Hangin' with The Hanged Man

[Guest libra]

So he's been stalking me, and at least one other member here that I know of, so I figured I'd dig in with him a bit, starting first with consolidating a few thoughts I've had about him elsewhere and hopefully hearing from others in the coming with their thoughts and experiences!

 

~~~

From my blog :

 

One of the most commonly quoted meanings for The Hanged Man is “a change of perspective” - but, I’m going to put forward the opposite view as an alternate way of looking at the card.

 

See, to me, having the card mean that you need to look at the situation from a different point of view has felt like a shallow understanding based  solely on him being upside down.  I feel like the reason he’s upside down is being missed - he’s been hung, strung up for his beliefs or actions. And despite that, he has a look of peace, of enlightenment. To me, none of this says that he has changed his way of thinking. Out of that peace, I see him coming to terms with being veiwed as wrong, with being an outsider and punished. He’s got a level of clarity and understanding that gives him inner peace even when it seems that the world is agaisnt him.

 

When I pull this card, that is more aligned with my  view of the card. He doesn’t often come to me to ask me to change my views, but rather to take a hard look at them, to be sure that they align with my core values - and if they prove to be, to stand strong with them. If I know deep into my Soul that something is right for me, I need to live by that, even if it means going against the grain of society. It’s a sign to hold my ground - yet, to do so in a way that is only for myself. This is such an internally focussed card, where all of the steadfastness comes from a level of internal peace that is only achieved through a sense of integrity to oneself. There is no show put on by The Hanged Man, no attempt to convince anyone to subscribe to his point of view. There is just the sense that, while things may not be all right with the world, all is right within him, and that’s what counts.

[Guest libra]

 

12 & 21.

 

I find it so interesting how these tarot cards mirror each other like their numbers do - The Hanged Man showing him hanging from one foot, arms crossed behind him, while in The World, she dances over a treetop, arms triumphantly over her head, yet her legs cross to make the same 4 shape, showing a level of stability and completion in each of these cards.  The Hanged Man is sometimes looked at as Odin hanging from Yggdrasil to gain the knowledge of runes, tying another parallel into this deck’s imagery of The World, with her dancing over the same tree. 

 

To me, I read The Hanged Man here as someone in an introverted state of their learning, where you might be seen as strange or persecuted for your beliefs, but when you seek deep inside, you find that it all holds true for you.  So, you allow yourself to find peace in your inner knowledge, even if those around you would want to change those beliefs.  In this little story, it’s like The World shows a time when the world itself has caught up with you - that knowledge that was so strange in The Hanged Man, that only you knew was right, has been proven in the bigger picture.  It’s a time when you can allow your truths to shine out, you don’t need to keep it to yourself anymore. 

 

The World has been stalking me recently, and it’s sort of had me stumped a bit. It’s not a card that I’ve ever really had to look at too hard, it’s like ... I looked at it was a “graduation day” type of energy and it’s been easy to let the card sit with that.  But seeing it as an inversion of the energy of The Hanged Man has given it an interesting depth, even though I don’t think I’m explaining it very well!

[Guest libra]

 

A little snippit of my work today - The Hanged Man & The Hermit end up a pair if you match one end of the Majors to the other (The Fool & The World, The Magician & Judgement, and so on…)

 

These are two paths of unconventional thinkers - but while The Hermit up and ditched society, The Hanged Man stuck around and got persecuted for holding to his beliefs. But, he’s at peace on a living tree, The Hermit looks weary in a barren landscape. The Hanged Man holds his enlightenment inside, while The Hermit holds his high, a beacon to attract “his tribe” to him. And the colors - The Hanged Man wears a blue shirt on a grey background. The Hermit wears grey in front of a blue sky. There’s SO MUCH to be said for just this pairing like wow.

 

Wow.

[truthseeker65]

First off, great thread.

 

And yeah, he's stalking me.  And your interpretation, Libra, makes a lot of sense to me.

 

I usually get him paired with the Strength card or Justice, so if I use your interpretation of the HM ..that means

 

I am true to my convictions despite opposition from those close to me.  I need to remain strong and I will be proven justified in my faith in myself and my abilities and my continuing on my path.

 

This brings so much clarity for me.  I AM on the right path and need to trust myself and stop worrying what others will think of me as I pursue this.  And I don't mean everyone in my life, just some close family who I feel don't understand or can't embrace any life choices but the ones they have made.  I was not meant for a 9 to 5 job.  I can do it, but it feels constricting after a while...and this is something I have just now finally admitted.  I am an artist, a writer and director and that is the path I must follow and I now fully choose.  No more trying to conform and fit into a square hole.  I'm an Octagon and I stand as an example of beauty and difference.

 

Whew....that felt great!

 

As for the World, it has always spoken to me as "having the world at your feet for the taking" meaning if you are true to yourself, you can have all that you desire.

 

The Hermit is the one who knows what he wants and sees he must stay true despite feeling like he is alone, he is not truly alone as he searches for his other's.  I like that "tribe" interpretation too.

 

I have been stalked by all these cards...the Hermit, The Hanged Man, the World, Justice...I'm truly starting to understand what they mean to my life.

 

I am on the right path. 

 

Great interpretations.

[Tulirose]

This is taken from 'Norse Mythology for Smart People';

 

It's called "Odin's discovery of the Runes".

As you mentioned Libra, I too have often see 'The Hanged Man' referred to as being inspired by the legend of Odin. 

 

"...Odin watched the Norns from his seat in Asgard and envied their powers and their wisdom. And he bent his will toward the task of coming to know the runes.

 

Since the runes’ native home is in the Well of Urd with the Norns, and since the runes do not reveal themselves to any but those who prove themselves worthy of such fearful insights and abilities, Odin hung himself from a branch of Yggdrasil, pierced himself with his spear, and peered downward into the shadowy waters below. He forbade any of the other gods to grant him the slightest aid, not even a sip of water. And he stared downward, and stared downward, and called to the runes.

 

He survived in this state, teetering on the precipice that separates the living from the dead, for no less than nine days and nights. At the end of the ninth night, he at last perceived shapes in the depths: the runes! They had accepted his sacrifice and shown themselves to him, revealing to him not only their forms, but also the secrets that lie within them. Having fixed this knowledge in his formidable memory, Odin ended his ordeal with a scream of exultation".

 

Odin "sacrificed himself to himself", (whatever that actually means-I would have to think about that:) according to the story.

 

But at the end of the nine days he saw the Runes clearly in the water and he could decipher them.

 

Although this is supposedly a very old story from Northern Europe mythology, by the time it got written down some say that it was influenced by Christian mythology, which had long since been adopted by "the in crowd" (the Christian Roman Citizens in the British Isles). The story of the Crucifiction had gotten around by then and whether the similarities (hanging on a tree and pierced with a sword) were in the original Norse story or an embellishment added later, who knows.

 

Since Odin DID finally find the clarity for which he was willing to sacrifice himself (when he recognized the Runes), maybe The Hanged Man could be thought of as "hang in there and look deeply for the truth and if you look long and hard enough ON YOUR OWN (not taking account of what others tell you 'the truth' is), you will find YOUR truth :heartz:

 

 

 

 

 

[DanielJUK]

love your work here on this card Libra :)

 

In the early 2010's I had the Hanged Man as a year card for my tarot year card calculation. I had never really understood the card too well before and had not really experienced it and boy that year I really understood it by the end of the year! For about 9 months that year I could not move forwards, I could make no progress in my life and was stuck in my situation. This was different to the energy of the 8 of Swords where often it's self imposed and mental, if they looked around they could escape! This was the universe not letting move in any direction. I tried everything during those 9 months, I got upset, angry, depressed, reclusive, everything but it didn't change the situation. In about the last few weeks of this period I suddenly worked it all out! I could make no progress or movement, it really is a non action with this card! It was all about going inside myself in a Hermit type way. Maybe I needed to spend all that time working through it but really I wish I had worked it out at the beginning of the period, somehow it ended up really healing! Working out my next move and looking at different perspectives, some times we cannot take action or make a move but that isn't a bad thing, it's often much needed :)

[Eric13]

It can also be said he changes the definition of success

                                    or

                Things right now are in limbo

[TheBabelite]

Again, I'm very all new to this but the Hanged Man is a card that resonates with me a lot. I tend to see the Hanged Man in terms of asceticism - I remember seeing an image in a picture book I had when I was young about the life of the Buddha. One ascetic he meets during his journey is depicted in the book is depicted as hanging himself upside down with one-foot loose, forming a triangle. Thus, I associate the two images (the one on the Rider-Waite Hanged Man and ascetic hangings).

 

For me, I see the Hanged Man as indicating the idea of neglecting pleasure in favor of focusing on serious things, looking inward or searching for greater meaning. When upright doing so is a good idea and when reversed it's better to enjoy yourself.

 

I'd also like to say that in my extremely limited experience The Hanged Man is a very contentious card in terms of meaning. I've seen lots of interpretations of the Hanged Man, ranging from loss of opportunity to enlightenment to exclusion. Even the little booklets that come with most Tarot decks have completely different assigned meanings to The Hanged Man. That's not to say that's a bad thing, I actually think that's super interesting. If anything, that makes me more curious about the card, and why it tends to be less commonly discussed than something like The Fool or The Magician which people tend to agree on the meaning of more often.

[Marigold]

An old thread but I wanted to add something to it.

 

As the names of the cards were originally French, one can keep in mind that the original title was "Le Pendu" (which means someone who is hanged or suspended). The French verb "pendre "is from the Latin "pendere".  Apart from the translation "to hang", it can also mean "to weigh up", or to "evaluate".

 

 

 

 

[Eric13]

Ah, I myself like the word, "evaluate." Something about it with this card. "Evaluate the world around you with a different way of seeing it."

[Barleywine]

I posted my thoughts on the Hanged Man some time ago. Here are a couple of links. :

 

https://parsifalswheeldivination.com/2017/08/21/hangin-out/

https://parsifalswheeldivination.com/2018/08/18/tarot-101-my-way-major-arcana-the-hanged-man-and-death/

 

And here is the gist of it:

 

"The Hanged Man shows a period of reflection or preparation for the “next big thing;” I sometimes liken it to a butterfly in its cocoon, swinging in the breeze. Seldom does it come across as “sacrifice” for me, the fellow is smiling! It suggests suspension of effort, a “breather.” He is perfectly willing to bide his time in the pursuit of enlightenment, and has realized that he must change his perspective in order to attain it. The idea of a baptism or initiation is relevant. Also the old Coca-Cola advertising slogan, “The Pause that Refreshes.” Metaphysically, this is an encouraging card, although mundane interpretation is often dour. Turn it upside down and he is about to climb out of his hole, back into the Sun to spread his newfound knowledge."

[katrinka]

On 3/17/2019 at 6:31 AM, truthseeker65 said:

I am true to my convictions despite opposition from those close to me.  I need to remain strong and I will be proven justified in my faith in myself and my abilities and my continuing on my path.

The older, pre-GD, etc., understanding of the card is this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittura_infamante

 

I'm not saying you're a traitor or a thief, but that the people around you might be giving you a very hard time. Good luck.

[devin]

9 hours ago, katrinka said:

The older, pre-GD, etc., understanding of the card is this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittura_infamante

 

I'm not saying you're a traitor or a thief, but that the people around you might be giving you a very hard time. Good luck.

Hey, you, get off of my cloud!

[fire cat pickles]

Hanged Man means all these things to me: Waiting, begging, forgiving, taking two steps forward and one step back, hindsight is 20/20. I know patience technically isn't a virtue, but isn't there a saying about it?

 

Jacob saw his Ladder as he was laying on the ground. The Tree of Life , arguably also Jacob's Ladder, (the Kabblistic one) is upside down, too. The Wheel of the Zodiac is perceived in a similar fashion (laying on one's back with your head oriented toward the North Pole). Many things we "look at" from the upright perspective were actually, at least initially, conceived through the upside-down lens. Even anthropologically, in our human experiences' creation myths---all of them, not just some---we are divine creatures who are fashioned from the earth in some way and then transcend the heavens, not the other way around. Isn't this, in its own way, "upside down"?

 

Back to tarot, it's the backwards Fool who is the salt of the earth who journeys forward toward the World; it's the upside down Hanged Man, the traitor, who travels upright toward redemption through Death and then finally Judgement. 

 

 

[Barleywine]

31 minutes ago, fire cat pickles said:

Hanged Man means all these things to me: Waiting, begging, forgiving, taking two steps forward and one step back, hindsight is 20/20. I know patience technically isn't a virtue, but isn't there a saying about it?

 

Jacob saw his Ladder as he was laying on the ground. The Tree of Life , arguably also Jacob's Ladder, (the Kabblistic one) is upside down, too. The Wheel of the Zodiac is perceived in a similar fashion (laying on one's back with your head oriented toward the North Pole). Many things we "look at" from the upright perspective were actually, at least initially, conceived through the upside-down lens. Even anthropologically, in our human experiences' creation myths---all of them, not just some---we are divine creatures who are fashioned from the earth in some way and then transcend the heavens, not the other way around. Isn't this, in its own way, "upside down"?

 

Back to tarot, it's the backwards Fool who is the salt of the earth who journeys forward toward the World; it's the upside down Hanged Man, the traitor, who travels upright toward redemption through Death and then finally Judgement. 

 

 

Well said. I think Pierre Teilhard de Chardin would agree:

 

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

 

Our spirits are essentially "injected" into matter, which is the operative principle of the downward path on the Tree of Life (the "Descent of Spirit into Matter"). I think it's why Crowley saw the Hanged Man as representing an initiatory or baptismal experience, an act of submersion. I like to think of the reversed Hanged Man as suggesting the Way of Return (coming back into the light, bringing knowledge of "things they would not teach me of in college").

[Marigold]

Christian martyrs were often hung upside down. Including being hung by one foot. (They had other horrible ways to hang them - pretty gruesome. Enough to give you nightmares for a week.) I can imagine that some accepted their fate without murmuring. Just like the Hanged Man in the Tarot.

Edited June 26, 2019 by Marigold

[Eric13]

That was the origin of the Hanged Man. Just ask Mussolini!

But just as the Fool has evolved over the centuries, so has the Hanged Man. As the Tarot has as a whole. There is the essence of it all, but 100 years from now it will e different too, most likely. But the key thing is, it will still exist. Tarot, the Hanged man, and all. 

[devin]

2 hours ago, Barleywine said:

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

I think it works both ways, even in Teilhard's thought: We have matter in the process of transcendent upwards evolution. And then we have an attractive top-down causation (God or whatever) pulling the whole shebang along. As opposed to the materialist bottom-up style of causation (everything running off the basic principles of physics and miraculously emerging novel properties like consciousness). 

 

Also, Teilhard did not see spiritual growth as in any way separate to worldly evolutionary processes - be they biological or cultural. So, I'm inclined to think we should treat the hanged man at face value. Like, a punch in the face might have a deeper spiritual purpose/significance for the one receiving it.... but it's still a punch in the face first and foremost.

Edited June 26, 2019 by devin

[katrinka]

6 hours ago, devin said:

Hey, you, get off of my cloud!

Don't hang around 'cause two's a crowd on my cloud, baby? 🤣

 

2 hours ago, Joe said:

That was the origin of the Hanged Man. Just ask Mussolini!

But just as the Fool has evolved over the centuries, so has the Hanged Man. As the Tarot has as a whole. There is the essence of it all, but 100 years from now it will e different too, most likely. But the key thing is, it will still exist. Tarot, the Hanged man, and all. 

Evolved, yes. But the old meanings are still relevant.
Evolution adds new layers, but the original is still there, just like our ape ancestors are still in us even though we've got new toys like bigger frontal cortices. If you follow the news, you know primates are still flinging poop. Twas ever thus.

[devin]

2 hours ago, devin said:

I think it works both ways, even in Teilhard's thought: We have matter in the process of transcendent upwards evolution. And then we have an attractive top-down causation (God or whatever) pulling the whole shebang along. As opposed to the materialist bottom-up style of causation (everything running off the basic principles of physics and miraculously emerging novel properties like consciousness). 

 

Also, Teilhard did not see spiritual growth as in any way separate to worldly evolutionary processes - be they biological or cultural. So, I'm inclined to think we should treat the hanged man at face value. Like, a punch in the face might have a deeper spiritual purpose/significance for the one receiving it.... but it's still a punch in the face first and foremost.

Lord, the above reads like mush. I must have got too much sun this morning.

[Barleywine]

I'm afraid I've gone too far 'round the bend with Mr. Crowley to unlearn all that stuff. But I can see both sides, I just like to work with ideas that offer a way out. Unlike Kingsley Amis' description of his Bloody Marys, they don't have to "pick me up, knock me down and jump all over me."

[Marigold]

22 hours ago, Barleywine said:

The Hanged Man shows a period of reflection or preparation for the “next big thing;” I sometimes liken it to a butterfly in its cocoon, swinging in the breeze. Seldom does it come across as “sacrifice” for me, the fellow is smiling! 

A sacrifice is only such until one makes a choice. Once the choice is made, there is no sense of sacrifice. But that's easier said than done sometimes. But in sacrifice there is no freedom. In choice there is. So even if it may not seem simple, just knowing that that's one way to gain some freedom should give us some incentive. 

[Barleywine]

2 hours ago, Marigold said:

A sacrifice is only such until one makes a choice. Once the choice is made, there is no sense of sacrifice. But that's easier said than done sometimes. But in sacrifice there is no freedom. In choice there is. So even if it may not seem simple, just knowing that that's one way to gain some freedom should give us some incentive. 

I tend to see the sacrifice shown by this card as one of time or initiative rather than anything more material. In other words, not so much a setback as a "time out."

[2curious]

FWIW, Odin's quest for wisdom was ongoing. He also sacrificed his right (I think?) eye at the well of Mimir.  

 

For me, it means, quite literally, to be hung up on or bound to *something*. I think he prepares us for the next card - Death. He's when you've thrown everything at the proverbial wall and nothing sticks. Done everything you know to do and nothing has worked. Now what! Only when you reach this point can you truly be open to change. He represents the time spent before giving up and giving in because there isn't anything else you can do. When you finally realize you have no choice but to change *something* - whether you want to or not.  There's a bit more to it than this, but you get the idea. At least this is how I see it at this point in time!
 

[4Angels]

The Hanged man really confuses me, and if I receive it I am never quite sure how it should be read other than sacrifice. I’m impatient and sacrificing is very difficult for me, so I almost dread getting this.

 

Libra, your interpretation is pretty amazing! I feel like understand it better 😀

On 3/16/2019 at 2:07 PM, libra said:

 

A little snippit of my work today - The Hanged Man & The Hermit end up a pair if you match one end of the Majors to the other (The Fool & The World, The Magician & Judgement, and so on…)

 

These are two paths of unconventional thinkers - but while The Hermit up and ditched society, The Hanged Man stuck around and got persecuted for holding to his beliefs. But, he’s at peace on a living tree, The Hermit looks weary in a barren landscape. The Hanged Man holds his enlightenment inside, while The Hermit holds his high, a beacon to attract “his tribe” to him. And the colors - The Hanged Man wears a blue shirt on a grey background. The Hermit wears grey in front of a blue sky. There’s SO MUCH to be said for just this pairing like wow.

 

Wow.

 

Edited July 12, 2019 by 4Angels