The Hanged Man is one of the most powerful and disturbing images in the entire Tarot. He is often cited as unmistakable evidence of pagan meanings behind the cards, for he is not hung in an ordinary way. The Hanged Man dangles by one foot from a tree, looking perfectly calm, and not in pain. The Norse god, Odin, hung himself like this for nine nights on the world tree. At the end of this ritual sacrifice he was granted wisdom in the form of the runes. Odin was a many-faceted god who presided over magic and inspiration, journeys, battle, and the realms of the dead. In his role as the great magician and shape-shifter he has special relevance to the Hanged Man. He was credited with the power to create mental paralysis at critical moments; conversely, he could free the human mind from fear and hesitation. This, in essence, is the double meaning of the Tarot card, which can point to either or both of these states. Yogis have been turning themselves upside down for more than a thousand years. By standing on their heads in the famous pose known as the Sirsasana they believe they can activate the brain's nerve centres and improve mental alertness. This card is linked with Neptune, planet of dreams, artistic inspiration, mysticism and sacrifice. Here, its dissolving, watery influence suggests surrendering outworn concepts and fears in order to gain knowledge. The Hanged Man experiences spiritual ecstasy too, for the ultimate meaning of this card is rebirth and regeneration. Pagan corn gods, like John Barleycorn, had to die in order to allow this regeneration to take place, yet the sacrifice was willingly made. Interpretation The Hanged Man You may feel unable to move forward or back when you receive the Hanged Man. Don't try, for you have reached a temporary pause in your life and will be unable to effect any changes right now. You cannot make any sensible decisions, since you will probably be waiting for news or others' opinions and actions. Patience is one of the traditional virtues, so try to cultivate it and enjoy your waiting room for you will not be in it forever. The Hanged Man also suggests the notion of sacrifice. Something must be given up so that something else may be gained. You may have to abandon a steady, secure job which is going nowhere in order to gain a more fulfilling career. Perhaps you have reached deadlock in your relationship and things seem stale or you feel trapped and claustrophobic. If this is the case, you need to give up your ideas about what a relationship should be, and see what happens if you abandon convention and turn everything upside-down for a while. Sometimes the 'sacrifice' has been made for you, and a special person, home or meaning in your life has been taken away. This card may appear when someone is mourning an aspect of his or her life, but there is hope, for emergence from this difficult period with renewed energy will occur sooner or later. If your question involved a decision, this is not the right time to take it. Even if you go ahead, you will encounter delays. The best course is to accept that time is suspended, and that waiting is inevitable just now. Reversed When the Hanged Man falls in a reversed position, he warns the inquirer against selfishness and materialism. Events may run away with you, with disastrous results, unless you stop and think. Or you may be so busy hanging on to what you've got that you fail to grasp an opportunity when it arises. This card can also warn of bad investments, loss of belongings, and reversals of fortune. You, or someone in your life, may be oppressing someone else. Do you feel like an unwilling victim, or is someone trying to manipulate you in some way? You may be pressurising someone unwittingly in your eagerness to get things done. The Hanged Man advises you to stop what you are doing, remember the lessons of the Hermit, and consider your actions. 0 - The Fool 1 - The Magician 2 - The High Priestess 3 - The Empress 4 - The Emperor 5 - The Hierophant or Pope 6 - The Lovers 7 - The Chariot 8 - Justice 9 - The Hermit 10 - The Wheel of Fortune 11 - Strength 12 - The Hanged Man 13 - Death 14 - Temperance 15 - The Devil 16 - The Tower 17 - The Star 18 - The Moon 19 - The Sun 20 - Judgment 21 - The World