The Hanged Man (XII)

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Pisces as a symbol of sacrifice and enlightenment. The Sun in the XII house, signifying "captivity," and in a deeper sense — a radical life upheaval that occurs as a result of realizing some important principle.

THE HANGED MAN The Hanged Man, viewed simply, means that we are "stuck," that we have reached a dead end. Upon closer examination it turns out that behind this outward immobility lies the necessity and the fine opportunity to rethink much in life, and as a consequence — to bring about deep changes, both in life itself and in one's view of it. The passivity to which we are sentenced in this period most resembles the image of a bedridden invalid — this too is one of the meanings of the card. C. G. Jung spoke well of the Hanged Man as a feeling: "To hang means (...) and even quite positively 'hanging on,' which on the one hand denotes a certain difficulty, though one that can be overcome, yet for that very reason represents that rare situation which demands of a person the greatest exertion, granting him the possibility of revealing himself entirely."

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from the German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

12 — THE HANGED MAN Neptune The twelfth card of the MAJOR ARCANA is called THE HANGED MAN and depicts a young man suspended by one leg from a crossbeam. The crossbeam rests on two posts, on each of which are six lopped-off branches. The right leg of THE HANGED MAN is bent and crossed behind the left, and his hands are joined behind his head in such a way that they form a cross. The figure of the hanged man seems to form an inverted sign of sulfur. In some decks the man holds a sack in each hand, from which coins are spilling. (According to one interpretation, this card depicts Judas Iscariot with the money received for his betrayal.) The Hermeticists liken THE HANGED MAN to Prometheus, asserting that the legs being uppermost signify the spiritualization of the lower nature. It is quite possible that the inverted figure symbolizes the loss of spiritual faculties, since the head is positioned below the level of the body. The twelve cut branches are the signs of the Zodiac, divided into two groups — positive and negative. Thereby the card symbolizes the temporary victory of polarity over the spiritual principle of equilibrium. Thus, in order to attain the heights of philosophy, a person must invert his habitual mode of thinking. In doing so, he renounces the rules of gold in favor of the golden rule. Bearing within himself a sense of primordial unity and nearness to the heavenly homeland, karma immerses the person in contemplation of the waves of life and cosmic vibrations — symbolized by the planet Neptune, in that primal source where human consciousness was born, with which he strives to merge. The switching off of consciousness brings bliss, and in this it is akin to sleep — but that unconscious participation in the One, which in sleep is perceived as unutterable bliss, in waking life may turn out to be inexpressible suffering. Whether the mind accepts or rejects the joys and shortcomings of the world, it is only their passive reflector: the active role is performed by the soul, which makes its choice, and in whose reactions the principle of analogy operates: it responds to that which is close to it, that which touches and moves it. But if the soul has joined the world stream to which it owes its life, the mind has nothing to oppose it with, since it itself is of the same origin. And consciousness sacrifices itself in the name of the incomprehensible primal source. Once Odin, who was the deity not only of the warrior band but also a teacher of wisdom attained in the ecstatic state, pinned himself with a spear to the World Tree — the ash Yggdrasil. Having hung in this state for nine days, he quenched his thirst with sacred mead from the hands of his maternal grandfather — the giant Bölthorn — and received from him the runes, the bearers of wisdom. The same sacrifice is made by the Apostle Peter, who himself asks the Romans not only to crucify him (as they did with Jesus), but to crucify him head-down. It is precisely such a sacrifice that the Twelfth ARCANUM OF THE TAROT — THE HANGED MAN — presents to us. One of the meanings of THE HANGED MAN is the immersion of Spirit into matter. That is why the figure is depicted with his head down toward the earth. On the TAROT card, which may also be called "Sacrifice," this situation is depicted by a man suspended head-down on the key of life or on a flowering hedge: he sees the world inverted. For only in an inverted (suspended) state — the state of seeking his lost reflection — can a person grasp the truth and reveal the Neptunian mysteries of his soul. And although these are all merely illusions and myths of the planet Neptune — in their reflection there is essential meaning for the inner world of man. The negative aspects of this ARCANUM are: not seeing the meaning in life, dangling in a suspended state between heaven and earth, restlessness. At the same time, this card grants a new vision of the world (which is hardly surprising when looking head-down). The Twelfth ARCANUM characterizes, better than anything else, what is commonly considered the Slavic soul — a combination of restlessness and enlightenment. And the planets correlated with this card are also characteristic of this psychological type: Neptune and Uranus. On the earthly astrological level, this card corresponds to the conjunction of Mars with Mercury and signifies enterprise and even adventurism, while in the spiritual sense — it is the search for new solutions and discoveries.

Upright position the card is a symbol of "standing on one's head," that proverbial overturning of the entire system of values. A favorable aspect is renewal and rebirth. It signifies readiness and the ability to accept changes, vital flexibility, elasticity of thinking. However, this card sometimes (in a certain layout) can mean hesitation and, in connection with this, delay in resolving one's affairs (a suspended position). You may acquire knowledge, but will not be able to apply it.

Reversed position the card signifies excessive immersion (egocentrism) in one's own affairs (the opposite of selfless sacrifice in the name of others), as well as a futile chase after an unattainable dream. Yet another variant of this card — you are ready for sacrifice, but it will turn out to be useless...

"Remember! Self-sacrifice is a divine law, from which no one is exempt. But expect nothing but ingratitude from people for your good deeds. For this ARCANUM warns you of an attempt at violence against you and your convictions." Papus