The Hanged Man

Additional deck interpretation:

The Hanged Man points you towards a path of learning to deal with difficult situations and release impediments as you continue your journey through the seventy-eight passageways of growth. This is the level on your continuous cycle of change where you discover how to escape from limbo.

You might be caught between the old and the new and need to adjust your attitude or practice self-sacrifice in order to connect with a higher source of wisdom to be able to move forward.


The Hanged Man feels upside-down because others think he is wrong, but he thinks he is right. Since he cannot agree with others, he walks the path of reevaluation hoping to exit this state of limbo and uncertainty.

He cannot accept the truth so he remains in a suspension that requires some kind of sacrifice - of a belief or perspective - that he cannot gain by staying in the past. If he does not let go, he lives in self-sacrifice.

We all know how very difficult letting go can be, especially when it concerns the affairs of the heart and we are not ready to accept the outcome.

For example, in the Bible, Lot's wife was told not to look back: "Escape for thy life, look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain – escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."

Lot's wife disobeyed God, turning back to watch Sodom burn and because she looked back, she turned into a pillar of salt.

The main lesson of the Hanged Man is that you "control" by letting go!

Numerical Number 12: The Hanged Man's number 12 consists of: 1 (a new beginning) + 2 (the waiting period to make a decision) = 3 (rebirth and creating something new after you make the right decision).

This number is related to an educational process through self-sacrifice to achieve knowledge and wisdom. This is the time when you are stuck in limbo (self-sacrifice), hindered by the past and not ready to shed old beliefs, or let something go, or start new experiences. You will reverse your negative thoughts, or you will stay with your beliefs and let go of who made you feel this way, or let go of what is not working.

The Element of Water: The Hanged Man is associated with the planet Neptune (the spiritual awakener who asks you to dissolve your ego or boundaries to make an adjustment).


Probable Outcome: You may be stuck in self-sacrifice and not ready to let go of something or someone that is not good for you. Perhaps you do not agree with others, so you have decided to walk alone and reevaluate the situation.

You will remain in a state of limbo and uncertainty until you are able to reverse your negative thoughts, or let go of what is not working.

Possible Outcome: There is a stubbornness that keeps you in suspension, or you might feel like a victim who was tricked or duped and need help from a professional to let go of someone who continues to hurt you.

You might be influenced by the opinions of others regarding your situation and cannot shake it off.

Then again, you might not be able to channel the Hanged Man's energies into your lifestyle. If this is the case, then you might decide to move on and cut the cords with the people who hurt you because you are not willing to change your beliefs.

Timing: The Hanged Man predicts an important event may occur within the next 30 days.