What they mean together
The Tower follows The Devil in the tarot and snaps its chains in one blow. A dependency or a toxic situation blows up. It's hard, but it frees you from something that had you tied.
In love
A relationship built on dependency or jealousy that ends abruptly. Afterward, relief.
Career and money
Leaving a job that had you trapped, or exposing something unethical. Better now than later.
An example
Imagine you ask about a workplace where you feel trapped and The Devil and The Tower come out. That situation can't hold much longer. Something shady might come to light, or a change might arrive that gets you out of there. It's uncomfortable, but it frees you from something that was taking a lot out of you. If you can, get ahead of it and plan your exit. What comes after will be healthier, even if the transition is rough. Talk to someone you trust so you're not deciding alone and in the heat of the moment.
By position in the spread
In the past
You broke away from something that had you tied, maybe a relationship or a habit. That shake-up gave you your freedom back.
In the present
Something that had you hooked is about to break, or is already breaking. Let it fall.
In the future
A situation of dependency will end suddenly. The sooner you recognize it, the less it will cost you.
If they come up reversed
If The Devil is reversed, you're already slipping the chains and the break will be less violent. If The Tower is the reversed one, the crisis is put off and the toxic situation drags on. With both reversed, you know what you need to leave behind, but you haven't taken the step yet. Either way, what binds you isn't forever.
Be grateful for what breaks if it sets you free.
Frequently asked questions
Are The Devil and The Tower a negative combination?
They're intense and they announce a break, but the result is usually freeing. They break what was holding you.
What do The Devil and The Tower mean about my partner?
They can point to jealousy, control or dependency coming to a head. Once the crisis passes, you'll have to decide whether the relationship can be a free one or not.
To read them separately, here is the meaning of The Devil and of The Tower. And if they came up in a three card spread, look at the position each one landed in too.