A young man dangles by one foot, tied to a crosspiece of leafy wood. His arms are folded behind his back, forming a triangle, and rather than looking frightened or in pain, he appears quite serene. Although he hangs above the earth, he is still connected to it because one foot is attached to the wood. The youth has evolved from his position as Fool, and as his journey continues he knows he must make sacrifices.


This sacrifice is a spiritual one, and once he has completed his ordeal, he will experience a transformation, much like the Norse god Odin did after spending nine days hanging in the tree of knowledge.

The Hanged Man is a card of profound significance, although a lot of its meanings are hidden. This card is an indicator of wisdom as yet untapped or undiscovered, and even of prophetic power. The Hanged Man shows us a pause in our life, a moment of suspension in time. Material temptations are conquered on the way to spiritual transformation.

One of the things that is perhaps the most interesting about the artwork on the Hanged Man, in many decks, is that he doesn't appear to be in pain or discomfort at all. He's not a man who's been hanged, he's a man who is hanging, and there's a bit of a difference. He's often portrayed with a halo, which can indicate some sort of strong spiritual power (think about saints, who are always painted with halos), and he's got his leg bent up almost as though he's become relaxed.

The Hanged Man often indicates that there is a need to give up conflict, to walk away from the things or people who have a negative influence on us and our happiness. In a way, the Hanged Man is a bit passive-aggressive. His idea of a good defense in a fight is to simply walk away and avoid trouble all together. Don't let this fool you though - his non-aggression should never be mistaken for weakness. Why? Because if you wait long enough, your enemy will destroy himself, and you will emerge the victor without having to lift a finger.

When reversed, the Hanged Man shows us someone who is resistant to spiritual influences or refused to accept that sacrifices must be made in order to grow and evolve. There is a sense of self-absorption, and of being too wrapped up in material matters. This can also represent someone who looks before he leaps, and doesn't have the patience to sit back and wait for things to happen.

Of note, the Hanged Man's meaning can become a little more specific when he's paired up with certain other cards. If your Hanged Man shows up in a reading with multiple King or Queen cards, or with the Emperor or Empress, it can mean that you've got someone controlling and bossy in your life. You probably know who the person is - start ignoring them instead of giving them the satisfaction of letting them know how much they upset you, and they'll find someone else to focus on.

Likewise, a Hanged Man appearing in a reading with many Swords can indicate that there is conflict and trouble on the horizon, but patience and watchfulness will get you through it. Let other people rant and rave all they want, but in the end, those who rode the storm out will emerge as the clear winners.

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