those still in your life for support if you need it, but ultimately, you’re the key to walking away from it with your head held high.
when reversed, the tower is warning the user that an unexpected change will come from within. a personal transformation is nigh, and to reach it, you may have to undergo a drastic shift of faith and perception. this may manifest in a crisis of confidence, a complete questioning of the truths you once held in high esteem. for some, this can become a full on existential crisis, but at the end of the tunnel lies a newly enlightened you. though this realization can be unpleasant, take comfort in knowing that you’ve avoided (or narrowly avoided) a disaster coming your way. take this silver lining and your new enlightenment and carefully build your future. this position can also imply that the user is delaying a necessary change, rejected it out of fear or concern when it would be better to let the chaos come. it can be scary to surrender to something so absolute. just try to remember there is purpose in the pain.
