The Hanged Man

The Symbolism Contained in the Image

The card shows a man turned upside down. The red signifies endurance, the blue - clarity of mind. His feet and hands are tied, yet he displays no signs of struggle against this restraint. Instead he looks serene, relaxed and patient. The yellow aura field around his head suggest that he is engaged in intellectual analysis of what he sees. And what he sees is the world from a new perspective - upside down. This is a card for a peaceful acceptance of what and where you are in life. At the present moment, surrender to the circumstances is the best use of your energy.

General Meaning

The Hanged Man is a card which indicates that in this moment, it is best not to fight against the flow of events. Surrender and wait for life to take you where you are meant to be. Perhaps you had some great plans but you ran into an obstacle and now you are fiercely fighting against the circumstances to ensure events go according to your original design? Do not. You will gain more from being still.

Alternatively, this card can signify a period of peace and quiet which comes after a period of struggle and turmoil. The time is best used for reflection and trying to see things from a different angle. The ultimate goal is to understand the tides of life beneath everyday occurrences. This knowledge will be useful when the time comes for active re-engagement with the world.

In Reverse

When reversed, this card indicates that the querent is unable to distance themselves from everyday reality and engage in quiet contemplation. Life is inviting you to take a step back and ensure that your current path is in alignment with your higher purpose but you resist. This could be out of fear or inability to break the inertia of existence. If you do not take time now to identify the repeating patterns in your life, later you may experience even longer delays and setbacks. You may feel like the restrictions you are facing now are hindering your growth but when life allows you to move on, you will see that the time spent in reflection had not been wasted.

In a larger sense, this card can indicate that you are battling your inner self or your reality to no avail. You are trying to force outcomes whose time has not yet come.

Relationship Meaning

In a relationship reading, the Hanged Man suggests a time when one of the partners is distancing themselves from the other in order to evaluate past events from a new perspective. It indicates focusing on yourself which could lead to your partner feeling abandoned and neglected. A sense of detachment from the partnership is present.

Career Meaning

In a career reading, the Hanged Man indicates stagnation and delays. Uncertainty at work means you will have to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Some sacrifice may be required of you.

In reverse, the card means procrastination and wasted sacrifice.

Finance Meaning

In a financial reading, the Hanged Man indicates a period of stagnation in investment or money-making. Uncertainty about a financial stream is forcing you to wait longer and perhaps look for alternatives.