What Is The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning?

All good things come to those who wait. This virtue of patience is found everywhere in ancient scriptures, from The Bible to ancient Chinese philosophers and countless African proverbs.

The Hanged Man in tarot is a test of spiritual resolve. To have faith in a state of suspension—a limbo phase in life—is to exercise confidence in whatever conclusion you desire. Do you have trouble relinquishing control or waiting for long periods of time?

You will see this major arcana show up in a tarot reading if you are having difficulty letting go or making a decision. The Hanged Man tells you to settle down and take stock of what is going on in your life.

Pictured: The Hanged Man art from Dust 2 Onyx Tarot Deck

The Hanged Man Tarot Interpretation

Nowadays, everything seems to be moving at the speed of light; communication, social changes, and commerce are all prioritizing saving time and processing information faster. But, are we all moving a little too fast?

The Hanged Man tarot card meaning is not just about patience; it’s about timing. Doing everything faster doesn’t mean opportunities in life will necessarily reach you quicker. Sometimes, choosing the first option will cause you to skip over a potential meeting or happenstance that could change your life.

Career and Financial Guidance

If you’ve ever found yourself in a financial situation where you’re in between jobs or don’t have the funds for your bills, then you already know the feeling of this type of suspension. But, The Hanged Man card isn’t showing up to tell you to expect financial or career insecurity.

Anytime there is an unknown fortune or setback dealing with money, this is a tarot card that will remind you to trust the process. Think of how professional poker players have to maintain a disciplined approach while also trusting their intuition. Losing a big hand (i.e. a job position, debt, or business growth) doesn’t mean you’re out of the game.

Quite the contrary, as we know, all it takes is consistency and faith to turn things around and become the big winner. What this card will remind you in your tarot readings is that as long as you don’t take shortcuts or abandon your plan in reaction to a minor setback, you will be rewarded for your patience.

The Hanged Man in Love and Relationships

When it comes to love or romance, the Hanged Man Tarot card is all about feeling held down or stuck. It's time to ditch any bad relationships and focus on the ones that make you happy. This card means you shouldn't take any big steps right now. 

If you're unsure about ending a relationship or friendship, don't worry about rushing into it. Take some time to think things through. Can you make things better? Give it a shot. 

Have you already tried your best? It might be time to accept things as they are. This could be a sign that it's time to let go of the past and try a new direction.

A new opportunity for a relationship or business connection may be waiting for you on the other side of a breakup.

Physical and Spiritual Health

Traditionally, the Hanged Man tarot card is like a warning sign for your health. If you start seeing any signs of trouble, it's a good idea to go see a doctor. 

But when it comes to spirituality, things are looking up. The Hanged Man is all about change and becoming something new. Just like how butterflies chill in a cocoon before they transform, we also need some time to refresh our minds and souls. 

If you get the Hanged Man in a spiritual reading, it's time to focus on your psychic skills and raise your energy. Staying at the same level will just bring more of the same problems.

What Does The Hanged Man Reversed Mean?

The Hanged Man reversed is usually when someone feels like they're giving a lot but not getting anything in return. It can make you scared to plan for the future. Instead of saying "never again," try to recognize any bad patterns and situations that are draining you. 

Take action to stop them. The Hanged Man reversed could also mean making snap decisions and facing some serious consequences. Have you made a choice that you regret and don't know how to fix it? We can't change the past, but we can change how we see things and make the best of any situation.

Yes or No / One Card Tarot Pull

This tarot card leans towards the pessimistic. It is a ‘maybe’ when it comes to ‘yes or no‘ readings.

In general, it advises spending time in contemplation and avoiding impulsive behavior. However, as a symbol of personal development, the Hanged Man may also urge one to stop delaying and make progress. 

It may be beneficial to pull additional cards related to this Major Arcana to gain further insight. 

The Hanged Man Pairings and Combinations

With the emphasis on timing and waiting for the right moment, The Hanged Man will be a card that solidifies its pairings by telling you the process has already begun. You should take its message of embracing the upcoming changes by studying the adjacent card in your reading.

These are a few important tarot combinations with other majors you may need clarity on:

The Hanged Man and The Moon

When paired with The Moon, this highly spiritual combination will signal a time for growth and reflection. When you struggle with intuition and relinquishing control, this pairing may appear in your tarot card reading together.

What it wants you to do is listen or communicate more with your higher self. Take this opportunity to start planning more ritual-based activities. You can look to The Moon for answers to guide you along your journey. 

Do you fear the unknown? We all do to some extent, but we cannot let that paralyze us and keep us from taking risks. We may find that helping hand to get us over major barriers or obstacles in our way by being more intuitive with our thoughts.

The Hanged Man card wants you to trust yourself, even when you don’t know all the answers yet. There can be such a thing as being too prepared sometimes.

The Hanged Man and The High Priestess

Alone in your thoughts, you try to figure out where to go next. Oftentimes, our lives can contain too much noise or activity to allow us the clarity we need to surrender ourselves spiritually.

The High Priestess card paired with The Hanged Man is a good sign that help is on the way. You can expect a mentor or voice of authority to help guide you to your next destination. Trust is important here; you may not agree or like everything ‌that this person will say, but be open-minded.

The answers provided to you may take some time to process, so give yourself time to sit with the messages given.

The Hanged Man and Strength

Expressions of strength aren’t always observed from the outside. The Hanged Man complements the Strength card as a powerful expression of perseverance. Take this time to find your courage and voice to overcome life’s challenges.

Maybe it’s your time to detach yourself from a codependency or relationship that isn’t mutually beneficial. Practice an objective and balanced approach to whatever is causing a conflict within. The Strength card does not mean charging head-first into battle without preparation when you see it beside the Hanged Man. 

If you encounter problems that are much larger than you are equipped to deal with, stop, and give yourself some grace. This might be a time to let go, rather than become a superhero. The universe may have other plans for you, so you have to be open to receiving them.

The Hanged Man Relationship With Pisces♓

In astrology, the Hanged Man represents the Twelfth House and Pisces. He's all about giving up material things for the non-material world. Even though his body is still in this world, his mind is attached to the T-shaped tree of Saturn. This symbol reminds us to let go of the illusion that we are separate from everything around us, which our senses might trick us into thinking.

The Hanged Man frequently manifests in conjunction with Sagittarius, too, embodying their profound philosophical nature and enduring detachment. Reflecting the persona of the seeker, this archetype embodies an intense spirit of independence, rendering them exceptionally arduous to restrain or confine.