Tarot Talk

The Hanged Man (12)

“The art of letting things happen, action through non-action, letting go of oneself, as taught by Meister Eckhart, became for me the key opening the door to the way.”  ~Carl Gustav Jung

Image Description:
The Rider-Waite deck depicts a man hanging upside down from a tree. His free leg is bent to form a cross and his arms are folded behind him to form a triangle. He is wearing a simple tunic. A bright halo of light radiates around his head, and his expression is calm and serene. The tree, shaped in the form of a ‘T’, is alive with leaves.
Symbols:
Cross and Triangle (formed by the man’s arms and legs): Accomplishment of great work, overcoming the personality
Halo: Enlightenment, spiritual understanding
Calm Expression: Acceptance, understanding the situation
Upside Down: A different perspective or unconventional views
Hanging: Suspension, inaction, standstill
Key Words:
Suspension, Reversal, Releasing, Sacrifice, Surrender
Fool’s Journey:
After many miles of travel, the Fool settles beneath a tree. There he stays for several days and nights, still beneath the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the last day of his retreat, he climbs the tree and dangles upside down in a state of suspension from a high branch. Surrendering himself to gravity, he releases himself from his thoughts, watching the world in reverse. From this simple act, his perspective suddenly changes.  In a moment of clarity he realizes that to gain, one must sacrifice. By giving up control, the Fool discovers the unending support of his Inner Self. With greater understanding, he resumes his journey.
Lesson:
To learn how to eliminate that which we no longer need, and trust the Divine to lead our path in the right direction.
Meaning:
The Hanged Man symbolizes the sacrifice of something in order to acquire something else more important. There are times, for the sake of growth, when life forces us to define what is of significance and what is of less value to us. Sometimes our desires no longer seem as important once we determine our true inner needs.
In readings the Hanged Man can signify the necessity to ‘let go.’ When we release control, oftentimes we discover solutions we would not have been able to acquire through force of will. By surrendering to the wisdom of our Higher Selves, we are able to trust the Source to guide our affairs in the right direction.
The Hanged Man also teaches us that we can move forward more freely by simply standing still. Sometimes when we most want to act, it is better to wait. By suspending our actions we can take the time needed to determine the best course for the future.
This card can also signify a reversal in thinking or a new clarity of insight gained by viewing our lives from an entirely different angle. Achieving illumination requires us to move into the unknown territory of our inner selves and examine our deepest thoughts.