The Hanged Man in brief
In the Rider-Waite tradition, The Hanged Man stands for pause, surrender and a new way of seeing, a time when things are held in suspension. Modern readers often take it as a call to stop pushing, let go and look at a situation from another angle, while the reversed card points to stalling, delay or resistance to a pause that is needed.
The figure suggests “life in suspension, but life and not death.” It is the card of ultimate surrender.
The card’s picture
The gallows from which the figure hangs forms a Tau cross, while the position of the legs forms a fylfot cross. There is a nimbus, a halo, about the head of “the seeming martyr.” Notice three things: the tree of sacrifice is living wood with leaves on it, the face “expresses deep entrancement, not suffering,” and the figure as a whole suggests life held in suspension.
In older packs, the man is suspended head downward, tied by a rope about one ankle, with his arms bound behind him and one leg crossed over the other. The card is falsely characterized as a card of martyrdom, prudence or duty, and it expresses one aspect of the relation between the Divine and the Universe.
Modern guides fill in the colors. His calm, serene face is a sign that he hangs by his own choice, and his halo represents new insight and awareness. His red trousers represent human passion and the physical body. His blue shirt represents calm emotions, and the yellow of his shoes, hair and halo represents intellect.
Upright meaning
The divinatory meanings of the upright card are wisdom, circumspection, discernment, trials, sacrifice, intuition, divination and prophecy. One who understands the card may receive intimations of “a great awakening that is possible.”
The upright Hanged Man represents a sacrifice made in order to move forward, a step back taken to rethink the path ahead. The upright Hanged Man also represents a need to suspend action and a period of indecision, and serves as a reminder that refraining from action can sometimes bring as much as acting.
The card is a reminder that sometimes everything has to be put on hold before the next step. The card also calls for releasing old mental models and habits so that the world can be seen from a new perspective. When projects come to a sudden halt, the card frames the pause as a chance to reassess rather than push harder.
Reversed meaning
The reversed Hanged Man represents selfishness, the crowd and the body politic.
The reversed card represents a period of sacrificing a great deal of time while getting little in return, with things at a standstill.
The reversed Hanged Man represents knowing a pause is needed but resisting it, keeping busy to avoid the real issue. The reversed Hanged Man also represents being kept on hold by other people or circumstances, and serves as a prompt to let go of how things “should” be. After a long pause the reversed card can be a positive sign of moving forward with a new perspective, and it can also show a decision being stalled.
The Hanged Man in love
In love, the upright Hanged Man is a sign that things cannot be rushed, for singles and couples alike. The upright Hanged Man also represents a time to see how one’s perspective changes when alone, and sacrifice playing a part in a relationship.
Reversed, the card represents the end of a period of waiting, with renewed energy for change in one’s love life. The reversed card also cautions against needless sacrifices for love. The reversed card, where a relationship is on hold, represents being content to wait only up to a point.
The Hanged Man in career
For work, the upright Hanged Man represents a feeling of waiting or uncertainty, with projects paused and the next move still being weighed. The upright Hanged Man also represents a lesson that some decisions cannot be forced, and sometimes a step back that is really a realignment toward more fulfilling work.
Reversed, the card represents career sacrifices that have not yet paid off. The reversed card also represents stalling and procrastination that leave a person feeling stuck.
The Hanged Man and money
The upright Hanged Man in money questions represents a need for a change in perspective, where a pause may reveal a new way of looking at a stressful situation.
Reversed, the card represents indecision about a major purchase, or a sense of wasted sacrifice to be taken as a lesson.
The Hanged Man as feelings
As feelings, the upright Hanged Man represents contemplation and surrender: someone is taking time with their emotions and viewing things from different angles. The upright Hanged Man also represents one’s own sense of being suspended between action and reflection.
Reversed, the Hanged Man represents frustration and impatience, with someone feeling stuck in their emotions. The reversed card also represents one’s own wish for change held back by circumstance or indecision.
Questions to reflect on
- What would change if this situation were seen from another angle?
- Is there something being forced that would do better with patience?
- What old habit or belief is ready to be released?
- Is a pause being resisted by keeping busy?