Today's Tarot for Shadow Work - April 20th, 2023

​Today's card is the Tower. The Tower card is one of the most powerful and intense cards in the Tarot deck, symbolizing sudden change, upheaval, and destruction. The image on the card depicts a tall tower being struck by lightning, with flames bursting out from its windows and people falling from its heights. The Tower is a card that often brings fear and discomfort as it represents the unexpected and the breaking down of structures that we thought were stable. However, despite its alarming appearance, The Tower holds profound spiritual wisdom and can be a potent tool for shadow work.

The Tower represents a significant event or shift that may catch you off guard. It could be a sudden change in your personal life, a disruption in your plans or expectations, or a revelation that shakes your beliefs or perceptions. It may feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you, and you are forced to confront the impermanence and unpredictability of life. However, The Tower is not necessarily a negative card. It is a wakeup call, urging you to let go of outdated patterns, beliefs, or structures that are no longer serving you.

The Tower is a powerful card for shadow work as it brings the unconscious to the surface, demanding your attention and awareness. It reveals the areas of your life that you have been avoiding, denying, or repressing. The lightning strike in The Tower represents the sudden illumination of the shadow, bringing to light the aspects of yourself that you have hidden or denied. The flames bursting from the windows of the tower represent the purifying power of fire, burning away the illusions and false structures that you have built around yourself.

The Tower challenges you to confront your fears, face your shadows, and embrace the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. It invites you to let go of attachments to the past and surrender to the present moment. The crumbling tower in the card represents the breakdown of old paradigms and the opportunity for rebirth and renewal. It reminds you that change is inevitable, and clinging to the familiar or resisting the inevitable only prolongs suffering. The Tower teaches you that sometimes the only way to grow and evolve is through upheaval and destruction.

To use The Tower for shadow work, start by reflecting on the areas of your life where you are holding on tightly to outdated beliefs, patterns, or structures. Are there any aspects of yourself that you have been avoiding or denying? What illusions or false structures have you built around yourself that are preventing your growth and evolution? The Tower encourages you to be brutally honest with yourself and face these shadows head-on.

Next, explore the emotions that arise when you contemplate the idea of sudden change or upheaval. Do you feel fear, resistance, or discomfort? What stories or narratives are you telling yourself about change? The Tower asks you to examine these stories and beliefs and question their validity. Are they based on truth or are they simply illusions that are holding you back?

As you continue your shadow work with The Tower, allow yourself to feel the emotions that come up without judgment or resistance. Let the flames of the tower purify your shadows, allowing them to be brought to light and transformed. Embrace the uncertainty and impermanence of life, knowing that change is a natural part of the human experience.

The Tower also invites you to surrender control and trust in the process of transformation. Like the people falling from the tower in the card, let go of the need to hold on tightly to what no longer serves you. Trust that the destruction of the old will make way for the emergence of the new. The Tower teaches you that sometimes the most profound growth happens in the midst of chaos and upheaval.

As you use The Tower for shadow work, remember to be compassionate with yourself and approach the process with an open heart and mind. Here are some prompts that can guide you in your exploration:

Reflect on areas of your life where you feel stuck or stagnant. What beliefs, patterns, or structures are keeping you in this state? Are there any shadows that you have been avoiding or denying?

Consider the emotions that arise when you think about sudden change or upheaval. Are you fearful, resistant, or uncomfortable? What stories or narratives are you telling yourself about change? Are they based on truth or are they illusions that are holding you back?

Explore any attachments you have to the past. Are there any old beliefs, relationships, or situations that you are holding onto, even if they no longer serve you? What is keeping you from letting go?

Reflect on your relationship with control. Are you trying to control outcomes or resist change? How does this impact your life and well-being? Can you practice surrendering control and trusting the process of transformation?

Pay attention to any patterns or shadows that come to the surface during this process. Be willing to face them with curiosity and non-judgment. What can you learn from them? How can you integrate and transform them?

Consider the concept of impermanence and uncertainty in life. How do you usually deal with change? Can you embrace the idea that change is a natural part of life and can bring growth and evolution?

Practice self-care and self-compassion as you navigate through the process of shadow work with The Tower. Be gentle with yourself and seek support from trusted friends, mentors, or professionals if needed.

Remember that shadow work is a continuous journey, and The Tower is a powerful tool that can help you uncover and transform deep-seated shadows. Embrace the opportunity for growth and renewal that The Tower brings, and trust that through the upheaval, you can emerge stronger, wiser, and more aligned with your true self. Embrace the teachings of The Tower, and you may find yourself standing on a more solid and authentic foundation as you move forward on your path of self-discovery and personal evolution.