The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man

The Basic Meaning of the Card (Rider-Waite)

The Hanged Man is the twelfth card of the Tarot’s Major Arcana and symbolizes sacrifice, introspection and a shift in perspective. The card’s image shows a man hanging upside down from a tree, with his legs crossed and arms behind his back, representing voluntary sacrifice and acceptance that sometimes things must be let go to achieve spiritual growth.

Upright Meaning

When The Hanged Man appears upright in a Tarot reading, it means it is time to let go of something, make a sacrifice or shift your perspective. The card urges you to accept that you cannot always control everything and that sometimes it is necessary to give up something in order to gain something greater. It is a time for introspection and reflection on your priorities and values.

Reversed Meaning

If The Hanged Man is reversed in a reading, it could indicate that you are unwilling to make a necessary sacrifice or that you are having difficulty letting go of old habits and patterns of thought. It may also mean that you are stuck in a victim mentality and need to take responsibility for your life and choices. The card urges you to break free from the past and view things from a new perspective.

Example of an Interpretation

If The Hanged Man appears in a reading alongside Five of Pentagrams and Three of Wands, it can be interpreted as that a necessary sacrifice (The Hanged Man) will help you overcome an economic or material loss (Five of Pentagrams) and lead to new opportunities and personal growth (Three of Wands). It is important to accept change and let go of what no longer serves you.

Psychological Interpretation

Archetypal Meanings

The Hanged Man is a powerful archetype that represents sacrifice, surrender, and suspension. This card often depicts a man hanging upside down from a tree, with one leg crossed over the other, forming the shape of a number four. This number is associated with stability and structure, but in this context, it is turned on its head, symbolizing a disruption of the natural order.

In some interpretations, the Hanged Man is also seen as a representation of the Norse god Odin, who hung himself from the World Tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nights to gain knowledge and wisdom. This connects the card to themes of spiritual growth, self-discovery, and enlightenment through sacrifice.

Behavioral Patterns

When the Hanged Man appears in a tarot reading, it often indicates a need to pause and reflect. This card suggests that the querent may be in a state of limbo, feeling stuck or suspended in their current situation. They may be struggling with a difficult decision or feeling overwhelmed and in need of a break.

On a psychological level, the Hanged Man can also represent a willingness to let go of control and surrender to the flow of life. It may indicate a need to release unhealthy patterns of thinking or behavior in order to move forward.

Integration and Shadow Work

To work with the energies of the Hanged Man, one must be willing to confront their fears and let go of their need for control. This card challenges us to look at situations from a different perspective and to embrace the unknown. It encourages us to sacrifice our ego and surrender to the greater wisdom and guidance of the universe.

Shadow work with the Hanged Man may involve examining any resistance or fear around surrender and sacrifice. It may also involve exploring any patterns of avoidance or procrastination, and finding ways to release them in order to move towards growth and transformation.


More Tarot Cards In "Major Arcana"

Strength

Strength is a tarot card that symbolizes self-control, strength and courage. It also represents the ability to overcome obstacles and to handle adversity. It is a sign that the person has the necessary strength and power to achieve their goals.

Strength

Temperance

The Tarot card Temperance symbolizes balance and harmony. It depicts an angel holding two vessels, one vessel of water and one vessel of wine, and mixing the two to create a perfect balance between the two. The card also symbolizes that one must find a good balance between different aspects of their life in order to achieve happiness and satisfaction.

Temperance

The Chariot

The Chariot tarot card symbolizes a journey or a quest that is facing a person. It stands for power, victory and success that can be achieved by balancing opposing forces and finding a way to unite them to create unity. It also represents the will to take control of one's own life and to realize one's dreams.

The Chariot

The Devil

The Devil tarot card symbolizes feelings of being trapped in a destructive pattern or situation. The card also symbolizes a call to take responsibility for one's actions and overcome limiting behaviors. It can also indicate that one should avoid allowing oneself to get caught in traps created by others.

The Devil

The Emperor

The Emperor is a tarot card that symbolizes authority and leadership. It stands for control, structure, and regulation. It also represents a fatherly figure who has the necessary experience and knowledge to lead others. It can also mean that one should be responsible, enterprising, and have a will to take control of their actions.

The Emperor

The Empress

The Tarot card The Empress symbolizes creation, possibilities, and refinement. It also represents female strength and courage, parenting and creativity. It stands for an abundance of energy, kindness and goodwill. It also strengthens the ability to create new situations and to fulfill dreams.

The Empress

The Fool

The Fool is a tarot card that symbolizes a new beginning, an adventure and unknown potential. It also represents a person who is willing to take risks and trust their intuition. It is a card that advocates for change, growth and new opportunities.

The Fool

The Hermit

The Hermit tarot card symbolizes a person seeking self-reflection, after going within and searching for the answers that lie within. It stands for solitude and inner journey, and represents a person who is about to step out of their comfort zone and bravely take a step into unknown territory.

The Hermit

The Hierophant

The Hierophant tarot card symbolizes traditional teaching and religious instruction. It also represents a mentor who helps guide us to a better life. It can also represent a role model that we can look up to and learn from. The card stands for the transfer of knowledge, guidance, power, and authority.

The Hierophant

The High Priestess

The High Priestess tarot card symbolizes intuition, mystery and spirituality. It also represents the ability to seek out deeper meaning and knowledge. It symbolizes knowledge, secrets and the possibility of finding answers within oneself. It is a sign to trust one's intuition and follow it to find the right path.

The High Priestess

The Lovers

The Tarot card The Lovers symbolizes love, determination, and choice. It represents a powerful moment of infatuation and emotional closeness between two people who are facing an important decision. It reminds us that we all have the power to choose our own happiness.

The Lovers

The Magician

The Magician tarot card symbolizes the ability to transform and create something new. It stands for creativity, intuition and power. It also represents a person who has the ability to handle different elements to create something new. The card stands for the rebirth of ideas, solutions and changes.

The Magician

The Moon

The Moon tarot card symbolizes mystery, intuition, and dreams. It depicts a moon illuminating a forest-like landscape, with two dogs standing along the path and a turtle shell floating in the water. It represents uncertainty and that we may not always be able to see the whole picture. It can also warn of dangers that may be lurking in the darkness. It can mean it is time to listen to your intuition and follow your dreams.

The Moon

The Star

The Tarot card The Star symbolizes hope, optimism and renewal. It represents comfort and support after a difficult period, and encourages us to follow our dreams and never give up. It is a sign that we are protected on our journey and that we can trust that the way forward is bright.

The Star

The Sun

The Tarot card The Sun symbolizes the light, joy, and hope. It represents love, harmony, and success. It stands for enlightenment and positive energy and means that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It can also mean that you have reached a stage of personal growth where you are ready to take new steps.

The Sun

The Tower

The Tarot card The Tower often symbolizes a feeling of chaos and change which can be very frightening. It is a sign that there are big changes coming that will shake up our lives and make us look at things from a different perspective. It can also be a sign that we must leave behind what is familiar and comfortable to make room for new possibilities.

The Tower

The World

The Tarot card The World symbolizes the end of a cycle and is a sign of perfection, balance and realization. It represents feelings of joy, fulfillment and an emotional goal that has been achieved. It also symbolizes a new beginning and is a sign that one has overcome all obstacles and is ready to start anew.

The World

Wheel of Fortune

The Tarot card Wheel of Fortune often symbolizes a fate that follows a cycle of fortune and chance. It typically depicts a wheel-shaped circle with a number of symbols representing different aspects of life. The card can represent the constant change that occurs in life, that everything is ephemeral and that nothing is permanent. Wheel of Fortune can also symbolize the power to create one's own luck and to take responsibility for one's actions.

Wheel of Fortune

Death

The Tarot card Death symbolizes a change or a new beginning. It stands for transformation and renewal, and is a sign that it is time to let go of the old and welcome the new. It can also mean that it is time to leave old habits and patterns behind and create new ones.

Death

Judgment

The Tarot card of Judgment symbolizes a moment of awakening and renewal. It represents a moment of insight and understanding that leads to new levels of liberation and transformation. It is a sign that it is time to let go of the past and take the steps needed to move forward towards a new beginning.

Judgment

Justice

The Tarot card Justice symbolizes justice, balance and order. It represents the distribution of justice and the consequences of our actions. It can also symbolize that one must take responsibility for one's own life and stand by their actions and face the consequences.

Justice