Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning

The Hanged Man tarot card shows a male hanging upside down with one foot trapped. You’ll also notice that he is hanging from the living world tree, which has deep roots in the underworld. He is stuck, but he’s hanging there by choice. By looking at the peaceful expression on his face, it’s easy to see that this hanging is desired and represents the ultimate surrender.

If you pull The Hanged Man card, you’re not miserable, but you appear to be at a crossroads in just like what’s depicted in the Two of Swords. While the left foot is free to move about, the right foot is caught and bound by the tree’s branches. The hand pattern, which he’s holding behind his back, forms an inverted triangle that’s also significant in the place you’re at in life.

The colors on The Hanged Man card were chosen purposely, as the red pants help show passion while the blue in the shirt shows his emotions are calm. You can see that he’s an intelligent person because of the yellowing in his hair and shoes. However, when you pull The Hanged Man in either the upright or reverse placement, it’s indicative that you’re in limbo in many areas of life.

Hanged Man Upright

The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meanings (Upright): The importance of the card placement, when drawn in the upright position, signifies that you’re stuck. However, you know what you need to do to move forward, but there’s some hesitation or resistance on your part. The tarot card suggests that part of him is moving forward while part is stuck, which can be a direct correlation to your place in life.

The Hanged Man tarot card illustrates that it’s time to stop or suspend actions you’re doing, as it’s not allowing you to live life to the fullest. You might be going through a period of indecision, but you can alter your destiny by making a few adjustments. Before making any critical decisions about your love life or your career, you must have a time of reflection. The following are different meanings when the card is pulled in the upright position.

Love & Relationships – Upright

If you seek answers about love and relationships, then you pulled The Hanged Man for good reason. The Hanged Man reminds you that things aren’t going so well for you right now. Perhaps you or your partner are not 100 percent sure about something, and it’s time for you to take a step back and reevaluate some things. It would help if you held off on making any rash decisions about your relationship unless you’re truly unhappy and feeling miserable.

The man’s position is essential as it shows that you’re hanging there by choice, so your inability to move forward or end things is your own doing. Do you have feelings for an old flame that you just can’t seem to let go of?

Part of the problem could be that you’re expecting your current partner to live up to the expectations of the past. It’s not fair to you or the other person to want them to be someone else. Plus, when you put such high requirements on someone that they can never measure up too, you’re setting the relationship up for failure.

Money & Career – Upright

When it comes to your career path, The upright Hanged Man appears when there’s some definite uncertainty. Perhaps you’ve become stagnant and desire change. You feel stuck as fear keeps you from moving forward, so your angst keeps you hanging in this position of limbo. Things will become much more apparent to you in time, but you don’t want to bring about any financial issues, so you proceed with caution.

You need a different perspective. While you may have great things happening in other areas of your life, there’s some apprehension or worry about your financial future. The Hanged Man indicates that you’re focusing too much on the money and it’s causing you great distress.

Health & Wellness – Upright

When the upright Hanged Man appears during a health tarot reading, you need to seek out all the available treatment options before deciding your path of treatment. Rethink the choices at all angles, and don’t be so frustrated with your healing process or general health. Sure, you might not be improving as fast as you want, but you need to be patient with your physical body and don’t cause any undue stress.

Spirituality – Upright

The Hanged Man suggests that It would help if you didn’t let yourself become too bogged down regarding spirituality. Get rid of all those old or toxic beliefs that have been ingrained in you since childhood and are suffocating you. It’s apparent they don’t work for you anymore. Open your mind and allow yourself to connect to your higher power, and you will learn to be more positive as well as enhance your spiritual man.

Hanged Man Reversed

The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meanings (Reversed): When you pull The Hanged Man in reverse, you’re very impulsive by nature. You tend to make rash judgments that cost you dearly. It shows inner discontentment and your avoiding changes that you know that you must make. If you pull The Hanged Man in this position and are unclear on your life path, you need to stop, take time to breathe and reflect, and wait for things to become clear before proceeding.

Love & Relationships – Reversed

Are you single? The hanged man reversed demonstrates that you have toxic patterns in relationships. You make the same mistakes repeatedly, but you never seem to learn anything from them. You’re rushing from one bad relationship to another, and you’re not taking any responsibility for your wrongdoing.

Part of the problem could be your fear of being alone, or you’re holding onto someone toxic for the thought of starting over again from scratch is too much. The current relationship may be salvageable, but you must deal with the issues and not sweep the problems under the rug.

Money & Career – Reversed

Do you feel like you can’t change your current circumstances when it comes to your career? The hanged man reversed might suggest that you quit blaming others and take some responsibility. It’s time to make some changes so that you can gain control.

The Hanged Man reversed Major Arcana card shows that you have inner fears that you will suffer a tremendous financial hardship if you make any moves. A fresh perspective is all that’s needed to put you back on the right path. You’re not powerless, and it’s time to stop being the passenger of your destiny. Take control and make good decisions with your spending habits.

Health & Wellness – Reversed

When it comes to your health, it’s time to think outside the box to resolve your issues. The other part of your life, like your finances and relationships, directly impacts your wellbeing. You need to realize how connected these areas are and how much it’s affecting you. Things like chronic anxiety can cause severe headaches and digestive upset, so it’s time to make some changes.

Suffering from chronic fatigue or even skin conditions can also be directly linked to an emotional upset. Don’t be so quick to dismiss alternative and holistic therapies, as they can be considerable support to your current medical treatment plan. It’s time to boost your body’s healing and stop feeling overwhelmed with the health woes you experience.

Spirituality – Reversed

In a spirituality reading The Hanged Man suggests that You’ve lost your way when it comes to your spirit man, and it’s time to get things back on track. You’re not connecting to your higher self as you’ve chosen to seek gratification in unhealthy habits. It’s time to look to a new spiritual path and embrace what’s there.

Since you seem to be in a spiritual slump, it’s time to make drastic changes to your overall happiness. The spirit man is directly connected with your mental and physical overall wellbeing, and when he’s suffering, so is the rest of you.