Hanged Man
Hanged Man Tarot Card Meanings
UPRIGHT: Pause, surrender, letting go, new perspectives
Upright Hanged Man
The Hanged Man reminds you that sometimes you have to put everything on hold before you can take the next step, or the Universe will do it on your behalf (and it may not always be at the most convenient time!). You may have heard the saying, ‘What got you here won’t get you there’, and that indeed is at play in this card. The Hanged Man calls you to release the old mental models and behavioural patterns that no longer serve you so you can see your world from a new perspective and embrace new opportunities that would have otherwise been hidden from you if you didn’t hit the brakes.
Here’s the thing. These ‘pauses’ can be voluntary or involuntary. If you’re in tune with your intuition, you’ll start to have a sense for when it’s time to hit the brakes and put things on hold – before things get out of hand. But if you’re out of alignment and oblivious to those intuitive signs, the Universe will probably put things on hold for you, in the form of continued obstacles, ill-health, and breakdowns. When you sense the ‘pause’ coming, pay attention to it; otherwise the Universe will turn up the volume until you can’t ignore it any longer.
When the Hanged Man appears in a Tarot reading, your projects and activities may be coming to an unexpected and abrupt halt. Don’t keep pushing forward, hoping that more force will drive you to where you want to go. Instead, surrender to the opportunity to pause and view it as your chance to reassess and re-evaluate where you are on your path. Something new is emerging, and you won’t be able to see it unless you allow the time and space for it to come through.
The Hanged Man is your invitation to welcome these ‘pauses’ with open arms and surrender to the ‘what is’ – even if it is different from what you expected. Take time away from your routine to connect with a new way of thinking and seeing. Sure, you might have to put important projects on hold while you do this (and it might be super inconvenient) but trust me, it’ll be worth it. This is the Universe’s way of helping you see new perspectives and preparing you for the next up levelling that is happening in your life. If you push or resist, you will meet more obstacles along the way; instead, ‘allow’ the opportunities to flow smoothly and effortlessly to you.
The Hanged Man can sometimes reflect that you are feeling stuck or restricted in your life. What is holding you in this ‘stuck’ position? What is preventing you from moving forward? On one level, the Hanged Man is asking you to surrender and let go. Instead of investing in specific outcomes or resisting your current circumstances, accept them and allow yourself to flow with life. On another level, you are being called to change your perspective and shift your energy and may find that separating yourself from your everyday life is helpful, whether it’s going for a walk in nature, going on a retreat or moving to a new country. Change up your routine so you can start to shift your energy and flow more freely again.
Upright Love Meaning:
Love can’t be rushed, avoid romantic pressure, sacrifice for love
In general, the Hanged Man is about sacrifice, new perspectives and waiting for the right time. For singles, the upright Hanged Man tarot love meaning indicates that things cannot be rushed. Regardless of how much you throw yourself into your romantic pursuits, or message your date all the right things, it may not be up to you if the other party isn’t ready. Instead of trying to force or pressure a relationship to come into fruition, use this time to see how your perspective changes when you’re alone. This same thing applies within relationships as well. Timing may be an issue when it comes to having important discussions, or taking your relationship to the next level.
Alternatively, the concept of sacrifice may play an important role in your relationships, or potential relationships now. Help may be needed, and these can be moments in which your commitment is tested, but can also bring the two of you closer together.
Upright Career Meaning:
Uncertainty about career, waiting, forced break, thinking of next steps
When it comes to work, the Hanged Man can signal a feeling of waiting or uncertainty about what you should be doing. Your projects may be on pause, forcing you to take a break, or you may be waiting and contemplating what your next move is. There is a lesson to this card, which is that sometimes, no matter what, you cannot force a decision, or changes to occur when things are not at the right time. At times, you need to just wait, and the things that you were pushing for so hard, whether it’s a response from a business partner or colleague, or a decision from a client, or a decision on what to change in your career, will come in time. Relax, and just be. Alternatively, you may be in the process of making a big change in your career. What looks like taking a step backward may be a calculated process to realign your path with something that is more fulfilling to you.
Upright Finances Meaning:
Change in perspective about finances
The Hanged Man can signal that a change in perspective is needed. If there has been some stress about money matters, you may find that at the moment a pause can actually bring you a new way of looking at things. Can you turn a bad situation into an opportunity? Do things only seem worse than they really are?
Reversed Hanged Man Tarot Card Meanings
REVERSED: Delays, resistance, stalling, indecision
Reversed Hanged Man
The upright Hanged Man encourages you to pause for a moment and see things from a different perspective. Reversed, this card can show that you know you need to hit the pause button, but you are resisting it. Instead, you fill your days with tasks and projects, keeping busy and distracting yourself from the actual issue that needs your attention. Your spirit and body are asking you to slow down, but your mind keeps racing. Stop and rest before it’s too late. The Universe will only dial up the volume if you ignore it, and as a result, you may end up crashing. So, as soon as you hear the call, clear your schedule and make the space so you can tune in and listen.
You may already be in a position where everything has been put on hold, much to your frustration. The reversal of the Hanged Man can indicate a time when you’re getting blocked, stuck or restricted because other people or other circumstances have left you on hold. While you feel resistant, it’s important that you surrender to ‘what is’ and let go of your attachment to how things should be. Be in flow with life, even if it’s not as you expected it (seriously, when does it ever go exactly as you expected!?), and loosen your grip.
If your life has already been on pause for a period, the reversed Hanged Man may come as a positive sign that you can now move forward with a new perspective and a renewed sense of energy. You may find that events line up with more ease and flow, and you’re ready to go again. There may have been a break-through or stark realisation about how you need to do things differently. You’re prepared to make those changes and move ahead with a new mindset.
In a reading where a relationship is on hold, the Hanged Man reversed suggests that you are content to wait around… to a point. You realise that this relationship will evolve and, due to its complexities, you cannot rush it. However, you also do not want to wait forever, and you acknowledge that there will come a time when you must decide.
The reversed Hanged Man can also signal that you are stalling a decision or action. You may think you’re waiting until you feel 100% ready – but guess what? You’re probably never going to be 100% ready. So, what are you waiting for? Take the leap! Make that decision! Do it before the Universe decides it can’t wait for you.
Reversed Love Meaning:
New perspectives on love, changes in romantic life
Now is the time for action. The reversed Hanged Man tarot love meaning suggests that the period of waiting is over. There may have been a slowdown in your love life recently, forcing you to take the time to consider different perspectives on romance and love. Ideally, you have re-emerged with a clearer understanding of what it is you expect from relationships. This may be a time when old, long held beliefs are being shed. With this new perspective, you are now equipped to take action or make changes in your romantic life with renewed energy. This card also can caution against making needless sacrifices for love. Make sure that your needs and your partner’s are balanced.
Reversed Career Meaning:
New career move not working, procrastination, stalling for time
When the Hanged Man is reversed, you may feel that the sacrifices you’ve been making in your career haven’t really been yielding results. If you’ve recently changed career paths, or have taken time off to go through retraining, or used your family time for work projects, things may not be going as planned. It may not feel as if making these changes have been worth it. At times, this card can also indicate stalling for time. Instead of waiting for the right moment, you may be at such a loss about what to do next that you’ve been procrastinating on making a decision that will propel you to your next steps, leading to a feeling of powerlessness or stagnancy. Don’t languish too long, learn to be an active participant in your life.
Reversed Finances Meaning:
Indecision, failed investment, wasted financial sacrifice
If you’ve been contemplating a major purchase or investment of your resources lately, your indecision and hesitancy may mean that you never take the next step. Sometimes, this card can also indicate that your investments are not yielding any returns; this doesn’t have to be in traditional banking institutions. Perhaps you lent money for a family member’s education, only to have them drop out. Perhaps you’ve put some of your finances into a side-hustle, only for it to be a failure. There is a sense of wasted sacrifice with this card; let these be a lesson for how to approach these situations in the future.