Key Meanings

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Surrender, patience, letting go, new perspective, pause, sacrifice, contemplation, release of control, spiritual growth, stillness, acceptance, inner wisdom

Reversed

Stalling, resistance to change, unnecessary sacrifice, fear of letting go, indecision, stagnation, martyrdom, missed lessons, delays by choice, stubbornness, wasted time, avoidance

General Interpretation

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The Hanged Man is one of those Major Arcana trump cards that can be a little bit off-putting upon first glance. The Hanged Man signifies a pause, but it's a pause you choose. It's a pause that represents a shift in focus, an opportunity to look at the situation in a completely new way. The Hanged Man is not a powerless Major Arcana trump card. It does represent choosing stillness and surrender, but it also represents deciding to release your hold on the steering wheel. You've realised that forcing the situation is getting you nowhere. Sometimes you've got to do nothing in order to break through. This card represents that concept and indicates that there is value in waiting.

Reversed

When reversed, The Hanged Man signifies resistance. Somebody may be holding on to old ways or be unwilling to take a new perspective on a situation. The period of waiting that was initially a choice has now become a compulsion, like being trapped in quicksand. There may also be an element of martyrdom involved. Sacrifice for sacrifice's sake. Giving things up and not getting any benefits in return. Alternatively, it can indicate that a period of reflection has simply been extended too far and has morphed into procrastination. The issue or lesson that needed to be addressed is being continually put off, and the suspension has become more of a hindrance than a help.

Love & Partnership

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For those in a relationship, The Hanged Man indicates that you may need to step back and look at your relationship with fresh eyes. Perhaps your relationship has become a bit mundane or disconnected. This is a time in the relationship where you and your partner will benefit from patience rather than forcing issues or big decisions. Sometimes allowing something to "marinate" gives you more insight than seeking instant answers. Being open to letting go of your preconceived notions about how the relationship should be may allow something new to blossom.

For single people, The Hanged Man can signify that you have changed how you view love in a big way. Old dating patterns, the kind of person you are attracted to, and what you believe you need in a partner are all called into question. You are learning to be okay with being alone, not in a negative way, but in a way that is liberating. The rush to jump into a new relationship will not benefit anyone right now. Taking time to yourself will give you clarity.

Reversed

In relationships, The Hanged Man in a reversed position may indicate that someone in the relationship feels trapped or that they are sacrificing too much in the relationship for no gain. One or both of you may be delaying having a difficult conversation that needs to take place. There is a sense of spinning wheels. Just going through the motions. The reluctance to take a good look at the relationship is keeping it stuck in a holding pattern that is unsatisfactory to all involved.

For single people, The Hanged Man reversed can be an indication that you are making the same mistakes in love over and over again. Maybe you keep picking the same kind of partner or finding yourself in the same situations, but you have never stopped to work out why. Or maybe you just hate being alone with your own thoughts so much that you are hastily jumping into relationships or situations with people who are not a good match. Don't be afraid of being alone, sometimes our fear of solitude leads to us making choices that isolate us even further.

Social Relationships

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In terms of existing friendships and social circles, The Hanged Man indicates that you may be pulling back a little. Not disappearing completely, but being a bit more selective about who you spend your time and energy with. You may find a handful of friendships are becoming somewhat draining or you feel they are one-sided. The Hanged Man sees you re-evaluating those relationships or where you choose to invest your time, and that is ok. Sometimes we outgrow certain relationships and that's perfectly okay. The people who matter will still be there when you come back round.

With regard to new social connections, this card indicates that you need to have patience. New friendships made in this time will take time to develop and that's okay. There is no benefit in rushing into shallow friendships. The friendships you form during this period will most likely be with people who see the world in an unconventional way. People who might challenge you or give you a perspective you hadn't thought of.

Reversed

For current friendships, The Hanged Man reversed can indicate that you may be feeling trapped in social situations that are no longer beneficial. Perhaps you are part of a friend group that used to work well for you, but the dynamic has changed and no one has had the heart to tackle it. Or maybe you feel like you are the one who is always giving, the one who is always making sacrifices, and very little comes back to you. If you don't address it, the resentment will build up.

New social connections may feel blocked when this card appears in a reversed position. You may have a wall up. Perhaps past experiences have left you so wary that you will not let anyone new in. Perhaps you keep meeting the same sorts of people and wondering why things don't change. The cycle will only break when you are willing to examine your own part in it rather than blaming the situation.

Work & Career

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The Hanged Man in relation to career indicates that your career is not progressing as you would like or as quickly as you would like. Projects may be put on hold, or a promotion you were aiming for may be delayed. However, this does not necessarily indicate a negative career move. It can simply indicate that you may be beginning to question if you are on the right career path, as a feeling of "Is this what I really want to be doing?" may be coming to the forefront of your mind. Sometimes all you need to do is step back from your ambition and ask yourself some bigger questions about your true life purpose. Sometimes the best career decisions come after periods of inactivity.

Reversed

Reversed in a work reading, this Major Arcana card can indicate feeling stuck in a work situation. There is no progress or advancement and you are becoming frustrated. Someone may be remaining in a job they hate because they fear the unknown. Someone may be continually sacrificing their personal life and their own well-being for a career or job that is not rewarding them in any way. It may also indicate that you are resisting trying anything new in your work life, clinging to methods that no longer work simply because they are familiar.

Money & Finance

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Financially, The Hanged Man signifies holding your own. It's not a time for big purchases, investments or financial gambles. You are in a wait and see mode. Your money may be tight and not flowing as you would like, but things are not nearly as bad as you think they are. You may find yourself taking a new perspective on your spending or re-evaluating what financial security means to you. The Hanged Man teaches you that patience is a financial virtue.

Reversed

When reversed, financial stagnation is even more frustrating. You may feel like you are trapped in a bad financial situation and have no idea how to escape it. Someone may be throwing money at problems that require a completely different approach. Someone may be avoiding looking at their money situation, and that's compounding problems. Needless sacrifices appear in this reversal, trimming things out of your life that you don't actually need to trim while ignoring the core issue. The reversal can also indicate that the old approach to money is leading to the same outcomes.

Spirituality

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The Hanged Man is one of the most spiritual Major Arcana trump cards in the deck. He signifies the kind of growth that can only be achieved through surrender. Not through reading a few more books or taking a few more seminars, but through actual stillness. Meditation, reflection, learning to sit with things rather than running from them, that's what this card means. Often there's a sense of seeing the world upside down and knowing that this new perspective is more sensible than the old one ever was. The ego steps aside. Something quieter, more truthful replaces it.

Reversed

In a spiritual context, The Hanged Man reversed can indicate that you are spiritually bypassing or stagnating in your spiritual development. You may be going through the motions when it comes to a spiritual practice but not actually connecting to it in a meaningful way. Alternately, you may be resisting doing any sort of spiritual or inner work as you find it uncomfortable or you don't like the "messiness" of it. In order to grow, we all have to surrender to some degree, and The Hanged Man reversed can be an indicator that you are refusing to surrender and you are holding onto your ego very tightly. It can also be an indicator that a spiritual path that you used to find very meaningful now feels somewhat hollow. Usually that feeling of hollowness indicates that you need to try a different approach, not give up the search altogether.