The meaning of The Hanged Man Tarot card is ‘sacrifices.’ This card predicts that something in your life – whether in your love life, other relationships, or business – will need to be given up for you to gain something you desire.
The Hanged Man makes an appearance when you must play the martyr. You have to let go of something you’re close to so that you can get something else in return. You may have to give up your time, money, or something you love. Whatever that resource is, you must go through the sadness of giving it up so that you can have something else.
Generally, The Hanged Man also predicts that you will be on edge for the period the card represents. The outcome of a particular situation looks uncertain. Are you desperate to take action? Your Tarot cards are advising you that you must wait until more information is available.
Sometimes, The Hanged Man can predict sickness and illnesses. Treatment is a long and challenging road, but it’s necessary for you to get better. The future of your health remains unclear at this time, but you must continue exploring every avenue possible.
Another meaning of The Hanged Man is that it represents divination and prophecy. This interpretation comes from Norse mythology. The God Odin hung himself so that he could learn the wisdom of the runes. Therefore, in fortune-telling, the symbol of someone hanging can represent an increase in psychic ability.
Waiting for an outcome can be positive or negative, depending on the feel of the reading. If the reading looks positive, The Hanged Man says that all is going well for now and you must have patience. If the reading seems negative, The Hanged Man advises that the results of a situation will reveal themselves in their own time.
Finally, I have seen The Hanged Man appear after a seeker has lost a friend or family member to suicide.
The Hanged Man Love Tarot Meaning
Love & Relationships
The Hanged Man is not a very good card to see if you’re performing a love Tarot reading. This is especially true if your reading is about the future of the relationship. The Hanged Man’s primary meaning is one of uncertainty.
In my experience, I’ve found that The Hanged Man represents a troubling end for a partnership. It means that a relationship will end and you will not be sure why. You won’t be able to pinpoint exactly what went wrong – your lover will leave you (figuratively) hanging. The Hanged Man is the precursor for a complex relationship and an even more baffling ending.
(If you would like more love and relationship Tarot meanings for The Hanged Man, be sure to check out my Love Tarot Meanings E-Book here).
The Hanged Man Feelings Tarot Meanings
The Hanged Man means that your lover/potential lover isn’t sure how they feel about you. They question whether they would actually like to be in the relationship, and you can sense their uncertainty. Frequently, your lover has you questioning where you stand.
You find it difficult to ‘read’ your partner. Sadly, you don’t know where the relationship is heading. If you are not feeling this way now, you will in the future.
The Hanged Man Future Tarot Meaning
The Hanged Man can appear in the future of a Tarot reading when the outcome of a situation is uncertain. The results of this matter can swing either way, so for now, you’re just going to have to go with the flow.
In some cases, The Hanged Man in the future can predict that you will sacrifice yourself for other people. Sometimes, The Hanged Man can serve as a reminder that you don’t have to throw yourself under the bus so that other people can be comfortable.
In relationship readings, The Hanged Man will land in a future position to symbolize a separation from your lover, which will leave you confused. If this happens, you will not know where you went wrong and will blame yourself for how it all ended up.
The Hanged Man Business & Career Tarot Meaning
Just like in love readings, The Hanged Man is rarely all sunshine and rainbows when it lands in a career reading. It predicts a time of uncertainty. I would say that The Hanged Man can serve as a warning. If you’re planning on launching a new project, I would avoid doing so for now.
The Hanged Man in a career or business Tarot reading represents a time when you will not have sure footing. You won’t be able to work out where you’re going wrong. Because you cannot see why your career is not progressing, you won’t know what you have to do to improve. Everything will be a big confusing mess. You will even consider giving up because everything will seem like it’s an uphill battle with no reward in sight, especially if The Hanged Man appears in combination with the Ten of Wands.
Because The Hanged Man is a card of patience, this can mean that your company will grow very slowly. Your business will take a lot longer to turn a profit than what you’re anticipating. For now, I would put off your plans or, before you jump in head-first blindly, research the market a bit more.
If you’ve received The Hanged Man in a business reading, I would be wary of doing anything that involves borrowing money or make promises to your audience. For example, don’t crowd-fund your projects – there are too many variables that have not been revealed to you.
Yes or No with The Hanged Man Tarot Meaning
General – The Hanged Man can be a no, but I would read it as an uncertainty, so neither a yes nor no just yet. For a definite answer, you must wait a little longer.
Do they like me? – They are either undecided how they feel about you, or are walking on eggshells when they’re around you.
Am I pregnant? – I would not read The Hanged Man as a pregnancy card.
Is this relationship going to last? – The future of this relationship is uncertain.
Does the future of this look promising? – For spirituality and psychic development readings, the future of this matter looks good. For everything else, you’re going to have to wait for further developments to find out more.
Am I going to reconcile with my ex? – With regard to readings that involve reconciliations, The Hanged Man is not a good omen. It predicts that you will get very close to a reunion with your ex, only for them to pull back at the very last second.
The Hanged Man as a Negative, Weakness or Obstacle
The Hanged Man often will pop up in a negative, weakness, or obstacle spread position when the sacrifices you make are going to be very difficult. It’s also possible that ill health will prevent you from working as hard in a matter as you usually would.
The Hanged Man as a Positive, Strength or Advantage
First off, The Hanged Man will appear in a positive, strength, or advantage position of a Tarot spread when you’re willing to make sacrifices to achieve your greater goals. This card will also appear as a positive to indicate that you have the power of prophecy on your side. Your Tarot cards will help you to navigate any situation.
Closing Thoughts on The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning
While The Hanged Man can symbolize sacrifice, it doesn’t mean that you should always play the martyr! Don’t sacrifice your own happiness for a job or relationship.
For you, is The Hanged Man a card of sacrifice? Or is the Hanged Man a card of sickness and disease?
Related Articles for The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning
There are more relationship Tarot card meanings on this website.
The Hanged Man is associated with the planet Neptune. I have previously written about Tarot and Astrology correspondences.
I interpret The Hanged Man in my Celtic Cross post.
That’s all for The Hanged Man Tarot card meaning! In my weekly newsletter, I share Tarot tips and teach Tarot readers like you how they can connect to their angels. Join today (for free) and grab your copy of Spiritual 101:
