The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man signifies discomfort for self-growth and enlightenment through detachment. It represents an active surrender, a phase of development, and a shift in perspective, urging acceptance and new viewpoints.
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Appearance and Pose
The Hanged Man looks oddly serene for a person dangling upside down by his foot. Clearly, hanging inverted is uncomfortable, and yet he looks peaceful. How did he get in that position? What will he do now that he’s in it?
Contemporary Understanding
Contemporary understanding of this card is that the Hanged Man represents a period of discomfort in the interest of self-growth, and the enlightenment one can achieve by removing oneself slightly from the world.
Active Surrender
We can think of the ‘surrender’ as an active step, not a passive one. His pose strongly resembles that of a chrysalis. Something new is developing, and he must pause, withdraw, to let go to allow it to come forth.
Personal Anecdote
My friend Quinn recently went through gender-affirming ‘top surgery’ (double mastectomy). During their recovery, they drew themselves as the Hanged Man. They described the experience as, “letting go and making sacrifice for something deeply, clearly worth it.”
Shifting Perspective
At its simplest, we can think of the Hanged Man as a literal reversal of perspective. Turn the world upside down and what do you see? New perspectives, or even new solutions? In readings about conflict, problems, and disagreement, the Hanged Man instructs us to look at the issue from a different viewpoint. Accept your circumstances, allow your perspective to shift, and let go.
This might hurt tarot
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