The Hanged Man XII in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
The Hanged Man Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Major
Water
Neptune
The Hanged Man, the twelfth major arcana, is the card of detachment, letting go, and a transformed outlook. Hanging upside down, it invites us to radically change our perspective, to stop trying to control everything, and to embrace immobility as a space for metamorphosis. This is not a failure or a punishment, but an essential stage in the journey: the one in which we let go of old patterns to allow our consciousness to be reborn in a new way. This card requires inner courage, as it causes you to remain in discomfort without reacting immediately. It often appears at times when you have to trust life, without immediate proof, when transformation is played out in the shadows, before becoming visible. It is also deeply linked to conscious sacrifice: giving up something in order to rediscover what really makes sense. The Hanged Man teaches you that it is in the void that everything can be reborn.
RWS Tarot : Arcana The Hanged Man readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card The Hanged Man
In love, The Hanged Man often evokes a pause, a wait or a temporary stalemate. It may mean that the relationship is not progressing as hoped, or that love is on hold, whether by choice or by constraint. If you are in a relationship, this card invites you to rethink the relationship from a different angle: one of the partners may be sacrificing too much or stepping aside to preserve the balance. It is essential here to rebalance giving and receiving, and not to put up with everything in silence. If you are single, The Hanged Man may indicate a time of necessary introspection before embarking on a new relationship, or an attraction to someone unattainable. It urges you to change your perspective on love, to let go of habitual expectations, and to welcome what is, without rushing. Love here requires patience, detachment and deep understanding.
Professional / Work reading
with the card The Hanged Man
In the world of work, the Hanged Man often heralds a period of slowing down, stagnation or questioning. You may feel that your situation is not progressing, or that your efforts are not bearing fruit (yet). However, this card is not negative: it invites you to take a step back, to suspend action and look at things differently. This is a good time to re-evaluate your objectives, consider a change of direction or take the time to mature a project. In some cases, this may reflect a sense of professional sacrifice: giving a lot without immediate return. It encourages you to see this break as a time for inner transformation, not as a failure. If you’re waiting for a response (a job, a career move), it may be delayed, but the wait is a lesson in patience and faith. The apparent immobility of the Hanged Man often conceals a profound metamorphosis.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card The Hanged Man
Financially, The Hanged Man signals a period when nothing is moving quickly, or when you need to show some material detachment. It may be a case of stagnation, a delay in the receipt of money, or the need to put your purchasing or investment projects on hold. It is not a card of loss, but it does encourage you to review your priorities, to let go of the need for control and to accept living more simply, for the time of a cycle. It can also signal a voluntary financial sacrifice, for example to support someone, change direction or follow a less lucrative vocation. It reminds you that wealth is measured not only by tangible abundance, but also by inner peace. Take the time to analyse your attachments to material possessions. The Hanged Man invites you to let go of what you cannot control and to trust the process.
Family reading
with the card The Hanged Man
In the family context, The Hanged Man often reflects frozen dynamics, things left unsaid, or a need for emotional distance. Perhaps you feel trapped in a position, forced to play a role that no longer suits you, or are carrying too heavy an emotional burden. This card suggests a need to distance yourself, without breaking the link, but to better understand what is at stake. It may also indicate a time of voluntary withdrawal – from a family member or yourself – to rebuild your inner self. The Hanged Man encourages you to look at situations from another angle, not to force things, and to observe without judgement. It is often in silence, patience and letting go that relationships evolve here. This card can also represent someone close to you who is going through an ordeal, and for whom your discreet but constant presence is precious.
Spiritual reading
with the card The Hanged Man
On a spiritual level, the Hanged Man is an extremely powerful card. It evokes letting go, abandoning the mind and transcending the ego. It is a call to shed limiting beliefs, suspend judgement and enter a phase of silent, profound transformation. It often symbolises a period of spiritual awakening, but experienced in shadow, isolation or silence. It is a card of initiation, where you are invited to question yourself radically, to see life from a new angle, through the prism of the heart and not the mind. It encourages introspective practices such as meditation, contemplation, lucid dreaming and purification. This is not the time to act externally, but to plunge into yourself, to welcome uncertainty as a path to wisdom. The Hanged Man teaches you that true freedom comes from acceptance, and that the inner light is often revealed in the silence of waiting.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
The Hanged Man and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card The Hanged Man according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card The Hanged Man in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
