Astrological Influence: Neptune
Key words and phrases: Reversal; slowed action; limbo; taking your time; a testing period; a lesson to be learned; cosmic consciousness; enlightenment; a unique viewpoint; a new angle; spiritual attunement; selfishness; sacrifice; commitment; dedication;
flexibility; adaptability; daring to be different; breaking with the past; readjustment; voluntary sacrifice to obtain a higher good; inactivity; stagnation; calm; in slow motion; an apparent standstill; at a crossroads; reflection; serenity; higher wisdom; mysticism; devotion; unexpected domestic or career changes.
Symbolic Meaning
The Hanged Man is usually depicted as a young man whose head is surrounded by a nimbus and suspending upside down by one foot on a T- shaped wooden cross. His left leg is crossed behind his right leg forming a fylfot cross. He is wearing a blue shirt and red tights, and there are leaves sprouting from the crossbar of the cross indicating that it is alive.
A nimbus is a bright halo usually associated with saints and deities. It is a symbol of divinity or sanctity, and originally based on the nimbus that surrounds the sun.
The nimbus or halo is used in Christian art, and is thought to have been first used on pagan sun gods, such as Mithras. They also appear in Buddhist spiritual traditions. Mithras was originally a Persian sun god, and achieved cult status with the Roman army. He was usually depicted slaying a bull, which symbolises victory over our animal nature, and was worshipped in the temples
devoted to the ritual sacrifice of bulls, and his new followers were initiated into the sect by being baptised with the animal’s blood.
The T-cross is an ancient symbol of the sun god. It is also called the cross of St Anthony, which was named after a hermit in Egypt who apparently chased away demons with a cross of this kind. It forms the basis of the Egyptian ankh cross, which is a symbol of immortality.
A fylfot cross takes the shape of a swastika cross, which is an ancient sign found in Sumaria about five thousand years ago. It is usually associated with the sun and power and was one of the symbols of Buddah. It was meant to represent the cyclic regeneration of life, and even stretched to signify the Supreme Being. Unfortunately, the fylfot or swastika was adopted by Hitler and used as the sign for the Nazi party in the 1930s, and was reduced to a political emblem of violence and regression.
A cross originally symbolised the union of mind, body, spirit and matter. It can represent pain and suffering but leading to transformation or the triumph of mind and spirit over adversity. It may suggest that something in our life has come to an end, or needs to end, or it could signify sacrifice or martyrdom. Therefore, the cross signifies that something in our life may need to be sacrificed, maybe in the name of principle, or some bodily or earthly desires may need to be restrained in order to enable us to reach our full potential and stature as a human being.
His blue shirt signifies that we may need to get in touch with our animus, or the masculine side of our psyche. It is also a healing colour and suggests relaxation, sleep and tranquillity, and symbolises the sense of connection with our spiritual self. Blue is the colour of the Virgin Mary therefore is a symbol of peace and purity. It is also the colour connected with dreamlike states,
His red tights are the colour of vitality, strength, dynamism, life, sensuality and power, but also powerful feelings of danger and anger, or love and affection. Red can mean that we may be suppressing passionate feelings, or indicates ardent emotions and a drive to survive and achieve our goals. This colour can also mean that we are reaching deeper into our spiritual side.
The living wood on the cross may symbolise the power of growth. It may suggest that we are fulfilling our destiny by listening to the guidance that comes from our subconscious mind, and helps us to grow so that we may become whole.
The crossbar represents that we may need to look at the different aspects of our life.
Even though the young man is hanging he has a calm and peaceful
expression on his face and seems like he is in a deep trance, therefore not suffering. As a whole the Hanged Man symbolises life in suspension rather than death. It represents a turning point in our psychological development by surrendering to a higher wisdom in order to gain the inner knowledge of our subconscious mind. The concept of this card is to give up something in order to gain something else more important, or to follow a spiritual path. This needs to be done willingly knowing that something will be lost, but also
knowing that something of greater value will be gained and will finally improve our conscious mind and our circumstances. As a result of this, the Hanged Man has adopted a new perspective to discover a deeper set of values within him. This card suggests that we need to go beyond our present mind-set to expand our conscious mind so that we may experience spiritual
transformation and knowledge.
Odin, the leader of the Norse gods, hung himself like this from the World Tree Yggdrasil for nine days and nights, while pierced with a spear. He hung there as a sacrifice and at the end of this time bent down and lifted up the magical
runes that he discovered, which brought secret knowledge to humankind. This experience of Odin’s was similar to the visionary experiences of death and resurrection endured by shamans to achieve prophecy. Yogis believe they can activate the brain’s nerve centres and improve their mental awareness by standing on their heads in the pose known as the Sirsasna.
The Hanged Man is the number twelve, and in Christian symbolism it is the number of universal fulfilment, and is the number of Christ’s disciples and the Tribes of Israel. There are twelve gates to the City of Jerusalem, and there was twelve fruits on the “Tree of Life.” Twelve also relates to the zodiac and the twelve months of the year, and represents a complete cycle.
Twelve also reduces to three (1+ 2 = 3), which expresses all aspects of creation, such as birth, life and death; past, present and future; and mind, body and soul. In Pythagorean theory, three represents perfect harmony, the union of unity (one) and diversity (two). The number three can signify the introduction into our lives of another element that we may have to contend with, such as the birth of a child, which we may find daunting at first, but will lead to personal fulfilment and completeness. Three’s can also indicate a period of suspended activity before any future success can be achieved.
The astrological influence of The Hanged Man is the planet Neptune, the planet of dreams, artistic inspiration, mysticism and sacrifice. Neptune rules inspiration, the superior yearnings of the mind, the power of perception
manifested through the conscious or subconscious and the co-ordination and control of the five senses. Neptune’s particular qualities reveal that there is, inside each of us, an acute awareness of the people and things around us, which we can exploit in order to effect an inner change while all around us is changing and evolving, too. Neptune stimulates selfless and charitable instincts, artistic feelings, an idealistic and visionary nature, our ability to adjust to life as a whole, and to find our proper position in the world. This planet indicates all kinds of strange experiences that add to extend our
horizons. Our psychic and intuitive abilities may bring us into contact with some spiritual or mystical experience which has a profound effect as to understanding our own part in the Divine Plan, and may denote making sacrifices for some ideal. Neptune also influences our ability to speculate, raise values and indulge in financial trickery.
The Hanged Man suggests that we surrender outworn concepts and fear in order to gain knowledge. This card can also signify a state of limbo between different events or paths in which we have difficulty with deciding as to the direction we should take in our lives.
Interpretation
The Hanged Man often appears in a spread when you are in a rut. It may indicate that you are about to start or soon begin a journey of spiritual growth, and walk away from your materialistic and worldly concerns. There may be something that needs to be given up, such as a relationship or job, in order to move on and gain something else. Maybe you have been offered a job that is more satisfying but the salary is lower than you have been earning. This sacrifice needs to be voluntarily while knowing that something will be lost, but you also know that something will be gained to improve your circumstances.
Perhaps this sacrifice has been forced upon you and you have lost someone or something special, and your meaning of life is no longer there. You feel like you are in limbo and it seems like time has frozen, unable to move forward or back and unable to make changes because your hands are tied. The situation you are in needs to be looked at from a different angle in order to gain a new perspective. Have faith that things will turn out for the better, even though it will hurt knowing that something has gone from your life.
You may be in a situation where you have to wait, but waiting for something to happen will influence everything around you. Be patient and reflect on your position until you see it is the right time for you to make the necessary
improvements to your situation, and eventually you will come out of this difficult period. The Hanged Man is also about acceptance and your ability to remain open to new ideas. Accept that time is suspended and waiting is inevitable just now, and reflect on what is happening at this moment in time. It is not the right time to make any important decisions, and the time spent in contemplation, rest and reflection will be beneficial. The way you deal with it now will bring success in the future, just think of ways to make compromises to avoid failure. Perhaps you need to reassess your attitudes and priorities.
Give up what is holding you back even if it involves a sacrifice or a loss. You may experience spiritual transformation as your conscious mind expands, which in turn may awaken your intuitive powers. Do not sacrifice yourself for any unworthy causes or give too many chances to unreliable people.
Concentrate on what is important to you now. It might also be a good for you to spend some time socially with others.
Negative
This card threatens bitter disappointment and frustration arising from a futile effort to attain perfection, or to grasp the intangible. Your plans may fail through the lack of complete integrity, practical ability, refusal to face up to your responsibilities, or a distorted viewpoint, which gives a false perspective. Events may run away with you unless you stop and think. Do not squander your energies on useless projects. Perhaps you are indulging in drink or drugs to escape from the negative situation you are in at the moment, and you feel powerless to change or improve your situation or circumstances. You may fail to grasp an opportunity because you will not let go of what is holding you back. Maybe you are playing the martyr because you are enjoying the
sympathy and attention you are getting. Stop what you are doing and consider your actions, self-pitying will get you nowhere.
People
Those who are spiritual. Those who are in a rut. Those who take time out to meditate. Those who are waiting for something to happen. Those who take a different viewpoint. Those who have fulfilled a long-cherished desire. Those who have made a sacrifice in order to move on in life.
13 Death
Astrological Influence: Scorpio
Key words and phrases: Necessary and profound change; liberation; the dawning of a new era; leaving the past behind; the end of a cycle and the start of a new one; entering a new way of life; death of the old self; empowerment; rebirth; renewal; sudden
inevitable change; transition; cleansing; purging; revitalisation; stripping away the worthless matter; liberation through purgation; grieving the loss of a former lifestyle; inevitable endings; change of status; marriage; divorce; starting or leaving a job; leaving home; relocation; the end of a relationship; loss of virginity; spiritual regeneration; the shedding of outmoded attitudes; reincarnation.
Symbolic Meaning
To most people the Death card is probably the most frightening card in the deck, and they fear it assuming that it literally means physical death. In the Waite deck the mysterious horseman is a skeleton who rides a white horse and moves very slowly, and does not seem to be carrying a weapon. He wears a suit of armour and holds a black banner emblazoned with a white rose. A slain king lies on the ground, and a child and a maiden fall to their knees in front of the dark figure. The maiden holds her head to one side in a submissive gesture while the child tries to offer this frightening being a bouquet of flowers. A bishop with clasped hands stands at her side awaiting his fate, as the sun rises between two pillars on the horizon.
The skeleton is not a symbol of death, but a symbol of transformation and the death of old ways and situations. It suggests that part of us has died and we
Maybe we have an idea or concept that needs breaking down to the “bare bones.”
Usually Death is depicted riding a black horse, but in this card he is on a white horse, which is a symbol of light, life, spiritual illumination and purity of will. It describes the state of our spiritual awareness and suggests that the white horse is strong enough to break down the doors of the obstacles and burdens that are suppressing certain aspects of our personality, or collective Shadow.
The armour is a symbol of protection and courage, and signifies that there may be a need to protect ourselves from something we feel is intimidating and making us feel anxious.
A black banner represents sadness and grief. It suggests a need to consolidate our thoughts and actions, and perhaps agree on a particular course of action.
Black signifies materialisation, pessimism and judgement. To most of us, the colour black is associated with death, mourning, gloom, depression, secrecy, conformity and obscurity, therefore it means that some part of us is being repressed, and possibly, because of neglect we have let these associations take control of our lives.
It was said that the first rose was created by Chloris, the Greek goddess of flowers, from the body of a beautiful nymph. According to the mystic Sufi sect of Islam, the rose is associated with pleasure but also linked with pain
because of its thorns. A white rose is associated with purity and spirituality, and is one of the symbols of the Virgin Mary. Roses represent love, beauty and perfection, and also suggest virginity and fertility. However, they can signify that we may be concerned that the affection we are receiving may not be genuine. A thorny rose symbolises betrayal, and multiple layered petals
can symbolise the opening up of the spiritual and emotional aspects of ourselves.
A child signifies that we may be subconsciously aware of some difficulty with our child, and our subconscious is trying to bring this to our attention. It can also mean that we have some sort of guilt feeling about the mistakes we made as a parent, and are now trying to make amends. It could be that we are trying to get in touch with the child within us to recapture the freedom we once had, or we are feeling vulnerable or insecure. A child may also
represent a new beginning, a new development in our attitude to life, a new set of values, a new balance or understanding of previously conflicting forces.
Flowers signify harmony, love and friendship. Over 100,000 years ago the Neanderthals made flower offerings to their dead. Flowers are a symbol of a wide range of experiences, but with this card they signify that we need to make a transition from the situation we are in now.
The maiden signifies that we may be going through changes that make us feel uncertain, insecure and lack confidence, and expecting criticism, ridicule or even fear of not being taken seriously. The maiden suggests that we need to get in touch with our inner self to find the answers or guidance we need to push us forward, and she is making us aware of how we feel about the
changes, and what our fears are. She can also signify a desire to escape from responsibility.
The bishop can represent stern authority and moral judgement. He signifies moral and correct behaviour or a certain type of authority that we may find daunting. A bishop can also signify a spiritual guide, a mentor, or our inner self that is focused on the aspects of our life that we need to pay attention to.
The sun symbolises the awakening of our spiritual awareness, and signifies the creative use of our intellect. It is linked with creative energy, health and
vitality, and influences our physical and psychological development. The sun can also be associated with an authority figure, such as a father, who may be quietly judging us, or telling us what we should do or what we should not do.
Pillars are symbols of earthly and spiritual power and aspiration. They suggest that we are able to create stability and support, and can stand firm through difficulty.
There are many images of death in our society, such as skeletons,
graveyards, vaults, crows, hell, the Grim Reaper, and so on, and many of us enjoy being frightened by these images. Actually this card has nothing to do with physical death and means that our life may be repressed in some way, but transformation will follow. As a whole, the Death card is a symbol of great transformation. It signifies that there are some major changes coming into our lives, and perhaps it is necessary to rid ourselves of old outdated ways that do not serve our growth any more, and start to move into the unknown. It may indicate a challenge that needs to be confronted, or an adjustment to the way