Everything is upside down for The Hanged Man, but he doesn’t mind. Meet The Hanged Man! He’s one of the most enigmatic and complicated cards in the tarot deck. He is both simple and complex (kind of like the human condition). In essence, this card requires the willingness to suspend our normal way of thinking about things and see things from a new perspective.
What’s happening with the card?
A man hangs upside down from the Tree of Wisdom. His right leg is suspended and bound at one ankle while the other leg is tucked neatly behind him. His arms are tied behind him and a yellow halo surrounds his head. He’s dressed in red pants symbolizing passion, a blue cloak representing knowledge, and yellow shoes indicating his high ideals.
Even though he appears to be tied up, the yellow halo above his head shows there’s internal work going on. The leaves growing on the tree/post reinforce that he’s engaged in a time of personal growth. His crossed legs symbolize balance and completion, while his arms, crossed and tied behind him, signify inner balance.
In this position, he has plenty of time and space to be alone with his thoughts—no worldly distractions or constant rushing around to leave him grasping at a true understanding of his situation. The irony of The Hanged Man is that he must remain both physically and mentally still in order to move forward spiritually!
Change Your Perspective
In a nutshell, The Hanged Man is about surrender and sacrifice. He’s about giving up control, being vulnerable, and letting go. Since he is suspended (literally), he represents suspending your activities to live more fully in the moment and taking time to reflect on what brought you to this point.
The Hanged Man encourages you to see things from a new perspective, largely by setting stronger boundaries. He’s about viewing your life and figuring out where you need to say no in order to gain perspective.
Had The Hanged Man continued at his frenetic pace, never able to stop and really think, then he would have never learned the true lessons and meaning of his life. Leaving behind all his earthly desires—his notion of success, what he wants, what he thinks he needs—places him in a better position to see things differently.
It’s only when hanging upside down that The Hanged Man creates the perfect opportunity to view the world through a different lens. This provides him with greater clarity about what’s most important in his life and how to move forward.
The Hanged Man asks how you might benefit from viewing your life outside your usual way of thinking. When you allow the concerns of the outer world to recede, you can take this time to connect (or re-connect) and see the truth behind your life’s purpose.
Symbolism and Meaning
Dive deeper into the meaning of the card with me below:
Your Challenge This Week
Why not take some time out this week to slow down and reflect? Pause your activities for a while, go deep and you may discover your true direction forward now…
Ever upward!
