The Hanged Man reversed

[SunshineMoon]

I would like to further explore the meanings of The Hanged Man reversed. All input is welcome and appreciated. To me, this card seems positive when I look at it reversed, but none of the meanings truly seem as bright as it appears to me. I am interested on your perspectives on this card. 

[November]

Hi SunshineMoon, I think that the main theme of The Hanged Man Reversed is being/feeling stuck in a situation whether you like it or not.

Sometimes indeed you can't do nothing more than just accepting how things are, while at other times it is you who is not willing to change your present circumstances, because it would mean giving up on something or someone.

In both cases you're blocked and can't move forwards, thus you must let go of something.

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by November

[SunshineMoon]

11 minutes ago, November said:

Hi SunshineMoon, I think that the main theme of The Hanged Man Reversed is being/feeling stuck in a situation whether you like it or not.

Sometimes indeed you can't do nothing more than just accepting how things are, while at other times it is you who is not willing to change your present circumstances, because it would mean giving up on something or someone.

In both cases you're blocked and can't move forwards, thus you must let go of something.

 

 

@November It is so strange, that is what I see when I look at the card upright. You are stuck, you are waiting, and there is nothing that you can do. When I see it reversed, I see it as a choice to be where you are and an enlightenment, which is the total opposite of what it actually means. Upright and reversed, I see waiting and stuck in limbo. Reversed, it seems like he is standing on the tree and has secured himself so he does not fall rather than being a captive. Like he is taking his time to rest and wait for the enlightenment to come and it does. 

[Mister]

36 minutes ago, SunshineMoon said:

When I see it reversed, I see it as a choice to be where you are and an enlightenment, which is the total opposite of what it actually means. Upright and reversed, I see waiting and stuck in limbo.

 

Reversed, it seems ( -to you!- ) like he is standing on the tree and has secured himself so he does not fall rather than being a captive. Like he is taking his time to rest and wait for the enlightenment to come and it does.

 

Please do excuse me fiddling with the content quoted above.

What I want to point out is quiet simple: If that card does give you such a strong/impactful impression, do go with it and see if it holds true when you read your cards.

Very often, the specific way in which a reader interprets a card is not to be generalised.

Rather, it can lead to quiet the nasty quarrel if posted in the wrong place (i.e. 'not here').

[SunshineMoon]

32 minutes ago, Mister said:

 

Please do excuse me fiddling with the content quoted above.

What I want to point out is quiet simple: If that card does give you such a strong/impactful impression, do go with it and see if it holds true when you read your cards.

Very often, the specific way in which a reader interprets a card is not to be generalised.

Rather, it can lead to quiet the nasty quarrel if posted in the wrong place (i.e. 'not here').

 

@Mister It is perfectly fine to fiddle with it, it makes sense what was changed. I love this input! Thank you so much for that. I think that you make a very valid point and I will take it to heart!

[November]

1 hour ago, SunshineMoon said:

 

@November It is so strange, that is what I see when I look at the card upright. You are stuck, you are waiting, and there is nothing that you can do. When I see it reversed, I see it as a choice to be where you are and an enlightenment, which is the total opposite of what it actually means. Upright and reversed, I see waiting and stuck in limbo. Reversed, it seems like he is standing on the tree and has secured himself so he does not fall rather than being a captive. Like he is taking his time to rest and wait for the enlightenment to come and it does. 

 

@SunshineMoon if this card reversed gives you more "positive" vibes, it does have positive vibes!

As also @Mister said, you can't generalize, cards work differently with each of us.. For what concerns myself for example, I don't even use reversals (no more), they don't work with me. 

[SunshineMoon]

2 hours ago, November said:

I don't even use reversals (no more), they don't work with me. 

@November How long did it take for you to decide not read with them? Sometimes, I can understand a reversal depending on the card. Other times, it means something different to me than what is in my book, often more positive. I tried not to read with them and I would get a card and think "there is no way that is accurate" but the reversal would be more accurate. So, I have a love-hate relationship with it. 

[November]

@SunshineMoon well, after more or less 4 years I dropped using reversals, because I always ended up to interpret the reading too much "negatively". By using upright cards only I'm more at ease when reading. Perhaps now you're wondering how I can grasp "negative" meanings too, well, it's weird, but I feel it😂

[gregory]

I don't use reversals either. I think each card upright reveals the meaning needed in context.

 

But If I DID - with Hanged Man - upright suggests the need for a new approach, thought, staying put for a bit, taking the time to work it all out. Reversed would suggest to me an unwillingness to put in the effort to achieve that - so - stuck.

[DanielJUK]

I think I have to discuss the upright Hanged Man to do the reversed version.

 

The Hanged Man is hanging from that wooden structure by a foot, they are suspended and stuck in position. People have different views about this, did they decide to get in this position as a choice to better themselves or as a sacrifice, or was this not their choice? Some older cards had this card as The Traitor and in Europe, traitors were forcefully hung by one foot upside down like this card. Some cards show his hands bound behind his back but you cannot always see. It's important they are in this situation, trapped like many other of the card images but they seem to be at peace. They make a 4 sign with their legs. But in this predicament they find a peace or meditation to get through it.

 

I once had The Hanged Man as a year card, I think it was like 2013, the card kept coming up for me constantly. It was awful! All year I was stuck in position and I couldn't seem to progress with anything. It was so frustrating, nothing was working out. After about 11 months of this, I suddenly realised at the end of the year that the message was to learn how to deal with it. I had spent 90% of the year fighting and fighting this but you have to learn a coping technique. Sometimes our lives stagnant and suspend, we have to be patience and just live through it. There was nothing I could do but things started moving again. Having patience when you are completely stuck. The Hanged Man is about learning to find peace when you are stuck or in indecision. It can also represent making a sacrifice and getting a different perspective on things as you are upside-down, a new view of the situation! The Hanged Man is not easy but you end up in a better place, this is like a lesson you learn from and end up in a better place and can progress again.

 

So the reversed card, now the person looks like they are standing on the cross. This seems like someone is choosing to crucify themselves and one meaning people put on this reversal is martyrdom. The image reversed reminds me of one of those Renaissance paintings which has Christ or Saints in this style and the gold disc around their head always signifies someone is a Saint in that artwork. This is pretty arrogant really, to put yourself on a cross like these artistic depictions. This says to me that someone thinks they are a Martyr, someone killed for their religious beliefs and they sacrifice themselves for these beliefs. But in this card, this is a total over reaction! The upright hanged man has a process of dealing with a situation in their lives, it's a lesson. But the reversal is something complaining about how bad as but not doing anything about it. I think it's avoiding or delaying the process of living with the situation and finding a way out of it or making a sacrifice or getting a different perspective. They are not making a decision or seeing a new perspective and sometimes this is a loss of optimism but the advice is the upright Hanged Man, a difficult process of suspension, perhaps a spiritual process to work out what to do next. Needing spiritual nourishment perhaps instead of complaining how bad it is. This is just a temporary situation but we find a way of getting over life's obstacles again.

 

How you see the cards is always how you should go with it. I think this reversed card no long has the trapped element of the upright but they have trapped themselves with feeling the situation is so bad but not doing anything about it.

[SunshineMoon]

@DanielJUK Thank you for such a detailed post! I greatly appreciate it. I can definitely see how this could be associated with Martyrdom with how you have described. It does seem a bit arrogant looking at it now. I had read somewhere on another forum that this was like escaping one's own bonds only to return for one's own execution. I could not understand that at the time; however, your post makes me see that side of it in a way. I can absolutely see this card in a different light now! Wonderful insight!

[SunshineMoon]

@gregory Thank you! Did you ever use reversals in the past?

[Sar]

The Hanged Man is by default reverse, so if he appears not to hang (the pun intended), then something is happening before it is suppose to happen. Before things are ready. 

[gregory]

May I offer you this one, which kind of upends things.... (Earth Magick; just got it, still considering some of the cards !!!)

 

 

[Sar]

@gregory This is an interesting Hanged Man. He doesn't look like he is suffering though, more sleeping.

[gregory]

But he's stuck full of arrows. Maybe he's DEAD.... ( Hi Sar - good to see you ! )

[Sar]

2 minutes ago, gregory said:

But he's stuck full of arrows. Maybe he's DEAD.... ( Hi Sar - good to see you ! )

He might be dead.

Good to see you too. 

[Mister]

On 1/13/2023 at 12:05 PM, DanielJUK said:

This is pretty arrogant really

 

I just got curious -

Would you feel comfortable with applying the same tag to practices done in analogy and perhaps a tad bit less extreme,

for example, the idea of giving away ones money to people in need before embarking on a pilgrimage?

Or, if further stretched, the idea of fasting for some time to attain some sort of insight?

 

Considering the reversal of the Hanged Man, it is most interesting with this one if you take some of the older decks into account.

There is the path of that one dubbed Charles IV Tarot, if I am not mistaken, where this card can be seen with a semblance to "Il Ladro", basically a thief.

Then, there is the path of those from the tarot de paris, where le pendu has taken on a whole nother meaning compared to the former style.

A variation is presented here.

 

If I encounter Le Pendu in an outcomeish positition of a spread, I have to take into account that the client may not listen to what is presented as advice.

Which is in analogy to the "red foot hanged guy"-line, a sort of doing it anyway or 'blood before reason'-style of acting.

Which can, again, be tied to something christian, but then again I think it was Waite who directed the introduction of the halo as such into that card, so...

 

To me, the actual interpretation of that card higes on the affinity of each reader a lot.

Edited January 15, 2023 by Mister

[Misterei]

8 hours ago, Sar said:

The Hanged Man is by default reverse, so if he appears not to hang (the pun intended), then something is happening before it is suppose to happen. Before things are ready. 

Interesting. I've never read it quite this way ... but it resonates.

 

I seldom read reversals ... so every meaning I take for Hanged Man is contextual. From deeply esoteric spiritual processes (a bit much to expound here) to the parts you need to repair your washing machine are held-up due to supply chain shortages. Reversed or in good yogas ... the delay is only temporary and you'll be doing laundry again in no time.

Edited January 15, 2023 by Misterei

[Chariot]

I find the Hanged Man to be a most interesting card. I have never read it as 'sacrifice' of any kind, although I can see why it can be interpreted that way—and often is. But for me, the upright card always means 'a new perspective.'

This new perspective might not be sought for, and may simply be a result of being unwillingly stuck or left hanging with nothing to do.  But the world DOES look different upside down. Having nothing to do but look at the world upside down for a while, can bring a totally new perspective.  I read the upright Hanged Man as a very positive card.  In most cases (including the Rider-Waite-Smith deck) the expression on the face of the hanged man is one of wonder, maybe even enlightenment.  He doesn't look like he's in pain, or even that he'd rather be somewhere else.  He seems quite content and actually comfortable.  He probably didn't get there by himself, and maybe wasn't  happy at the start, but I think when he finally gets let down again, he'll be glad it happened.  He'll have learned something interesting and helpful.

Conversely, the reversed Hanged Man—for me, anyway—indicates the need for a new perspective on a situation.  The reversed person is still stuck, tied by the foot, same as the upright person, but this one can't seem to think outside the box.  He is frustrated and probably angry at whatever/whoever put him where he is, and is so busy growling and complaining that the new perspective doesn't register.  The chance to take a break and see things differently for a while is not being embraced.

The advice from this card—both upright and reversed—is to accept that you are stuck with a situation just now, but to take a look at it from a different angle.   Stop fighting it, relax, and get what you can from the hiatus.  This can be a very beneficial exercise. When the time comes and you are free to move again, you'll have a totally different attitude from when you were first put into stasis. 

 

Edited January 19, 2023 by Chariot

[Aliki]

Besides all the other meanings i recently got a glimpse of a new one like what if hanged man in reverse can also mean someone who refuses to let fate be as it actually is or accept fate as it is stubbornness to accept fate as it is and to give up control on trying to change something which is fated already? Impatience to let fate on something unfold  believing to it that will happen letting it to the universe/divine etc and of course can point stubborness and a huge stuck point due to a martyrdom syndrome about something or someone maybe also giving up into addictions/self destruction in general due to a martyrdom syndrome and could point out self destructive behaviour especially with stronger indicators around the spread 

[Rosebud]

Interesting, since I get The Hanged Man yesterday. I can say that I like this card. Because it's about thinking in a different perspective and letting ourselves to be peaceful with our condition, for whatever it might be. It's more like a sense of acceptance and getting enlightened from an attitude of acceptance. But of course sometime I do feel this card is like a sacrifice in a kind of way, but I especially think that way when I got a bad day or not feeling well (I read my cards daily). But I still feel that sacrifice is also an attitude of acceptance to some extent. The difference is, when it comes about sacrifice, there is some thing that need to be abandoned or let go of, where we feel attached to it (rather emotionally) so we feel kinda sad when we have to sacrifice something. But there is a difference with acceptance, which is to release any attachment of something, and a sense of embracing our condition for whatever it might be. And when it comes about acceptance, although we let go of something and we don't have that something again, this sets us free, because by accepting something we also simultaneously let go of our expectation. There is no shoulds or shouldn'ts. This especially described by the hanged man peaceful feature amidst of his situation. He let go his expectation on whether he should not stay there, and accept his condition. So he feels free and peaceful. And he also know that his hands and legs are still free, actually, where he can move them freely (he only have one leg tied up, but sometimes this is based on what card you are seeking), but he chooses to stay in his condition and not to get up and save himself. For me, that is because he accepts his condition peacefully.

[SunshineMoon]

On 1/15/2023 at 6:20 AM, Sar said:

The Hanged Man is by default reverse, so if he appears not to hang (the pun intended), then something is happening before it is suppose to happen. Before things are ready. 

@Sar I love this view. Thank you so much for sharing this! This is the most interesting comment that I have came across!

[SunshineMoon]

On 1/19/2023 at 1:27 PM, Chariot said:

Conversely, the reversed Hanged Man—for me, anyway—indicates the need for a new perspective on a situation.  The reversed person is still stuck, tied by the foot, same as the upright person, but this one can't seem to think outside the box.  He is frustrated and probably angry at whatever/whoever put him where he is, and is so busy growling and complaining that the new perspective doesn't register.  The chance to take a break and see things differently for a while is not being embraced.

The advice from this card—both upright and reversed—is to accept that you are stuck with a situation just now, but to take a look at it from a different angle.   Stop fighting it, relax, and get what you can from the hiatus.  This can be a very beneficial exercise. When the time comes and you are free to move again, you'll have a totally different attitude from when you were first put into stasis. 

 

@Chariot Ahhhh, this post screams at me. You truly helped me understand this better. I love the view on the advice, truly I think that this really speaks volumes about the meaning. I needed this. Thank you!

[SunshineMoon]

On 1/19/2023 at 7:25 PM, Aliki said:

someone who refuses to let fate be as it actually is or accept fate as it is stubbornness to accept fate as it is and to give up control on trying to change something which is fated already? Impatience to let fate on something unfold  believing to it that will happen letting it to the universe/divine etc 

@Aliki Wondeful view! I agree with this a lot. I think there is something to this. Instead of waiting for the universe to unfold, it is trying to take fate into one's own hands and do something when nothing should be done. I feel in that instance, one would be stalked by this card because if it is fated, the universe will have to teach one the same lesson over and over and over until that person would throw up their hands and let fate play out.