The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man depicts a mermaid ensnared by a rope and anchor, symbolizing a situation where struggling only tightens constraints. The card urges slowing down, reevaluating circumstances, and adopting a change of perspective rather than forcing action. It speaks to feelings of being stuck and the necessity of letting go and finding calm to achieve freedom. In its shadow aspect it warns of self-pity, martyrdom, willful ignorance, and a refusal to acknowledge other perspectives.
Keywords
Poem — Stanza 1
Trapped and tangled, stumped and vexed. What was up is now down and I'm quite perplexed.
Poem — Stanza 2
Yet here a thought that this way comes: there is more to a part, than the whole of its sums.
Poem — Stanza 3
To struggle and writhe is no way to see. One must be calm and collected if they seek to be free.
Meaning
The mermaid in this card is ensnared by a rope tied to an anchor. The more she struggles, the more tangled she becomes. In much the same way, The Hanged Man urges us to slow down and reevaluate our circumstances. It is a card about feeling stuck and needing to let go.
Shadow Self
Its shadow self indicates self-pity, martyrdom, and a willful ignorance or refusal to acknowledge other perspectives.
Upright keywords
sacrifice, letting go, a change of perspective, realignment, release, uncertainty, suspension, restriction, lack of direction, standstill, calmness in the face of adversity
Reversed keywords
martyrdom, feeling trapped, stagnation, impulsiveness, indecision, unhelpful or counterproductive struggle, negative life patterns, avoiding a problem, delay, loss of faith, hopelessness, resigned to failure or negativity
Visual Description
An upside-down figure with a long green fish tail is suspended by thick ropes wrapped around the tail and torso, hanging in an underwater scene. A large anchor lies to the right, its chain or rope entwined with the cords that bind the figure. Pale skin and long flowing hair drift toward the bottom of the image, and geometric triangular lines glow faintly behind the figure. Colorful coral and marine plants fill the surrounding depths, with bubbles and soft blue-green light indicating submersion.
Children of Litha tarot
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