The Hanged Man is the thirteenth card in the major arcana and represents a metamorphosis, pausing to gain enlightenment, a different perspective and surrender. The Hanged Man is represented by the number twelve as it’s connected to energies of completion, transformation, new beginnings and creation. The number twelve is connected to the divine, spirituality, rebirth and expanding consciousness.
The Hanged Man is connected to the element water and the zodiac sign Pisces, as it’s associated with divine energy and connecting to your inner voice in order to gain enlightenment. This card can also represent a time where you’re taking a pause in order to gain a new perspective, receive divine wisdom and surrender to your life circumstances.
This card is connected to the planet Neptune which represents idealism, spirituality, imagination, fantasy and illusion. Because of this, the Hanged Man can also be connected to things like receiving inspiration, letting go, allowing things to unfold, going with the flow and sacrifice.
The Hanged Man Meaning
This card can show that you’re going through a transformation and metamorphosis and that during this time it may be best for you to pause in order to allow this change to take place. This card can represent a “pregnant pause” in that it’s only temporary but also necessary in order for something new to be birthed or created.
The image on the card shows a person hanging upside down with their hands behind their back, their legs crossed and a serene look on their face. On the card, the person has a ray of light emanating from their head suggesting that they’re in the process of receiving enlightenment and divine wisdom/downloads. So the Hanged Man can mean that you’re coming into enlightenment about something in your life and this may also bring with it new perspectives and wisdom.
Therefore, when the Hanged Man comes up in a reading it can represent a need to surrender to the universe and the plan it has for you and to also let go and simply allow. Alternatively, the Hanged Man can also represent things like acceptance, martyrdom, sacrifice, awareness and introspection. Always look to the cards around it for clarification or to get a deeper meaning.
Upright
Coming into a state of enlightenment, metamorphosis, inner reflection, pausing to gain wisdom, surrender, different perspectives, pregnant pause, new insight.
Reversed
Surrendering to life circumstances, acceptance, feeling stuck, not receiving the enlightenment you need, stalling, procrastinating, letting go.
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THE AWAKENED SAGE 