Skip to content

9 Profound Insights You Gain When the Hanged Man Appears

Here we have The Hanged Man, the 12th card in the Major Arcana, which is associated with the zodiac sign, Pisces. Here is a description of the imagery and the meaning of the card:

The Hanged Man hangs suspended, upside down, but there’s no struggle here-only calm acceptance. A soft halo surrounds his head, glowing with the kind of clarity that comes when you stop resisting and allow yourself to see things differently.

The tree holding him isn’t dead or barren; its leaves are alive, reminding you that even in stillness, growth is happening. His red and blue clothing reflects a quiet balance-passion meeting surrender, action meeting rest.

This card invites you to pause, to let go of the fight for control and surrender to the wisdom of this moment. When the world turns upside down, sometimes that’s exactly what you need to find the clarity you’ve been missing. The Hanged Man doesn’t signal stagnation-it’s a sacred pause, a chance to shift your perspective and discover the hidden power in simply being still. ✨

Here we will look at 9 insights about The Hanged Man when it’s drawn in a reading-

  1. Pause-Look at the Bigger Picture.

Drawing The Hanged Man is like the universe saying, “Wait, Stop. Look closer.” If life feels stalled, it’s not punishment: it’s an invitation to reflect.


2. Perspective is Your Power.

This card flips the world upside down, asking you to see things differently. The problem isn’t the pause-it’s how you choose to look at it.


3. Let Go of the Struggle.

The Hanged Man shows that sometimes holding on is what holds you back. Surrender the fight, and you might finally find freedom.


4. What Are You Willing to Sacrifice?

Growth often asks for a trade, whether it’s an old belief, habit, or expectation, something has to shift before you can move forward.


5. Answers Hide in Stillness.

The Hanged Man knows that clarity doesn’t always come when you’re pushing forward. It arrives when you stop moving long enough to listen.


6. You’re Not Stuck, You’re Preparing.

This card reminds you that a pause isn’t the end of the story. It’s the part where you gather strength, wisdom, and focus for what comes next.


7. Patience is the Lesson You Didn’t ask for.

The Hanged Man isn’t subtle about this one. It teaches you to be still, patient, and trusting-even when it feels uncomfortable.


8. Release Your Need for Control.

This card nudges you toward surrender. Control is an illusion and letting go doesn’t mean losing-it means allowing life to flow.


9. Understanding The Hanged Man Reversed: Resistance Over Surrender.

When The Hanged Man appears reversed, the pause no longer feels sacred-it feels stuck. You might be clinging to control, resisting the call to surrender, or struggling to see the lesson in the delay. This card reversed can be a sign of impatience, stalling on decisions, or refusing to see things from a new perspective. It asks, what are you holding onto so tightly? Sometimes the only way forward is to let go.


To wrap up this post, it’s important to know that whether The Hanged Man appears upright or reversed, its message is clear: there’s wisdom to be found in the pause-if you’re willing to see it. Upright it offers clarity through surrender; reversed, it asks you to examine where you’re resisting. The key lies in trusting that stillness isn’t the enemy-it’s the space where growth begins. So, take a breath, let go, and move forward.


If you’re wanting to know more about The Hanged Man, check this video out!

Also, if you’ve ever been curious about the how the Moon impacts a tarot reading, take a look at this post-Harnessing The Power Of Tarot & Moon Cycles: Unlock Lunar Magic In Your Readings – Tarotloom.com

Thanks for taking the time to read this, if you would like, sign up for our monthly newsletter and get tarot insights and tips delivered right to your inbox.

Join us next time when we dive into the Death card. See you then! 💀