The Hanged Man. This is the symbol which is supposed to represent Prudence, and Eliphas Levi says, in his most shallow and plausible manner, that it is the adept bound by his engagements. The figure of a man is suspended head- downwards from a gibbet, to which he is attached by a rope about one of his ankles. The arms are bound behind him, and one leg is crossed over the other. According to another, and indeed the prevailing interpretation, he signifies sacrifice, but all current meanings attributed to this card are cartomancists' intuitions, apart from any real value on the symbolical side. The fortune-tellers of the eighteenth century who circulated Tarots, depict a semifeminine youth in jerkin, poised erect on one foot and loosely attached to a short stake driven into the ground.
12
Major Arcana
The Traitor
The Hanged Man
You surrender, hanging in stillness, and the world shifts around you. What once seemed impossible is now clear—but only if you let go.
Standard: Seeing growth opportunities in unpleasant events. Experiencing a dramatic change in personal perspective. Making the best of an unforeseen change in your life or work. Suspending disbelief. Making sacrifices.
Reversed: Being untrue to yourself and your values. Refusing to make sacrifices when appropriate. Refusing to adapt to new situations. Blaming others. Profiting at the expense of others.
Questions to Ask
- How can I radically alter my perspective?
- How might being stuck actually be a blessing in disguise?
- How can I help myself see the glass as half full?