By Katrina Rasbold
The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite, is a cornerstone of modern tarot practice. Among its 78 cards, The Hanged Man stands out as one of the most enigmatic and paradoxical. Its unsettling image—a man suspended upside down by one foot—invites a pause. But in that pause lies the card’s true power: the invitation to surrender, shift perspective, and embrace transformation.
A Portrait of Stillness: Visual Symbolism
Pamela Colman Smith’s Hanged Man (Card XII in the Major Arcana) departs from earlier depictions of this archetype in profound ways. Let’s break down its visual components:
1. The Inverted Figure
The central figure hangs upside down from a T-shaped tree made of living wood. His right foot is tied, while his left leg bends behind it, forming a cross-like figure. Despite the precarious position, he appears calm, even serene. This inversion immediately signals that we’re seeing the world from a different point of view—a core theme of the card.
Symbolic meaning: Inversion as enlightenment. The act of hanging upside down invites us to reverse our assumptions, pause from habitual action, and gain insight through surrender rather than control.
2. The Glowing Halo
A radiant halo surrounds the Hanged Man’s head, reminiscent of religious iconography, particularly depictions of saints or enlightened beings. It indicates divine insight, spiritual illumination, and transcendence.
Symbolic meaning: Sacrifice and spiritual awakening. This detail reinforces the idea that the Hanged Man is not a victim but a willing participant in his suspension—a seeker of wisdom, not a martyr of fate.
3. Expression of Peace
Unlike earlier decks that portrayed the Hanged Man as tortured or punished, Colman Smith’s figure has a gentle, accepting expression. This calm acceptance transforms the card from one of suffering to one of profound inner stillness and reflection.
Symbolic meaning: Acceptance and trust. Peace in a difficult position suggests faith in the process—trusting that discomfort leads to growth.
4. The Red Pants and Blue Tunic
His red pants symbolize the physical world and vitality, while the blue tunic suggests inner truth, intuition, and spiritual receptivity. Combined, they reflect a harmony between physical surrender and spiritual awakening.
Symbolic meaning: The union of material and spiritual—indicating that transformation often requires letting go on the physical or ego level to embrace a greater truth.
5. The Number 4
The Hanged Man’s legs form the number 4 and in a nod to the concept of balance, when The Hanged Man is upright, the 4 is reversed and when the Hanged Man is reversed, the 4 is upright. In numerology, the number 4 speaks to stability, balance, and a grounded position.
Symbolic meaning: Balance and stability, even during times of adversity and non-movement.
6. The Tau Cross and Foliage
The wooden structure from which the Hanged Man is suspended is in the shape of a tau cross (T-cross), a symbol associated with initiation, the crucifixion, and spiritual trials. The fact that the cross is still living (with sprouting leaves) signals that this is not a dead end but a moment of suspended animation with the potential for rebirth.
Symbolic meaning: Initiation and rebirth. This moment is part of a larger cycle—life will resume, but only after transformation.
Interpretation: What the Hanged Man Teaches Us
The Hanged Man is a paradoxical card—its power lies in its contradiction. In a world that prizes action, progress, and control, the Hanged Man whispers another truth: sometimes we must stop to move forward.
1. Surrender and Letting Go
This card often appears when we are being asked to release control or detach from an outcome. It invites a willing sacrifice—whether it’s ego, expectations, or even a relationship or goal—for a higher good.
2. Shifting Perspective
The inversion represents a radical change in perspective. What we once thought was important may no longer matter. What we overlooked might now be seen with startling clarity.
Tarot Tip: When you pull the Hanged Man, ask yourself—what am I resisting? What perspective shift am I being invited into?
3. Spiritual Growth Through Inaction
It can also signify a spiritual pause—a period where external progress stalls so that inner work can flourish. Like a cocoon phase, it may feel like stasis, but profound changes are occurring beneath the surface.
4. Patience and Timing
The Hanged Man also reminds us of divine timing. Not all things can be rushed. Like seeds planted in the earth, some things must be waited on and trusted.
Reversed Meaning: Misaligned Sacrifice or Stagnation
When the Hanged Man appears reversed in a tarot spread, it may suggest:
- Stalling without purpose
- Resistance to change
- Sacrifice without meaning (e.g., staying in a toxic situation believing it’s noble)
- Missing the lesson due to stubbornness or fear
In these moments, the card is a nudge to examine what you’re holding onto—and whether it’s time to release it.
A Portrait of Sacred Stillness
Pamela Colman Smith’s Hanged Man is one of the most spiritually rich cards in the tarot. Her deliberate, symbolic choices challenge the viewer to look past the surface discomfort of the image and discover a deeper serenity within. The card doesn’t glorify suffering—it honors surrender with purpose, stillness with power, and uncertainty as a pathway to insight.
In a culture obsessed with motion, The Hanged Man is a quiet revolution.
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Katrina Rasbold is a professional Witch, published author, priestess, and editor of Green Egg Magazine. She and her husband, Eric, are the creators of the CUSP spiritual path and owners of Crossroads Occult. You can reach her through www.katrinarasbold.com.