The Hanged Man

Key Meanings (Upright): Take a breath, give up, let go, sacrifice, wait, unsure of one's direction, perspective, thought and consider fresh angles.

Key Meanings (Reversed): Indecision, stalling, resistance, avoidance of sacrifice, stalling, disinterest, stagnation, apathy and delays.

The Hanged Man Tarot Card Description

The Hanged Man depicts a man being hoisted from a T-shaped living wood cross. His expression is calm and placid, as if he chose to be in this hanging position. He's upside down, looking at the world from an entirely different angle. His halo surrounds his head, representing new perception, awareness, and enlightenment. His left foot is free and is bent at the knee and tucked behind his right leg, while his right foot is tied to the tree. His arms are bent into an inverted triangle and his hands are behind his back. The man is dressed in a blue vest to represent wisdom and red pants to represent human passion and the physical body. The Hanged Man symbolises total surrender, being suspended in time, martyrdom, and giving one's life for the greater good.

This card depicts a man suspended upside-down by his foot from the living world tree. This tree, which is firmly planted in the underworld, is said to support the heavens. The hanging man is thought to have chosen to be there voluntarily. We believe this because of his calm expression. His left foot is free, but his right foot is bound to the branches. He is also holding his hands behind his back in the shape of an inverted triangle. The colour scheme he is wearing—red pants representing the physical body and human desire, blue top representing calm emotions—is frequently associated with saints. Yellow represents intelligence in his shoes, hair, and halo.

The Hanged Man tarot card appears exactly after the Justice card and before the Death card in the major arcana. It represents the calm before the storm or a significant change, but keep in mind that this card is not always negative. Because it comes before the Death card, which is all about transformation, the Hanged Man represents a time when you take the necessary steps to create that significant change in your life.

The halo around his head represents enlightenment and new understanding. While his right foot is chained and fastened to the tree, the Hanged Man's left ankle is freed, bent at the knees, and tucked beneath his right leg.

The Hanged Man (Upright)

Upright The Hanged Man tarot card meaning

The Hanged Man reminds us that sometimes we have to put everything on hold before we can move forward, or else the Universe will take action for us (and not always when it's convenient!). The adage "What got you here won't get you there" may have crossed your mind, and it certainly applies to this card. The Hanged Man asks you to let go of outdated mental models and behavioural habits that no longer serve you in order to perceive your environment from a new perspective and take advantage of new opportunities that would have otherwise been hidden from you if you hadn't applied the breaks.

This is the issue. These "pauses" can be intentional or unintentional. If you're in tune with your intuition, you'll recognise when it's time to put things on hold and apply the brakes before things get out of hand. If you're out of harmony and blind to those intuitive cues, the Universe will likely put things on hold for you in the form of ongoing challenges, sickness, and breakdowns. If you ignore the 'pause' as it approaches, the universe will turn up the volume until you can no longer ignore it.

If The Hanged Man appears in a Tarot reading, your projects and activities may come to an abrupt and unexpected halt. Don't keep moving forward in the hope that more power will propel you in the desired direction. Accept the opportunity to pause and use it to reassess where you are in your journey. You won't be able to see what's forming unless you give it the time and space it requires.

Love and Relationship (Upright)

The Hanged Man is commonly associated with sacrifice, new insights, and patiently waiting for the right moment. Nothing should be rushed, according to the upright Hanged Man tarot love interpretation for singles. It doesn't matter how much you put into your romantic endeavours or how well you communicate with your date if the other person isn't ready. Rather than rushing or pressuring a relationship to develop, use this time to observe how your perspective shifts when you are alone. The same is true for interpersonal relationships. Timing can be an issue when it comes to having important conversations or developing your relationship further. Alternatively, the concept of sacrifice may be important in your current or future relationships. When assistance is required, your commitment may be tested, but these situations can also strengthen your relationship.

If you are in a relationship, The Hanged Man in a love Tarot reading suggests that you are dissatisfied with how things are going in your relationship right now. It could also mean that you or your spouse need to take a step back from the relationship to consider your options or the direction you want the relationship to take. The Hanged Man advises you to postpone making any decisions and instead take some time to reflect. You may need to reconsider your expectations for your relationship and focus on what you like about it now rather than what you don't.

Finance (Upright)

The Hanged Man can indicate that it is time to change your perspective. If you've been experiencing financial difficulties, you might find that taking a break right now can provide you with a new perspective. Can you make the most of a difficult situation? Is it just that things appear to be worse than they are? If you're having financial difficulties, the Hanged Man is a sign that you need to change your perspective. There may be good things happening for you in other areas that you are not aware of because you are too focused on your finances, or your financial anxiety may be causing them to appear.

Because it is a card of patience, the Hanged Man tarot card frequently appears in money and career readings when things aren't going as planned. This can occasionally result in a promotion not being offered or delivered as expected. It can also represent the slow and steady expansion of a company that was expected to take off. Maintain your resolve if things take longer than expected to turn a profit or if your financial stability appears to be jeopardised. Things will improve if you continue to put forth consistent effort.

Career (Upright)

The Hanged Man can represent impatience or uncertainty about what you should be doing at work. You may need to take a break from your projects because they have been put on hold, or you may be waiting and pondering what to do next. This card teaches us that sometimes, no matter what, you can't force a decision or change to happen when the time isn't right. Sometimes you just have to wait, and the things you worked so hard for will come in due course, whether it's a response from a business partner or colleague, a client's decision, or a decision about your career. Relax and just be. Alternatively, you could be in the midst of a significant professional transition. What appears to be a reversal may be a strategic move to realign your path with something more satisfying to you.

In relation to a profession The Hanged Man indicates that you are unsure of your career path or that your career has plateaued. You may be unsure of the steps you need to take to advance your career. Recognize that you are not required to make an immediate decision if you are having difficulty making one. Simply relax and observe what happens. Everything will become clear with time.

Health (Upright)

If you have been experiencing health issues, The Hanged Man advises you to consider all of your treatment options. This does not mean that you should refuse the recommended course of therapy, but it does mean that you should reconsider your health issues and try approaching them from different angles. It may also imply that, whatever the issue, you should give yourself some time to heal rather than becoming frustrated because your health is not improving as quickly as you would like.

The Hanged Man in tarot denotes bodily disease. It has been connected to pregnancy difficulties as well as the side effects of chronic diseases including high blood pressure. The Hanged Man tarot card is a warning card that will allow you to seek medical help if you start to perceive signs of a problem, even if this isn't "good news" in the traditional sense. The Hanged Man is a metaphor for physical illness. Chronic conditions like hypertension, as well as chronic illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, and pregnancy difficulties, may all be impacted by it. When it comes to health, Hanged Man tarot cards can act as cautionary indicators, urging a person to contact a doctor if symptoms of a condition start to appear.

The Hanged Man (Reversed)

Reversed The Hanged Man tarot card meaning

The Hanged Man invites you to pause and consider things from a different perspective. When this card is turned over, it may indicate that you are aware you should pause but are refusing to do so. Instead, you fill your time with activities and initiatives to keep yourself busy and divert your attention away from the real issue at hand. Your body and spirit are telling you to relax, but your mind won't let you. Pause and take a break before it's too late. If you ignore it, the universe will crank up the volume, and you may end up crashing. So, as soon as you hear the call, schedule time to tune in and listen.

To your chagrin, you may already find yourself in a situation where everything has been put on hold. When The Hanged Man is reversed, it may indicate that you are experiencing difficulties as a result of other people or factors. Regardless of your resistance, it is critical that you accept "what is" and let go of your attachment to how things should be. When life doesn't go exactly as planned—and it never does!—go with the flow and let go of your grip.

If your life has already been put on hold for a while, The Hanged Man Reversed may be a sign that you can now move forward with a fresh outlook and a rekindled sense of vitality. You may discover that things are running more smoothly and that you are ready to move forward again. It's possible that you've had a breakthrough or a stark realisation about how you need to approach things differently. You're ready to make those changes and move forward with a new perspective.

Love and Relationships (Reversed)

The time to take action is now. The reversed Hanged Man tarot love meaning suggests that the wait is over. Your romantic life may have slowed recently, forcing you to reflect on various perspectives on romance and love. You should have returned knowing exactly what you want from relationships. Perhaps now is the time to let go of long-held, ingrained beliefs. Because of this new perspective, you are now more willing to act or make changes in your romantic life. The card can also be interpreted as a warning against making meaningless sacrifices in the name of love. Check that your needs and those of your partner are balanced.

If you are single, The Hanged Man in reverse may represent your proclivity to repeat bad relationship patterns without ever learning from them. It's possible that you're rushing into unhealthy relationships and never accepting responsibility for your role in these choices. Slow down and consider why this pattern persists, as well as what you need to decide internally to change it. If you see the Hanged Man in your relationship, it may indicate that it isn't working but that you or your spouse are holding on for fear of being alone or having to start over.

Finances (Reversed)

If you've recently considered making a significant purchase or investment of your resources, your hesitation and indecision may prevent you from taking the following step. This card can also indicate that your investments, which do not have to be in traditional financial institutions, are not producing any returns. Perhaps you borrowed money to pay for a family member's education, only to see them drop out. You could have put money into a side hustle only to see it fail. There is a sense of wasted sacrifice with this card; let this be a lesson for how to handle similar situations in the future.

This Major Arcana card could represent your paralysing fear of financial difficulty. If your finances are causing you problems, you should seek professional financial advice. Perhaps all you need is a fresh perspective to move things forward. You may be hesitant to do so if you intend to make a significant financial investment to purchase the item. This card also suggests that you are not getting a good return on your investments. There are fewer income sources and more spending sprees. This also implies that you may have loaned money to a friend or other close confidant, but they were unable to repay it on time, adding to your financial burden. Money appears to be being squandered, and the sacrifice implies that your investments have been squandered. Heavy knocks are forcing you to learn a lesson.

Career (Reversed)

When the Hanged Man is reversed, you may feel as if the career sacrifices you've made haven't truly paid off. If you recently changed careers, took time off for retraining, or used family time for professional tasks, things may not be going as planned. These changes may not appear to have been worthwhile. This card can also represent stalling on occasion. You may be so unsure of what to do next that you have put off making a decision that will lead you to your next steps rather than waiting for the right time, leaving you feeling helpless or stuck. Avoid wasting time by becoming an active participant in your life.

In a professional context, the reversed Hanged Man Tarot card indicates that, while things may not be going well, you lack the motivation or desire to address the issues at hand. You may be blaming others or thinking that you have no control over your situation. Now is the time to reclaim control of your career. Don't be a passenger in your own life, especially if it's not taking you in the right direction. Determine your goals and pursue them.

Health (Reversed)

The Hanged Man in the Reversed Position reminds you that you must think outside the box in order to solve your health problems. Consider the possibility that problems in other areas of your life are exacerbating or causing your health problems. For example, stress, sadness, and worry can manifest physically as a variety of symptoms such as headaches, sleeplessness, poor concentration, chronic fatigue, skin problems, and so on. Alternative and holistic therapies may supplement your current medical care, hasten your recovery, and aid in the resolution of any issues that may be exacerbating your health problems.

You may already be dealing with an ambiguous situation that is distressing you. Because of other people or events, you may feel constrained, delayed, or stuck in the Hanged Man's reversal. Regardless of your reluctance, accepting "what is" and letting go of your idealised notions of how things should be is critical. Live in the present moment and let go even if things don't go as planned because, let's face it, life rarely does.

The Hanged Man Card: One card Pull

One card pull is performed when you want to have straight to the point and quick answers. It is for the time when you wish to know specific answers, in the form of Yes or No. So, if you are going through any tough situation or are stuck in a dilemma, getting a one-card pull is always helpful. Post shuffling the card, you can choose one from the deck. Depending on your question, you shall get the answer to the question. The results for one card pull in The Hanged Man tarot card is:

Upright Position: If you get the pulled card in the upright position, it indicates Yes as an answer.

Reversed Position: If you get the pulled card in the reversed position, it indicates No as an answer.

The Hanged Man Card for Timing

The Hanged Man advises you to let go of fantasies of control. Recognize that you have been duped and defeated by your own tricks. After making your bed, you must now lie in it. This is not a negative assessment. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can have negative consequences on occasion. Bad things can happen to good people. Even if the consequences are unpleasant or even embarrassing, they are not fatal.

Stop fighting your situation and take a break. You'll be freed eventually, a little wiser but not too badly hurt. You'll realise how you contributed to the problem over time. But now that you're hung up again, the problems you were preoccupied with have passed and no longer bother you. You are now free to begin new projects. In the end, you'll be glad you diverted from your original path and feel refreshed.

It's important to remember that everyone interprets the tarot in their own unique way, which can lead to variations in interpretation. Because Neptune and Pisces are both associated with the Hanged Man, your decision-making process may include some ingenuity. Because the Hanged Man is the twelfth card, it could take anywhere from 12 months to 12 weeks to 12 days before you take the next step in your journey.