What they mean together
The Tower strikes right where The Emperor felt safest. A rigid structure, too much control, or an authority figure is about to wobble. Whatever couldn't bend is going to break.
In love
A relationship that's too controlled and blows up, or a clash of egos. Time to stop trying to be the one in charge.
Career and money
Changes in leadership, layoffs, or a company that reorganizes. Get ready to start again on healthier ground.
An example
Say you ask about how stable your company is and The Emperor and The Tower come up. A shake-up is coming to the structure: new leadership, a reorganization, or decisions nobody saw coming. Don't cling to how things used to be, and start lining up alternatives. If the question was personal, the problem may be your own need for control, which is starting to stop working for you.
By position in the spread
In the past
Something that seemed rock solid came crashing down, like a job, an authority or a way of life. It forced you to rebuild on a different foundation.
In the present
A rigid structure is creaking. The harder you try to hold it up by force, the more abrupt the change will be.
In the future
Something you took for granted is going to change suddenly. With a plan B and some flexibility, you'll come out stronger.
If they come up reversed
With The Tower reversed, the change comes more slowly, or you keep dodging it without dealing with it. If The Emperor is upside down, the problem is too much control or an authority that won't give an inch. With both reversed the crisis gets postponed, but whatever isn't working is still there.
Loosen your grip where control no longer helps you.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Emperor and The Tower a bad sign?
They announce a sudden change, and that's usually uncomfortable. But what falls is what had become too rigid, and it makes room for something healthier.
Do The Emperor and The Tower mean losing your job?
They can come up with company changes, restructuring or unexpected exits. It isn't certain, but it doesn't hurt to keep your contacts and options warm.
To read them separately, here is the meaning of The Emperor and of The Tower. And if they came up in a three card spread, look at the position each one landed in too.