Symbolizing: The Hanged Man

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Thirteen	23 May 2004
And now we get to some of the really cool/sticky ones as we continue to examine the symbolism in the Majors. What you like and what you don't. What you feel ought to be there...or not. For this thread, The Hanged Man. Just answer one or more of the following: 1) What elements from any H.M. card from any deck do you feel BEST symbolize the Hanged Man? (Example: "I like cards which have coins falling out of his pockets.") 2) What elements common to most H.M. cards in most decks do you really feel are all WRONG for the Hanged Man? (Example: "I don't like decks where his hands are bound behind his back.") 3) What symbol have you always felt was right for the Hanged Man, but you've yet to see it? (Example: "I'd like to see the Hanged Man dangling over a waterfall."). You don't have to answer all the above, but do offer some "why's?" as to what you answer. Why don't you/do you like the Hanged Man to be bound? What does his hands being bound mean that it feels/doesn't feel like the Hanged Man card to you?

HudsonGray	24 May 2004
It came up in one of the posts a month or two back--someone had done a Hanged Man card that was totally different. The guy was suspended in water. It was one of those "OH!" moments, something you'd never think of till you saw it & knew it was right. Somehow that image of hanging from the trees was the only limited way I'd seen on that card before. He has to have a peaceful look, for me. A sort of detached from everything expression. The only thing that bothers me about some cards is when the head is looking to be actually lower than ground level. I like it better when he's up in the air more. It seems to be 'lifted above the problems/possibilities', that way.

le pendu	24 May 2004
I like the way he was portrayed in some of the early TdMs... with his "hands" hanging down below his shoulders. I always see it as wings, and think of him as an angel. Here's an example from the Jean Dodal deck from around 1715.

WooMonkey	24 May 2004
I prefer the portrayals of the Hanged Man where he looks calm and accepting of his fate. And I think he needs to be hanging upside down. I don't like decks where he is hanging right side up.

dadsnook2000	25 May 2004
I've long noted that I sleep in the "Hanged Man" position except that my arms and hands are not behind my back (making a triangle) but are over my head -- making the triangle there. It would seem more natural, IMHO, to illustrate the Hanged Man with his hands on his head, fingers intertwined, showing the triangle in that way. Dave.

Moonbow*	30 May 2004
I see that others here have similar likes to me as far as the hanged man goes. I think he should be peaceful and accepting and he should have a calm expression. For me the best ones have their legs in the shape of a 4 and their hands tied behind their back. But I also think to have his arms widespread is ok as long as his expression is one of acceptance and not pain. I don't like to see a hanged man up-right (although in some decks like the Legend Arthurian it is very appropriate to the decks theme). I also don't like to see him with his head on one side - it looks like he is struggling which, to me, misses the whole meaning of the card. Here is a link I found with a few hanged men which may be useful to some: Hanged Man

The Symbolizing: The Hanged Man thread was originally posted on 23 May 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.