Known also as the Spirit of the Mighty Waters and ruled by the Element of Water, The Hanged Man represents letting go, breaking through old patterns and sacrificing something to achieve something of greater value. The Hanged Man has links to Nordic mythology in the trials of Odin who willingly hung himself on the Tree of Life for nine nights and emerged with the knowledge of the Runes and other wisdom. In this regard he is a Shaman who faces the unknown with its risks and also with its gifts. When contemplating the imagery of the card, at first appearances it looks rather dire. But if you turn the card upside down, and look at the man's countenance, he is rarely looking distressed - in fact he looks quite peaceful. There is a clue here. The Hanged Man represents sacrifice yes, but it is a willing sacrifice and so should not be feared, rather it is a time to contemplate what no longer serves you in your life and what you should relinquish in order to bring in new energy and possibilities. He can represent having reached a point where there is nowhere to go with one's will - there is something greater to which you must surrender, while admitting that you have nothing left but to let go. But it is in the letting go that allows new forms and possibilities to arise and out of that comes new life and new inspiration. He can also bring a time of waiting, where nothing you do - no coaxing or cajoling or wishing or praying - will make things go any faster. Again there is an attitude of surrender that is required in order to go forward in the end, and all the demands of the ego are useless. “Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to.” ― Mitch Albom Image "The Hanged Man" © sceithailm.deviantart.com
