The Hanged Man presents a man hung from a wooden cross. He is hanging upside-down, observing the world from a totally different viewpoint, and his facial expression is calm, hinting that he is in this hanging position by his preference. He has a halo around his head, symbolizing new insight and enlightenment. His right foot is connected to the tree, but his left foot rests free, bent and tucked in behind his right leg. His arms are bent, forming a triangle. The man is wearing red pants symbolizing human passion, and a blue jacket for knowledge. The Hanged Man is the card of ultimate surrender, of being suspended in time and of torture and sacrifice to the highest good.

Upright
Pause, surrender, letting go, new perspectives  
Reversed
Delays, resistance, stalling, indecision
Astrology
Pisces
Element
Water
The Hanged Man

Upright Hanged Man

The Hanged Man explains that his position is a sacrifice that he needed to make to step forward. Sometimes you have to put everything on hold before your next step, or the Universe will do it for you (and it may not always be at the most suitable time!). The Hanged Man invites you to release the old thinking patterns that no longer serve you so you can see your world from a new perspective.

If you’re in harmony with your feelings, you’ll start to have a sense of when it’s time to make a sacrifice before things get out of hand. But if you’re out of harmony and unconscious to those intuitive signs, the Universe will probably put things on hold for you, in the form of barriers, sickness, and failures. When you sense the ‘pause’ call coming, be aware; otherwise, the Universe will turn up the volume until you can’t neglect it anymore. Surrender to the chance to pause and view it as your opportunity to re-evaluate where you are on your path. 

The Hanged Man could also indicate that you are feeling restricted in your life. What is making you feel ‘stuck’ in this situation? What is blocking you from moving ahead? On one level, the Hanged Man is asking you to surrender. Instead of investing in specific results or resisting your current conditions, accept them and allow yourself to move with life. 

Reversed Hanged Man

While upright Hanged Man encourages you to pause for a moment and see things from a different perspective, in reversed position this card can tell that you know you need to pause, but you are resisting it. Instead, you fill your days with responsibilities and distracting yourself from the real problem that needs your consideration. Your spirit is asking you to slow down, but your mind continues racing. Stop before it’s too late. So, as soon as you hear the call, clear your schedule and make the space so you can tune in.

Also, you may already be in a position where everything has been put on hold. The reversal of the Hanged Man can indicate that you’re getting blocked because other circumstances have left you on hold. While you feel resistant, you must surrender and let go of your attachments to how things should be. Be in flow with life and loosen your grip, even if it’s not as you expected it.

If your relationship is on hold, the reversed Hanged Man hints that you are happy to wait around. You realize that this relationship will progress, you cannot rush it. However, you also do not want to pause for a longer time, and you notice that there will come a time when you must decide.

The reversed Hanged Man can also signal that you are postponing a decision. You may think you’re waiting until you feel 100% ready, however, you’re probably never going to be 100% ready. So, what are you waiting for? Take the leap! Do it before the Universe does it for you.