The Tower Tarot Card

Understanding the Tower card Kabbalistically.

Each one of the 22 Major Arcana cards are assigned to one of the 22 Hebrew letters. The spiritual meaning of a particular letter is portrayed within that specific card’s illustration for which it is assigned to. In addition to this, descriptions for each card’s corresponding Hebrew letter is described in Psalm 119, which is an acrostic poem; the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Knowing this correlation, let’s look into the spiritual meaning as well as the Kabbalistic take on the Hebrew letter Peh, meaning mouth, as it pertains to the Tower card.

XVI, Tower — Peh — Mouth, pertaining to the things we say (to others as well as ourselves) having a certain degree of power. Our words, as well as our thoughts, have power. So be mindful of your thoughts and your words. Speaking positively will build up your spiritual tower, whereas speaking negatively will destroy it. Peh advises us to keep our plans to ourselves. No one cares about your self-esteem, but you. The idea is to refrain from sharing your plans and come off as boasting in order to attract attention. Rather, use your self-esteem as fuel to help drive yourself towards achieving your goals. When you seek attention you loose your creativity, and it can diminish your self-esteem. Likewise, avoid the habit of seeking approval from others, because it becomes exhausting as well as drains your spiritual tower.

This card is associated with the first Passover, when the Jewish people formulated a plan of escape from their bondage in Egypt. Their plan proved to be successful because no one shared it with anyone else outside of their private homes. The letter Peh is unique because it has a letter Bet hidden inside of it. Bet, meaning house, and Peh, meaning mouth, suggests that things spoken of privately in the home tend to be shared in public. This concept can also refer to one keeping their thoughts private as well. Our private thoughts have a way of being made public. Peh encompasses the old adage “loose lips sink ships”. People tend to spill the beans, so to speak. Bearing this in mind, it is advised to keep one’s thoughts and words positive. It can take several years to build up a strong relationship, and only an instant, with the wrong words spoken, that bond can be ruined forever.

Psalm 119:129–136, “Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may obey your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees. Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.”

Written by Grant Isaac, author of the tarot book “The Tarot Decoded: Raziel’s Interpretation”, available worldwide from multiple booksellers online, including Amazon, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.