| The Hanged Man is the thirteenth card in the | | | | mind at peace with the situation at hand. It is also |
| sequence of the tarot deck. However, the Hanged | | | | noteworthy that the wood of the cross he is |
| Man has nothing to do with matters of life and death | | | | suspended from is not dead, but living, green, and |
| as one may be inclined to think at first glance. | | | | growing. The image as a whole is undoubtedly one |
| Instead, he deals with the realms of stasis and | | | | that deals with suspension. However it is suspension |
| suspension, as well as the benefits that can be | | | | within the confines of life itself and has nothing to do |
| attached to such concepts when they are fully and | | | | with death. In this way, both the image and the |
| willingly embraced as part of the natural progression | | | | concept it represents is reminiscent of the story of |
| of things. | | | | the Norse god Odin who hung suspended from the |
| Getting in touch with the wisdom the Hanged Man | | | | Tree of Life for nine days in order to gain powerful |
| offers us cannot be achieved by searching far and | | | | knowledge. |
| wide out in the world. It can only be found by looking | | | | When the Hanged Man makes an appearance in a |
| within. The lesson he teaches is also one of the type | | | | tarot spread, he signals a period of time that will be |
| that is easy enough to understand from the outside | | | | largely characterized by meditation, sacrifice, |
| looking in, but sometimes difficult to actually apply to | | | | prophecy, or introspection. Enlightenment in regards |
| oneself. Grasping it successfully not only calls for | | | | to the situation at hand can only be achieved by |
| deep introspection and development of self | | | | letting go of preconceived expectations and giving up |
| awareness of the highest order, but also the | | | | the need for control. Once this is accomplished, the |
| relinquishing of one's inherent desire for control over | | | | way forward will quickly become clear and the |
| a given situation. In this way, the Hanged Man's | | | | solution to the querent's dilemma will naturally present |
| lesson is also a lesson of sacrifice. A man must first | | | | itself. A profound change in world view or personal |
| be willing to let go of what he has before he can | | | | approach could also be a possible result upon |
| finally get what he wants. | | | | resolution of the querent's dilemma. |
| The traditional tarot image attached to the concept | | | | Alternatively, the Hanged Man can herald the coming |
| of the Hanged Man shows him hanging suspended | | | | of a time when life will slow down and become static |
| upside down from a Tau cross made of wood. His | | | | for a while. This would be a time during which the |
| legs are positioned in such a way to form a fylot | | | | querent should take some much needed time out to |
| cross as well. Around the Hanged Man's head is a | | | | rest and reflect before moving on to the next big |
| nimbus of light that suggests a state of | | | | thing. As is the case with interpretation of the |
| enlightenment, although many tarot readers | | | | meaning of any of the tarot cards, the surrounding |
| alternatively feel it represents martyrdom. It is | | | | cards and positioning of the Hanged Man in the |
| extremely important to note that the expression on | | | | spread will lend more insight into the specifics of the |
| the figure's face is not one of tortured suffering or | | | | situation being foretold. |
| pain, but rather one that suggests patience and a | | | | |