The Hanged Man is the twelfth Tarot card of traditional Tarot decks and one of the 22 Major Arcana cards. It signifies the importance of waiting and searching for new perspectives on situations.
So, what does the Hanged Man mean for love, career, and family?
Symbolism and Imagery of the Hanged Man Tarot Card
In traditional tarot card decks, the Hanged Man card shows a man suspended upside down in the air. One foot is attached to a tree, the other is crossed behind him. His hands are on his hips.
The Hanged Man is calm, staring forward with an untroubled expression. He appears to be in control of his body and chooses to be hanging upside down.
There is a halo around his head, suggesting that he is knowledgeable. It is hard to ignore the religious connotations of this card; a halo and a man hung on a cross. This suggests that there may be a sacrificial element to the story of the Hanged Man.
The tree that he is attached to is alive, with buds and leaves covering the branches. This reflects a connectedness that the Hanged Man has with nature. It also shows growth and development and the necessity of time.
Upright Meaning of the Hanged Man Tarot Card
The Hanged Man highlights the importance of time and waiting. When appearing upright in a reading, it suggests that you need to pause right now and reflect on your journey.
You may be feeling anxious that things are not moving forward as quickly as you would like, but there is a reason for this. The universe has the plan and you must wait until it is time.
A pause is often what is needed. You must welcome this time to stop, reflect, and meditate on your situation. If you have a decision to make, the Hanged Man is telling you that you must wait for a while until deciding what to do. With this pause, you are able to look at things from a new perspective.
For The Hanged Man, this time of waiting is also a time of enlightenment. When he is upside down, he can look at the world from a new angle. When you get this card in a Tarot reading, you may need to take a new perspective on things. Are you feeling frustrated about a certain situation?
Perhaps you are trying and trying to work something out but nothing seems to happen? The Hanged Man is asking you to take a step back and pause. It is time to search for a new way of looking at things, allowing alternative ideas to flow.
There is an element of sacrifice that comes with the Hanged Man. This may refer to the action and progress that you are sacrificing right now in order to put things on hold. Or, it may reflect a different sacrifice that you have had to make recently. You understand the importance of this sacrifice, even if others may not.
