I am not sure what it is about this card, but so often, just the sight of this figure hanging in suspension brings concern and unease to those whose readings it shows up in. Add in its title, The Hanged Man, and many feel they are ready to be tarred and feathered (or hung from a rope by their foot!).
As with so many of the tarot cards that seem to show up with flashing lights, the 12th card in the Major Arcana is certainly more bark than bite.
At first look you no doubt have some questions as to how this guy got himself in such a knot. Is he in danger? Did he put himself there? Taking a closer look, there is no struggle, in fact, the general feeling is more of calm and acceptance. His face is peaceful, there is no suffering.
So, what is really going on? Let’s address the elephant in the room . . . why is he upside down?
The reversed position speaks to the need to see thing in your life from a different perspective. The hanging is literal suspension, saying that surrendering to a situation or to life in general is not only an option, but that it may in fact be the fastest route to victory. The tree he is suspended from is very much alive with leaves and vines. This lends to the mindset that if you leave things in the hands of the universe and let go of the struggle to manage and compete, the result will likely bear fruit.
The Hanged Man is at a kind of waiting station in between when something has ended but the next thing has not quite yet started. This is not a position of rest, but more of a meditation and introspection of going inward to find solutions, clarity and insight.
The colors in this card are so vibrant. The passionate red of his tights shows that he is very much alive and present. The blue of his tunic represents universal knowledge. The bright yellow halo around his head shows a spirituality and clarity of the moment.
This Hanged Man has 3 things to say to you: Relax, Be Still and Let Go.
The Hanged Man often shows up when you feel stuck or restricted in some way in your life. This card indicates that it may be time to ease up on the “doing” in your life and to just relax and let yourself “be” for a while. This is where we gain perspective.
Some questions to consider: What needs to be (literally) turned on its head right now? What are you willing to lose/give up in order to move forward? Where do you need to pause, to consider other options? What is the rush? How can you shift your perspective?
This is just one of the 22 Major Arcana cards in the mysterious tarot deck. Let me demystify the tarot deck for you. I am teaching tarot starting 9/11 in NYC for 8 amazing, life altering classes. Start your journey with me.
For more information about my class or to share or comment on this posting, email me at dina@dinaberrin.com
Until the next time . . . .
