The Hanged Man is ruled by Neptune, the planet of self sacrifice and idealism. The numerical value of this card is 13.
A man hangs upside down by one foot from a tree. His leg is bent to form an inverted “4” and his face is peaceful. His hands are bound behind his back. His red pants represent human passion and the physical body. The blue coat is for knowledge and his yellow shoes represent his high ideals. The halo represents spiritual attainment.
The Hanged Man deals with sacrifice, delays and waiting. Since sacrifice can mean giving up one thing of value for another thing of equal or greater value, this card can represent the natural process of giving up what no longer serves you. It is the ideal archetype to meditate on as his attitude is one of acceptance. He has the courage and inner strength to give in to his destiny rather than fight against it.
The message of this card can also mean changes in fortune, with patience and endurance put to the test. It may be that you have to sacrifice something for the greater good in order for your life to move forward.
Key words of the Hanged Man – waiting, sacrifice, patience, willingness to let go