Keywords
Upright: Suspension, constraint, release, sacrifice.
Reversed: Being a martyr, uncertainty, indecisiveness.
Archetype: Martyr
Astrological Association: Neptune
Overview
The Hanged Man is one of the most mysterious cards in the tarot deck. It contains many contradictions. Its unsettling imagery reminds us of the paradoxes of our lives. A paradox is something that seems to be contradictory, but is nonetheless true. The Hanged Man reveals certain truths, but those truths are obscured by their opposites.
The Hanged Man’s central lesson is that we gain control by relinquishing control; we win by giving up power. The figure on card 12 has accepted death on the cross in order to comprehend the mystery of God, and he radiates ethereal light. The Hanged Man tells us that we can move forward by remaining still. By slowing down, we have all the time in the world.
A Closer Look at The Hanged Man
Description
The Hanged Man is one of the most mysterious cards in the tarot deck. It is simple, but complex. It draws people in, but also repels them. It is a card full of contradictions.
We control our fate by releasing our grip. The final figure on card 12 has given up his own struggle for survival in order to die on the cross. Through this renunciation, he glows with the radiance of divine understanding. He has offered himself as a sacrifice, but emerged sanctified. The Hanged Man teaches us to move forward by staying put.
Meaning
The Hanged Man card represents self-sacrifice, martyrdom and enlightenment.
Upright
The Hanged Man signifies flexibility of mind and the freedom to be open-minded. We must be open to letting go of preconceived notions, and we must occasionally accept limitations of one kind or another.
The card also suggests death and rebirth, and rites of passage. The Hanged Man tells us that we have to make a choice between giving up something to gain something, or waiting and accepting a loss before we finally get what we want.
The Hanged Man also represents the need for the ego to detach itself from petty earthly concerns.
The Hanged Man also represents the need for the ego to detach itself from petty earthly concerns.
Reversed
The Hanged Man Card reversed indicates selfishness, fear, and cowardice. He or she cannot make any concessions to others. This is a person who clings to the status quo and does not challenge themselves with change.
The Symbolism of The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man is a mysterious character. He’s in an uncomfortable predicament, but he is smiling and his head is surrounded by a halo.
- The hanging position: The image is inspired by Germanic-Celtic mythology. Both Odin, the god, and Merlin, the renowned magician, spent days and nights in this position.
- The Tau cross: The cross is shaped like the Greek letter Tau. The Tau cross is also associated with Saint Francis of Assisi.
- The figure’s halo: A person who devotes himself to the process of spiritual self-transformation strengthens his aura to such an extent that others may perceive him or her to be glowing with divine light. This sign of spiritual power is associated with rulers, saints, and other enlightened people.
- The cord around the right foot: The right is the side of the rational mind. Beware limitations that only exist in the mind.
What The Hanged Man means in a Reading
Meaning for Love and Relationships
Upright
The Hanged Man invites you to try something new if you’re looking for love. Alter your haircut, take up a new social hobby, and change up your online dating strategies. Do the polar opposite of whatever you’ve been doing.
You don’t have to change who you are, but you do have to change your approach. What you’ve been doing hasn’t gotten you the connection you want. “If I always do what I’ve always done, I’ll always get what I’ve always got.”
If you are in a troubled relationship, put your own desires aside and focus on finding a solution that works for both of you. You will grow closer with your partner once you’ve released your pain and let go of your resentments.
If your heart is hurting, The Hanged Man advises you to let go of the past. If it was meant to be, it would have worked out differently. Have faith that everything is working out as it should. As soon as you get over your heartbreak, someone amazing will be waiting for you.
You must accept the situation as it is, instead of as you wish it to be. It hurts when reality does not match our desires, but the only path ahead is to recognize that much of life is beyond our control. Peace and clarity come with acceptance.
Reversed
If you’re single,The Hanged Man in the reversed orientation suggests that you’ve been repeating negative relationship patterns without learning from your mistakes.
Are you running from one disastrous relationship to the next, never taking responsibility for your involvement in their downfall? Slow down and ask yourself if there is something you must resolve inside yourself to break out of this pattern.
If you’re in a relationship, The Hanged Man may signal that things aren’t working out, but you or your partner are holding on for fear of being alone or having to start over. It could also mean that the relationship is salvageable, but you are not yet ready to do the work required.
Meanings for Career
Upright
If you’re having problems at work, tap into your intuition to help you figure out what’s going on. Take your time and consider the situation from a new angle.
This is an excellent time to prioritize someone else’s career over your own. Mentor an emerging talent, praise someone to their boss, or do some pro-bono work to support a cause you care about.
Your energy will be wasted if you act without first figuring out what you really want. Take a step back and refocus on what’s really important. The Hanged Man will teach you how to distinguish between “important” and “urgent.” Concentrate your time and effort on being effective rather than just efficient.
Reversed
The Hanged Man reversed may indicate that things aren’t going well at work. Now is the time to reclaim control of your professional life. Don’t be a passenger in your career, especially if it’s not moving in the direction you wish. Figure out what you want and go for it.
Meaning for Health and Well-Being
Upright
The Hanged Man is telling you to consider your health and fitness from a fresh perspective. If you’ve been doing a lot of yoga, it might be time to start doing some running or kickboxing, or vice versa.
Our health is not always in our control, but The Hanged Man can help us control what we can.
Take full responsibility for what you can control (your thoughts, beliefs, words, decisions, and actions) and relinquish control over the rest.
Reversed
If you’ve been having health problems, The Hanged Man reversed indicates that you’ll have to look outside the box to find a solution.
Ask yourself if problems in other areas of your life are exacerbating or possibly causing your health problems. Stress, sadness, and worry, for example, can cause a variety of physical symptoms such as headaches, sleeplessness, poor concentration, chronic fatigue, skin issues, and so on. Alternative and holistic therapies may help supplement any mainstream treatments and speed up your recovery.
Meaning for Finances
Upright
Managing your finances can be tedious. Annuities, insurance premiums, pension funds, investment accounts – they are all necessary but unappealing features of adult life. Even so, you need to learn the fundamentals of money management.
If you’ve been saving and being frugal, it may be time to go on the trip you’ve been dreaming about. On the other hand, if you regularly treat others to dinner or drinks, it may be time to let someone else pick up the tab. And if you’re using credit cards to make ends meet, consider what it would be like to be debt-free.
Change the way you think about money. Money is just a force for manifestation. When we control money, we have power over the things that appear in our life. Examine your financial decisions through the lens of what you want to manifest, and allow money to become a power that strengthens and enhances your life.
Change the way you think about money. Money is just a force for manifestation.
Reversed
When the Hanged Man is reversed in financial readings, it can imply that you are paralyzed by your fear of financial adversity. Consider speaking to a financial advisor if you are having difficulties. Perhaps all you need is a new point of view to get things rolling in the right direction.
Timing
An important event may occur 30 days from now.
Yes or No
The Hanged Man symbolizes the experience of going through a transition, a change, or a period of development. At the moment, progress is stalled and no clear answer is available. Things will have to play out. The answer to your question is Maybe.
The Hanged Man advises us to take the more challenging road. When we really want to control something is precisely when we need to let it go. If we want to act hastily, we should wait instead. Let things calm down. By taking a step back and looking at things from a wider perspective, we may find that we already have uncovered what we are looking for.
