The Hanged Man

Upright Meaning

A man hangs upside down from a living tree, suspended by one foot. His face is serene, haloed in golden light. His free leg forms a cross behind the bound one. He has chosen this position — it is not punishment but practice. Seen from his perspective, the world is inverted: what seemed important becomes trivial, what was overlooked becomes essential. The Hanged Man teaches that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop doing.

Reversed Meaning

Reversed, The Hanged Man suggests you are resisting a necessary pause. You may be struggling against a situation that requires surrender, or delaying a decision by pretending the pause is chosen when it is actually fear. Sometimes hanging in limbo is wisdom. Sometimes it is avoidance. Only you know which.

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