The Meaning of the Card "The Hanged Man" in the Tarot

The meaning of the Tarot card "The Hanged Man"

The Hanged Man card in the Tarot symbolizes judgment or meditation, self-denial and sacrifice. The basic symbols of this card are a man hanging a foot from a tau cross. His free leg is always crossed to form a "4" and his face is always peaceful. His hands may be tied or hanging down. Sometimes a few coins may be falling out of his hands or pockets.

The meaning of the card The Hanged Man upright

When the Hanged Man card is up in a Tarot reading, it symbolizes suspension, change, reversal, sacrifice, readjustment, improvement and rebirth. The card means it's time to stop resisting and gain enlightenment. It's a time for reflection before moving on. No matter what is happening in your life, you can right the ship and move on.

The meaning of the card The Hanged Man reversed

When the Hanged Man card is reversed in a Tarot reading, it symbolizes an unwillingness to make an effort, a false prophecy and a useless sacrifice. You may be making crazy and/or bad decisions to distract yourself from something you're not happy about in your life. You may also want to take a step back, breathe, and give yourself a second (or more!) to figure out what you want your next step to be. And, I'm sorry to say, you may need a major attitude adjustment.

The meaning of the card The Hanged Man in love

The Hanged Man card in a Tarot love reading is generally not great news. If you're single, it could mean that you need to let go of what's holding you back before you can find love. If you're in a relationship, it could mean that you're not exactly thrilled with the way things are going. Give yourself time to evaluate your relationship. Don't make hasty decisions.

Learn more about Tarot with our article "How to Read Tarot at Home"

Check out the meaning of all the major and minor arcana of the Tarot.