"Sometimes it is necessary to let go only to see if there was anything worth holding on to."
The Hanged Man is one of the less popular images of the Tarot; the first impression many people get is that of an execution, even a slow death. Indeed, when the first Tarot cards were created, public hangings were an everyday occurrence, so we tend to associate the term "Hanged Man" with something ghastly.
But thankfully there is more to the Hanged Man than meets the eye; look closely at his face, and you notice a rather calm and peaceful expression. There is also a halo around his head suggesting a sense of enlightenment or illuminating thoughts. Because he is hanging upside down, he is gaining a different perspective of his surroundings.
The figure's hands are behind his back; we don't know but we can assume they're not bound, which means he has chosen this position in order to make sense of a situation. He is also hanging from just one leg giving him the somewhat restricted freedom to form the number "4" inverted.
Interestingly, there seems to be a connection between the Hanged Man and the fourth card in each suit:
4/Wands - pause, celebration
4/Cups - boredom, apathy
4/Swords - rest, recuperation
4/Pentacles - sitting tight, inflexible
The traditional meanings of the Hanged Man seem to be somehow reflected in these 4 Minor Arcana cards: lack of movement, contemplation, stasis but also literal meanings such as " in limbo", "hanging in there" and "suspension". In order to progress or move forward, the Hanged Man is searching for knowledge or understanding by turning his view of the world upside down. This process usually involves "letting go" of something, which can be hard but necessary in order to change the current position into a more comfortable one. It can feel like making a sacrifice, but it may be more helpful to regard it as finding a new perspective or "thinking outside the box" in order to gain long-term:
"It is easy to create new things, change places or do something different. To keep that sense of newness that creates enthusiasm is more difficult. The secret of newness in life is not to do new things constantly, but to see everything you do with new eyes, new insights and a new perspective." - thoughtfortoday.org.uk
What does the Hanged Man mean to you and how do you interpret this card in your readings? You are welcome to comment on my blog, and you can now share your thoughts and ideas on my Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/CosmicTarot
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