The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning

This Tarot card depicts a young man hanging upside down, with a halo above his head, from what appears to be a gallows made from a living tree, as indicated by the surrounding foliage. Despite the seemingly uncomfortable position, The Hanged Man appears relaxed and calm—almost as if he is content with the situation or has completely accepted it. Could it be that this is his personal choice—to endure for a greater purpose?

The main message of the Tarot card 'The Hanged Man' is that sometimes the end justifies the means. You might need to let go of some cherished and familiar things to move forward. It could be a time to radically reassess your worldview, opinions, priorities, and life plans—letting go of what no longer serves you to gain more in the future. When 'The Hanged Man' appears in a reading, it suggests a necessary sacrifice that is crucial for progress!

For instance, you may find that you lack the skills needed for a job, requiring significant investment in learning and time. However, after gaining these skills, you'll be on a new career path with a higher salary, which will make the temporary inconvenience and expense worthwhile.

Conversely, you might choose to sacrifice your dream of a high-ranking position for the sake of family peace and harmony. In this scenario, you're wisely prioritizing by giving up what holds less value for you.

Remarkably, even within strict limitations and constraints, 'The Hanged Man' promises a sense of inner freedom and balance. It seems that even in challenging circumstances, you manage to remain calm and continue appreciating life's simple and invaluable joys!

Key Meanings of The Upright Hanged Man Card

• Sacrifice, self-denial, letting go of the present for a better future.
• Acceptance, embracing destiny, selflessness, dedication.
• Change, transitional periods, trials, breaking stereotypes.
• Gaining inner freedom, flexibility in thinking.

The reversed Tarot card 'The Hanged Man' reflects a state of selfish behavior, stagnation, and a reluctance to step out of your comfort zone to achieve physical, spiritual, or intellectual goals. It suggests that you feel content with what you've already accomplished in life. You either don't want more, are afraid to pursue it, or simply don't know which direction to take.

The Hanged Man card highlights feelings of uncertainty, confusion, and disorientation. Alternatively, you might be living aimlessly, indulging in social activities and fun without purpose or thought for the future. In this case, you willingly sacrifice your goals, choosing not to grow or evolve.

The challenges posed by the reversed Hanged Man can be overcome through any learning or activity that helps break the monotony of everyday life. This could be a hobby class, yoga practice, pursuing further education, or even a sushi-making workshop. Reflect on your life, stay calm, and don't rush into decisions. Sooner or later, you'll gain clarity about your true path and purpose, allowing you to move forward!

Key Meanings of the Reversed Hanged Man Card

• Selfishness, pride, unfulfilled promises, avoidance of responsibilities.
• Attachment to material possessions, lack of gain, disappointment, partial or complete losses.
• Stagnation, resistance to change, inertia, sluggishness, pressure from circumstances. Pointless sacrifices, futile waiting, exhaustion, strict limitations.

The Tarot card 'The Hanged Man' often speaks of a challenging situation in personal relationships. You might feel that your relationship with your partner has hit a dead end, leaving you feeling stuck with no way out. There's boredom, apathy, and a crisis, where nothing seems to bring joy. The harmony between you is missing, leading to discomfort and causing suffering for both.

This is a testing time, and in this difficult situation, some sacrifice is required from each of you to discover the cause and mend the relationship. You may need to let go of certain plans or step out of your comfort zone to turn things around and find a path to your loved one's heart. For now, both of you may feel like victims of the strained relationship that weighs on you like a stone.

When the card is reversed, it suggests that any sacrifices made are futile, and there’s a sense of helplessness in changing anything.

In Readings About a Suitor or Beloved

In readings concerning a suitor or partner, the upright card indicates that your chosen one is willing to sacrifice much to be with their loved one. This includes giving up comfort or the lifestyle they are accustomed to.

A reversed card signifies that in love, your suitor seeks comfort. The ideal relationship for them is one where they don't have to sacrifice their habits or way of life.

When drawn in a business Tarot reading, 'The Hanged Man' suggests a stagnation in affairs and a decrease in profits. Until the situation stabilizes, it's essential to cut back on spending and switch to a savings mode.

You need to "turn your world upside down," which means exploring new ways to earn money, retraining, moving to another city, or changing your business strategy. If you keep things as they are, your work will continue to bring losses and disappointments. Alternatively, your health might decline, or you could find yourself working for the sake of it without fair compensation.

In its reversed position, the card indicates significant losses and a reluctance to learn from past mistakes.

When reading the Tarot for insights into a person, the upright Hanged Man card represents someone who is whole and self-sufficient, possessing an incredible sense of inner freedom and independence from external circumstances.

In its reversed position, this card indicates a person who is proud and confident (sometimes excessively so). For them, personal desires and interests almost always take precedence.

In the upright position, this card advises you to accept the necessity of limiting yourself or adapting to circumstances in order to achieve what you desire in the long run.

When appearing reversed in a spread, the card encourages you to reflect on whether you're sacrificing too much for unclear goals.

If the card appears upright, it brings a positive outlook for your situation. Achieving your desires will likely require you to make some sacrifices to reach your goals.

In a reversed position, the outlook for your situation is uncertain. You might struggle to achieve your goals if you are unable to let go of something important.

With the 0 Fool card - Immoral life, long-term stagnation, lack of motivation.

With the 1 Magician card - Immersion in work, male betrayal, stagnation.

With the 2 High Priestess card - Inaction, unnecessary awareness, other people's secrets.

In combination with the 3 Empress card - Betrayal by a loved one, benefit from a bad situation, benefitting from someone else's misfortune.

With the 4 Emperor card - Unwillingness to act, monetary scandals, crisis.

With the 5 Hierophant card - Disillusionment with religion or indulging in thoughts about the soul, sacrificing education for work, narrow-mindedness.

With the 6 Lovers card - Compromising principles, sacrifices for love, attempts to adapt.

With the 7 Chariot card - Asserting oneself at someone else's expense, abandoning everything halfway, changing professions.

With the 8 Strength card - Fruitless efforts, hidden strength, buying time.

With the 9 Hermit card - Self-isolation, severe depression, the need for companionship.

With the 10 Wheel of Fortune card - Fear of losing something, profit from inaction, paying the price.

With the 11 Justice card - Passing judgment, being in a suspended position, dependence on authoritative structures.

With the 13 Death card - Making a difficult decision, necessary changes, accepting circumstances.

With the 14 Temperance card - Time heals, parting ways with someone to test feelings, a moment for reflection.

With the 15 Devil card - Getting entangled, serious dependency, accidental pregnancy or termination.

With the 16 Tower card - Health problems, gradual destruction, becoming a victim of deceit.

With the 17 Star card - Dreamer or failure, overestimating one's abilities, unfounded hopes.

With the 18 Moon card - Wrong path or decision, being captive to illusions, immaturity.

With the 19 Sun card - Reward for suffering, grievances or payment for past mistakes, losing a small sum.

With the 20 Judgment card - Atonement for sins, circumstances beyond one's control, karma.

With the 21 World card - Consequences of mass upheavals, no chance to sit it out, an unpredictable turn of fate.

With the Ace of Wands — To lose enthusiasm or motivation, uncertainty in one's abilities, acting haphazardly.

With the Two of Wands — Fear of making a mistake, the need for a mentor or supervisor, reluctance to take responsibility.

In combination with the Three of Wands — Procrastination, excessive caution, attempting to control everything.

With the Four of Wands — Neglected tasks or documents, living on autopilot, cooling of feelings towards a significant other.

With the Five of Wands — Seeking a way out of a complex situation, seeking advice from a friend, attempting to negotiate with household members.

With the Six of Wands — Fruitless efforts, zeal that goes unappreciated, others benefiting from one's hard work.

With the Seven of Wands — A competitive environment, clearing the path for the future, adjusting to a new team.

With the Eight of Wands — Inevitable sacrifices, a need for energy, overcoming barriers and becoming more successful.

With the Nine of Wands — A failed attempt to fight the system, obstacles from competitors or authoritative structures, an attempt to become independent.

With the Ten of Wands — Getting bogged down in routine, losing interest, becoming disillusioned with the surroundings or colleagues.

With the Page of Wands — Assessing the damage to move forward, drawing conclusions or abandoning an unprofitable endeavor, words diverging from actions.

With the Knight of Wands — Willpower, overcoming oneself, making progress without support from others.

With the Queen of Wands — Staying within familiar boundaries, maintaining one's circle of acquaintances, sacrificing for the sake of stability.

With the King of Wands — An outdated view of the surrounding world, failing to keep up with changes, implementing obsolete technologies or principles.

With the Ace of Swords — A strong individual disguised as weak, a knowledgeable hermit, a theorist.

With the Two of Swords — Playing on naivety, luring into a trap, testing for honesty.

In combination with the Three of Swords — Emotional drama, loss of faith in loved ones, destructive attachment or burning jealousy.

With the Four of Swords — Restlessness, unsettledness, not finding one's place.

With the Five of Swords — Unfounded claims, facing a backlash, criticism from all sides.

With the Six of Swords — Complaining about fate, grumbling about the higher order, receiving a harsh lesson from loved ones or surroundings.

With the Seven of Swords — Loss of profitability, bankruptcy or significant financial loss, living on a minimum.

With the Eight of Swords — Self-denial in everything, lack of resources or knowledge, sinking to the bottom.

With the Nine of Swords — Religious ritual, consolation, profound sadness or severe illness.

With the Ten of Swords — Manic state, serious danger, destitution, or complete dependence on someone.

With the Page of Swords — Finding a glimmer of hope in hopelessness, a strong individual capable of guiding towards the right decision, an active or intelligent friend.

With the Knight of Swords — Grudge-holding, erroneous or dangerous opinion, propagating inaction.

With the Queen of Swords — A widow, being under the influence of a charismatic leader, being submissive.

With the King of Swords — Undeserved arrogance, bravado or unworthy boasting, making a deal with one's conscience.

With the Ace of Cups — Going through emotions alone, being rejected or misunderstood by others, seclusion and heightened emotional sensitivity.

With the Two of Cups — Finding like-minded individuals, joining a group, initiating slow-paced relationships.

In combination with the Three of Cups — Public approval or pity, insignificant or feigned support, entertainment that doesn't bring joy.

With the Four of Cups — Rejecting help, contempt for sympathy, detachment from social interaction.

With the Five of Cups — Unpleasant encounter with relatives, social event, bad news or expected deterioration of affairs.

With the Six of Cups — Interest in religion or ancestral traditions, a desire to share one's feelings with someone, making someone slightly happier.

With the Seven of Cups — Missing an opportunity, shattered dreams, unrealized offers.

With the Eight of Cups — A recluse or a nun, the comfort of a familiar lifestyle, unwillingness to get involved in something new and intimidating.

With the Nine of Cups — A tendency to lecture others, obsessiveness, self-assuredness, and self-centeredness.

With the Ten of Cups — Legalizing long-lasting relationships, admitting something unpleasant, an emotional decision.

With the Page of Cups — A spiritual vow, long-standing attachment, friendship concealing love.

With the Knight of Cups — The ability to predict the future, a burdensome gift, a deep understanding of life.

With the Queen of Cups — Living off the cavalier, adaptability, blissful inaction.

With the King of Cups — A demagogue, creating doctrines or preaching, the gift of words.

With the Ace of Pentacles — Philosophy, religious teachings, spiritual wealth.

With the Two of Pentacles — Anticipating failure, a passive companion or lover, irresponsible behavior.

In combination with the Three of Pentacles — Negative influence, bad advice or advisor, getting stuck at the initial income level.

With the Four of Pentacles — Loan deferral, middle-class, long-term investments.

With the Five of Pentacles — Low reputation, gossip, a streak of misfortune or bad luck.

With the Six of Pentacles — Envy, slander, testing for resilience and nervousness.

With the Seven of Pentacles — Salary delay, complications, loss or fraud.

With the Eight of Pentacles — Labor that doesn't bring joy or expected income, lack of expansion, good intentions going to waste.

With the Nine of Pentacles — Living off someone else, being accustomed to luxury, lack of qualification.

With the Ten of Pentacles — Letting down the team, disappointing the family, being unnoticed or working without enthusiasm.

With the Page of Pentacles — Poor academic performance, education in a private university, carelessness or lack of purpose.

With the Knight of Pentacles — Missing out on an opportunity, being a beneficiary of parents, handling someone else's resources.

With the Queen of Pentacles — Engaging in scientific pursuits, a "bookish" girl or woman, an intelligent and modest individual.

With the King of Pentacles — Rationality, reliable investment, a visionary and composed man.