The Hanged Man Tarot Card: Meanings and Symbolism

The Hanged Man Tarot Card: Meaning and Symbolism

The Hanged Man Tarot card is the twelfth card in the Major Arcana. This card is interesting. When people think of a hanged man, they think of someone having been hanged from the gallows. That is not the case with this card. The man is hanging upside from his foot and he does not seem to be all that bothered if you look at his face. Even though the man is hanging upside down, that does not mean that this card is going to be telling of bad things. Like every card, this card has different meanings in different situations.

the hanged man tarot card

The man, while hanging, has one leg bent so he looks like a number four. The number four represents something being complete. The stand he is hanging from has three parts. The number three symbolism creation. That being said, The Hanged Man means there is going to a renewed balance in the universe. There is a cause on its way that you are going to be working to the point of self-sacrifice, though this does not mean to your death. It can also mean you are in the right when it comes to disobeying a societal rule. Like every other card, The Hanged Man means different things based on the reading. This article looks at the varying messages this card can bring.

The Hanged Man Tarot Card

The Hanged Man Tarot Card Divinatory Meanings: Upright and Reversed

Seeing this card upright is a good thing. You will be plunging yourself whole-hearted in a cause that you feel should be attended to. This is because you are responding to a strong inner intuition. If you feel that is not the case then you might be showing flexibility in a situation. This card could also be telling you that you have or need to push temptations of a poor ego or habit.

woman, alone, ox, zodiac
Change is just around the corner.

Seeing this card upside down or reversed is not as good. It means that you did not do something you should have. You did not break a habit you should have or there was something you felt you should have done and did not. Lastly, The Hanged Man tarot card could be telling you that the struggle you have been having in your soul and or heart has not ended the way it should have.

General Meaning

The Hanged Man comes up in a reading when you need to give something up for a cause. You might have to give up your money, something you like doing, or your time. Since you are giving something up, do not be shocked if you get upset more easily than you normally would.

Pisces, friends, enemy, argue
It is likely you will need to give up something soon.

This card can sometimes foretell illness. Challenging treatments and medication are needed for you to get better in the end. Luckily, you will get better with time and proper care. A lot of the time, The Hanged Man means you need to have patience as time goes on.

Love Life Meaning

It is not clear whether or not The Hanged Man is a good or bad card to see when doing a relationship reading. Usually, this card just means that things are going to be uncertain for a while. You need to wait it out.

However, when this card comes along in a love reading, it can mean that your relationship is going to have an ending. It probably will not be clear why it ended. It could taper off or end abruptly.

broken heart, break up, sad

If you get this card as a result when asking how someone feels about you then it means that the person does not understand why they feel the way they do.

This card is not one you want to see when trying to get back together with an ex. This is because The Hanged Man predicts the two of you will get close but that the ex will cut the connection with only seconds to spare.

Career Meaning

Simply put, The Hanged Man Tarot card works as a warning in a career reading. Things are uneasy and confusing. If you take a leap of faith now, you are sure to lose any footing you had to begin with. So even if things are rough at the moment, sit tight, wait for things to blow over, then make a move towards change. You might be able to actually fix what was wrong once the dust settles down.

busy, numerology number five
Now is not a great time to change your career.

Also, if you plan on going in on a project with someone, do not do so if you see this card. There is too much going on that you can not see at this moment. This card is a sign to not give up if you have just gotten a new job or are starting a new business. The name is still getting out there. Things will bloom, you just need to allow time for the growth to happen.

Health Meaning

The Hanged Man is not a card you want to see when you are doing a health reading. You are going to be ill soon. Things will not be easy for while you are sick but you need patients because getting upset is not going to change this.

nurse, doctor, woman
See a doctor soon.

If you are pregnant or your partner is trying to get pregnant, this card can mean there is going to be some sort of illness or problem. That does not mean it is going to be fetal. The mother might have morning sickness, maybe she has high blood pressure. If you are worried, there is nothing wrong with making an appointment with your doctor.

Friends and Family Meaning

The Hanged Man Tarot card hints that there is going to be a confrontation in your family and soon. There is something that you have done to spur it. However, that does not mean that all of the tension is your fault either.

argue, fight
Try to avoid arguments in the near future.

If this is not the case, then it can mean that you are the black sheep of your family. Every family has one and all the black sheep are stuck with the role so they have to find support in being themselves outside of the family.

In addition, this card is also telling you to not bring up politics. Whether this is online or with family, just do not talk about it. Things are sure to blow up. Do not engage in this topic even if someone else brings it up first.

The Hanged Man Tarot Card: Conclusion

The Hanged Man Tarot card is not always the best to see. He is not necessarily a bad omen but the good he brings is never only rainbows and lollipops. Even if that seems to be the case, there is going to be at least a minor downside.

This card can be neutral, however. Hold off and wait before making any big decisions. New information is coming to you. All in all, this card means you should have patients when you do not know the full story.

Leave a Comment