The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meanings: Upright & Reversed

What does the Hanged Man card mean?

The Hanged Man invites us to look at the situation differently, from a different angle. Transform your perspective and adopt a different point of view. Even if everything is upside down after that. As a rule, the Tarot reader's solution comes unexpectedly and shocks the client.

What does the image on the card mean?

This card looks intense - a guy hanging upside down from this giant, magical tree that connects heaven and earth. But here’s the twist: he’s not a victim. That peaceful look on his face? That’s the look of someone who chose to let go.

One leg is loosely tied, the other free. The Hanged man's hands rest behind the back, forming an upside-down triangle. The red boots? Passion. The blue shirt? Peace. Together, they mirror the colors of holy figures, hinting that wisdom comes when we let go.

Historical and mystical aspects

There is no denying that the Tarot meaning “Hanged Man” has earned a reputation as one of the scariest cards in the reading. The image of a man hanging from a tree certainly does not bode well. At the same time, if you look at the man's face, it seems calm. This is his most vital symbolic trait - the key to the card’s true meaning: a deliberate, willing sacrifice.

Some traditions called this card The Thief or The Traitor. In Renaissance Tarot symbolism, the Hanged Man was often linked to Judas Iscariot. The Hanged Man in Tarot thus embodies the tension between treachery and transcendence, where surrender becomes a path to enlightenment.

Card position

• Hanged Man upright position

The upright position of the card may indicate a dead-end situation with no prospects. Typically, this suggests there is a way out, but not a conventional one.

Hanging Man Tarot meaning can also indicate intense external pressure, where circumstances force a person into this position of surrender. The individual acts against his will or is used. If we talk about a more positive meaning of the card, it can mean a willingness to sacrifice something for a higher purpose.

• Hanged Man reversed position

The reversed meaning of the Hanged Man signals a critical turning point in one's life - a moment demanding decisive, purposeful action. After that, he will be able to "move to a new level" of his personality. But first, it is necessary to rethink his life and value system.

Card reading for relationships & love

• Hanged Man Upright position

The upright position of the Tarot Hanging man meaning in a relationship can mean a protracted search for a suitable partner, being in a challenging, toxic relationship, and feeling unable to get out of a vicious circle.

• Hanged Man Reversed position

The egocentrism of the card manifests itself in resistance to obvious steps or unwillingness to make concessions about the partner, which leads to getting stuck in constant conflicts.

Love reading

The Hanged Man's love meaning is interpreted as an indication of a crisis that arose due to the inability and unwillingness of partners to take each other's interests into account and sacrifice anything for this.

The card may also indicate that the quarrel that occurred is final, and it will not be possible to restore the relationship. If the querent does not have a permanent partner at the time of reading, the Hanged Man love Tarot foretells that such loneliness will last for quite a long time.

Card of the day: The meaning of the Hanged Man in Tarot

• Upright position

When upright, this card suggests that forcing outcomes or rushing events often does more harm than good. This can only lead to the opposite result. Try to be patient and focus your attention on understanding your situation and preparing an action plan for the future.

• Reversed position

The inverted position foretells conflicts and omissions.

Advice: The meaning of the Hanged Man in Tarot

• Upright position

The main advice of the card in the upright position is that the problem cannot be solved by force, so there is no need to go ahead. It is much better to find a new, non-standard way of solving it, to look for workarounds. A little patience, and events will begin to develop on their own. But in any case, be prepared for the fact that success will cost you dearly.

• Reversed position

The Hanged Man, as advice, suggests that you cannot remain inactive under unpleasant circumstances, expecting them to resolve themselves. You need to find a way out of the crisis in every possible way.

Reading for work and career

• Hanged Man upright position

When upright, this card reveals stalled progress, bogged down in bureaucracy, endless approvals, and maddening delays. Projects hang in limbo. Promised promotions vanish without explanation. Crucial plans hit wall after wall. It signals a dead end.

• Hanged Man reversed position

The Hanged Man's career appears poised for action, but reveals a deeper issue - his goals remain self-centered, and he lacks the fortitude to follow through on commitments. There's a disconnect between his words and actions.

Reading for finances

• Hanged Man upright position

In the reading for finances, the Hanged Man meaning in Tarot in the upright position can mean difficult times for you. The querent needs to be patient and wait until the circumstances change.

• Hanged Man reversed position

This position suggests that you will have to spend a lot of energy on solving the problem. Or you will spend money on buying unnecessary things. Try to look at the situation from a different angle: perhaps this is the beginning of changes in your life.

Health reading

• Hanged Man upright position

In the upright position, the Tarot meaning the Hanged Man can point to serious health problems: hypertension, high blood pressure, chronic diseases, frozen pregnancy, and so on.

• Hanged Man reversed position

The card indicates the need to find new treatment options, consult with different doctors, and revise treatment plans.

Reading for the present and the past

• Hanged Man upright position

Usually, the Hang Man meaning card in reading for the present indicates a period when you may need to come to terms with some situation or sacrifice something for the sake of future success. The lasso may indicate the need to change your attitude toward problems.

In past-position reading, the Hanged Man often reveals a long-standing unresolved issue, one that may still weigh on you today. It suggests you’re clinging to old concerns that troubled you even back then.

• Hanged Man reversed position

Usually, the card indicates a blockage of one's own emotions, suffering, limitations, or inability to take responsibility. Your passivity will play a cruel joke on you.

For the past reading, the card says: “You were afraid to take the initiative and thus missed many lucky chances”. It is essential not to repeat your mistakes and to try to get out of your comfort zone.

Conclusion

The Hanging Man Tarot meaning is a philosophical Major Arcana that makes a person stronger and wiser. If you get this card in reading, use the twelfth Arcana as an opportunity to change your life in a better way.