Tarot Explained: The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man is associated with surrender, waiting and viewing a situation from a new perspective.  This card is representative of humanity as a whole, and may traditionally be read as either gender.  Featured on the card is a figure hung upside down from a single leg, their crown chakra radiating with light, indicating knowledge gained through deeper understanding.

 Symbols & Characteristics

The Hanged Man correlates with Neptune, the planet ruling illusion, intuition, the subconscious and martyrdom.  Blue, the herbs Irish moss or kelp, and the musical note G# are associated with the Hanged Man card.  Themes of purification, water, cleansing and baptism are also synonymous with the Hanged Man.  Jesus, Buddha and Odin are archetypes which are also associated with this card.  The Hanged Man's state of suspension may be viewed as meditative, as their unusual vantage point grants them access to epiphanies or expanded awareness.

The tranquil blue grey background of the Rider-Waite version of the Hanged Man marks this as a time of retrospection and knowledge.  The tree from which the figure hangs is healthy and strong, and the individual hangs evenly between two branches.  As red is an indicator of action, and can be associated with the root chakra, one can view the red tights of the Hanged Man as being representative of a halt of any further steps.  The blue tunic of the Hanged Man may allude to the card's ruling Planet, Neptune, and its affiliation with water.  Water is synonymous with purity, clarity, nourishment and even creates a mirror which can reflect, enabling one to scry for information.  The bright yellow halo surrounding the figure's head indicates the activation of the upper chakras, connecting one to the Divine and elevated states of consciousness.

Reading The Hanged Man Upright

Reading the Hanged Man upright, the figure is suspended upside down, waiting in a resigned fashion, left to their thoughts.  In the previous card, Judgement, themes of integrity, fairness and balance are highlighted.  At this point in the journey of tarot, there is no ignoring justice moving forward, and the Hanged Man is a result.

A card indicating it may be time to reconsider, the Hanged Man beckons the querent to pause and reassess.  Wisdom, evolved perspectives and new ways of thinking are associated with this card, indicating knowledge gained through deep reflection.  Acts of self-sacrifice, devotion and kindness correspond with the Hanged Man card as well.  The querent can also read the Hanged Man as a sign that doing something out of the ordinary for the highest good is admirable.

Reading The Hanged Man Reversed

Reversed, the Hanged Man may indicate an individual prone to acts of martyrdom.  This card may be a sign of selfishness, stagnation or rigid standpoints.  The Hanged Man reversed may also represent lack of insight, being preoccupied, helplessness, hangups or even disillusionment.