XVI. Tower - Mammon Machine (Fall of Zeal)

[tushantin]

XVI.
TOWER:

Mammon Machine (Fall of Zeal)

Summary: *Reserved*

Symbolism: "A tower on a rocky outcrop, a powerful bolt of lightning, one or two figures falling from the tower, sometimes waves crashing below. "
(From Aeclectic)

Keywords: A sudden change, abandonment of past, ending a friendship, unexpected events, disruption, bankruptcy, downfall, loss of money or security
Reversed: Following old ways, a rut, entrapment, caught in a bad situation, imprisonment
(From themysticeye.com)

Description: "With Mars as its ruling planet, the Tower is a card about war, a war between the structures of lies and the lightning flash of truth. This is a card about anything we believe to be true, but later learn is false. This realization usually comes as a shock, hence, the violent image. It is, quite simply, that moment in any story where someone finds out a shocking truth, one that shatters their perceptions and makes them reassess their beliefs.

When the Querent gets this card, they can expect to be shaken up, blinded by a revelation. It sometimes takes a very bright flash of light to reveal a truth that was so well hidden. And it sometimes takes an earthquake to bring down beliefs that were so cleverly constructed. What's most important to remember is that the tearing down of this structure, however painful, allows us to find out what is true and reliable. What will stand rather than fall apart."
(From Aeclectic Tarot)

Fool's Journey: "As the Fool leaves the throne of the Goat God, he comes upon a Tower, fantastic, magnificent, and familiar. In fact, The Fool, himself, helped build this Tower back when the most important thing to him was making his mark on the world and proving himself better than other men. Inside the Tower, at the top, arrogant men still live, convinced of their rightness.

Seeing the Tower again, the Fool feels as if lightning has just flashed across his mind; he thought he'd left that old self behind when he started on this spiritual journey. But he realizes now that he hasn't. He's been seeing himself, like the Tower, like the men inside, as alone and singular and superior, when in fact, he is no such thing.

So captured is he by the shock of this insight, that he opens his mouth and releases a SHOUT! And to his astonishment and terror, a bolt of actual lightning slashes down from the heavens striking the Tower and sending its residents leaping out into the waters below.

In a moment, it is over. The Tower is rubble, only rocks remaining. Stunned and shaken to the core, the Fool experiences profound fear and disbelief. But also, a strange clarity of vision, as if his inner eye has finally opened. He tore down his resistance to change and sacrifice (Hanged man), then came to terms with Death (Death); he learned about moderation and synthesis (Temperance) and about power (The Devil). But here and now, he has done what was hardest: he destroyed the lies of his life. What's left are the foundations of truth. On this he can rebuild himself. '"
(from Aeclectic Tarot)

Feel free to post additional insights into the card, questions, & ideas for the artists to consider!

[tushantin]

Reserved for further info from Syna, Lady Marle or xcalibur.

[xcalibur]

the Fall of Zeal lends itself to this image - the people falling even look like Enlightened Ones. but I want to incorporate the Mammon Machine. that is the one thing that really represents the Tower, with its wild power, ambition, and inherent instability.

I'm thinking one of two ways -

1. the fall of zeal, with an outline of the mammon machine superimposed.
2. the mammon machine in the ocean palace, with the red knife/masamune thrust into it, lightning going off (as seen in-game)