As I write this, Minneapolis is in turmoil. Protests over the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police have quickly given way to riots. The Eye of Horus’ physical location is boarded up to protect it from damage. I personally live in a neighborhood surrounded by hot spots in every direction.
In times of uncertainty, I often turn to my tarot decks for guidance. Sometimes this comes in the form of readings, but more often it comes from meditations on the cards themselves and the meanings they hold. Early this morning, during a bout of insomnia, I began thinking on The Tower.
In tarot, The Tower is considered by many to be a Bad Card. One to be feared. An ill omen. After all, it represents a destruction that’s close to total if not fully total. It’s violent, sudden, catastrophic. It’s all human accomplishment being brought down in an instant.
But here’s the thing: there are no Bad Cards in tarot. The Tower does indeed usually mean destruction, but it also means wiping the slate clean. After the rubble has settled, there is the chance to rebuild. The chance to become better than before, to cast off old systems and avoid the mistakes of the past.
The card comes after The Devil, which is vice, materialism, and being chained to unhealthy thoughts and habits. It comes before The Star, the card of hopes, wishes fulfilled, and optimism. The destruction of The Tower is necessary. It’s transformative. No good evolution comes without struggle or loss. Fear of The Tower comes from living through that hardship and the uncertainty that follows.
There will never be peace until we acknowledge the pain of the past. We cannot move forward without admitting where we went wrong, admitting that we have performed grievous injury to people of color and allowed cruelty to become our comfort. Buildings can be rebuilt if they are destroyed. People cannot.
Please be safe out there. Please look out for each other, friends and strangers alike. We must elevate each other if we are to get past the rubble of this moment.