The Hanged Man hangs upside down from a living tree by one foot, calm, a halo around his head. He is surrender, a pause and a new perspective: by letting go and seeing the world upside down, you understand what you could not see before.
A sacred pause, a surrender that shows the world upside down.
Waite’s keywords (1911): Wisdom, circumspection, discernment, trials, sacrifice, intuition, divination, prophecy.
Reversed
Reversed, the pause becomes a stall: useless sacrifice, delays, indecision, playing the martyr, or refusing to let go of what has to be released.
A sacrifice made in vain, a waiting that has become stagnation.
Waite’s keywords (1911): Selfishness, the crowd, the body politic.
In love
Upright A relationship on hold; seeing your partner in a new light; letting go of control in love.
Reversed Sacrifice without reward, a relationship that does not move, or waiting for someone who will not change.
In work
Upright A pause in your career; a project waits; look at the problem from another angle.
Reversed Stagnation, lost time, or staying in a job out of fear.
In money
Upright Delay a financial decision; a sacrifice now may bring gain later.
Reversed Money tied up, a stuck situation, or losses from waiting too long.
At home and in the family
Upright A pause in family life; someone sacrifices for the others.
Reversed Martyrdom at home, or a household stuck in the same pattern.
On your path
Upright Surrender is a spiritual act: by letting go, you receive insight.
Reversed You resist the surrender your soul asks of you.
Its counsel
Upright Stop pushing. Let go, and look again.
Reversed Stop waiting and sacrificing yourself. Decide.
Correspondences
- Arcana
- Major Arcana, card 12
- Element
- Water
- Number
- 12
Dreams that carry this card
The Major Arcana
The Fool · The Magician · The High Priestess · The Empress · The Emperor · The Hierophant · The Lovers · The Chariot · Strength · The Hermit · Wheel of Fortune · Justice · Death · Temperance · The Devil · The Tower · The Star · The Moon · The Sun · Judgement · The World