Death and Hanged Man cards

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Dec 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

RaggedShoreline	05 Dec 2004
For several weeks now, I have noticed the Death and The Hanged Man coming in a pair at me, especially when asking anything of a spiritual nature. I asked for any allies concerning my personal problems and the Death card came twice. Death and the Hanged Man basically mean the same thing right? Shedding old habits? Does anyone have any insight on this?

NewWithCards	06 Dec 2004
i'm very new, so this is just a semi blind shot....realization of change??big change...

contradiction	06 Dec 2004
you have the right idea, in combining the meanings of the two cards, to me death signifies change, an end to one thing the beginning of another, after all one thing can not end without another beginning. the hanged man, is at a crossroad, and must make a decision, i usually use one word to describe him, confusion. it seems you are facing a change in your life, and are unsure which way to go. but it is a decision you must make, because at this point not making a decision, will be making a decision to remain as you are. best of luck in your quest. contradiction

Francesca	06 Dec 2004
Yes, you are coming up to some major milestone, but I think that any changes that happen, you will have to make on your own and willingly understanding that you are about to start on a difficult patch of whatever road you are on. The Hanged Man suggests that the choice is completely in your hands. You can decide to make the change and weather the consequences, or keep your status quo and weather the consequences of that choice. Francesca

ros	06 Dec 2004
How about the change is temporarily suspended and meditation is needed. (at a crossroad a choice has to be made)

Alice	06 Dec 2004
To me it would seem that death would show a change and an end to something very major in your life while the hanged man would means that you would have to sacrafice something for this end of a cycle to result in something good. I also see the hanged man as a sign that you should take the time to think through your actions before you make any life altering desisions. Alice

Phaedra	06 Dec 2004
Death is the end of something in the natural order of things. Everything dies. This year's roses cannot stay, no matter how lovely. The garden goes brown until the spring. But understanding this does not mean you will not grieve. The Hanged Man is self-chosen change. The Hanged Man is now looking at the world from a 180 degrees different view. What happens if you like that view better? Maybe it's safer never to look at things from a different angle; then you can just keep going on as you are going. Who knows what you might be required to give up or change in order to live in a different world view? The Hanged Man has accepted that risk. The Hanged Man is willing to give up, to sacrifice, that which prevents him from living in the new world view. In the face of the inevitable change presented by Death, you have the opportunity to reassess your own world view. Look at things as you have not allowed yourself to look before. Yes, you may have to sacrifice, to give up something that once was precious or necessary, but the very fact that you are willing to look, says you are willing to take that risk. The Hanged Man, in the face of Death, may find that the upright world is the one he really wants after all. But he'll never know for sure until he risks that peek.

Imagemaker	06 Dec 2004
I've always seen these as Phaedra stated--a transforming change plus taking a completely different perspective on things (which may include voluntary sacrifice). The tower can include both of these, only it comes as an (inflicted) outside shock. Death and Hanged Man can be a personal choice.

Seed Crystal	07 Dec 2004
Change approaches, big change, life milestone change. Whether and how you are transformed is up to you. There might be sacrifices, but new awareness and wisdom and tools can be achieved. Don't forget to breathe.

Thirteen	07 Dec 2004
I think all the intepetations so far are right on the money, especially Phaedra's. I think the only thing that hasn't been mentioned is that you should be prepared to wait. You say that you've been asking questions of a spiritual nature. It would seem that yes, new spirituality is coming your way--but with the Death card, you are often brought low by the end of something. You have to spend some grieving time, some time feeling that you are in a bleak, winter landscape, before you come upon that fresh, new something that will fill the void. Likewise, the Hanged Man spends his time not only seeing thing from a new perspective, but also waiting, suspended. When he knows what sacrifice he has to make, and is willing to make it, then things move on. Till then, they hang. You might want to hold off on asking the cards about spirituality, or doing whatever you usually do spiritually. You may feel, in this holiday season, strangely hollow and empty, distant from other folk, as if you see the world in a way they do not. Don't be scared. This is your waiting period--like winter, the ground must remain fallow for a bit before seeds can be planted and grow. Suspension is hard, but if the time isn't right yet, it's not right yet. You'll now when it is right, and you'll know what to do. And the change will come.

Adjustment	08 Dec 2004
Thirteen wrote: You say that you've been asking questions of a spiritual nature. It would seem that yes, new spirituality is coming your way--but with the Death card, you are often brought low by the end of something. You have to spend some grieving time, some time feeling that you are in a bleak, winter landscape, before you come upon that fresh, new something that will fill the void. Likewise, the Hanged Man spends his time not only seeing thing from a new perspective, but also waiting, suspended. When he knows what sacrifice he has to make, and is willing to make it, then things move on. Till then, they hang. You might want to hold off on asking the cards about spirituality, or doing whatever you usually do spiritually. You may feel, in this holiday season, strangely hollow and empty, distant from other folk, as if you see the world in a way they do not. Don't be scared. This is your waiting period--like winter, the ground must remain fallow for a bit before seeds can be planted and grow. Suspension is hard, but if the time isn't right yet, it's not right yet. You'll now when it is right, and you'll know what to do. And the change will come. I love your take on this 2 cards thirteen.

casia	13 Dec 2004
Phaedra wrote: In the face of the inevitable change presented by Death, you have the opportunity to reassess your own world view. Look at things as you have not allowed yourself to look before. Yes, you may have to sacrifice, to give up something that once was precious or necessary, but the very fact that you are willing to look, says you are willing to take that risk. The Hanged Man, in the face of Death, may find that the upright world is the one he really wants after all. But he'll never know for sure until he risks that peek. I like this interpretation.....

CloeCat	18 Dec 2004
One more look at the Hanged man. I do not see this anywhere so here goes. sometimes when I get the Hanged Man its speakes of having already scraficed but that the seeker has been at it to long and has not taken their life back, just another view. Many purrrs, CloeCat

other	20 Dec 2004
Thirteen wrote: I think all the intepetations so far are right on the money, especially Phaedra's. I think the only thing that hasn't been mentioned is that you should be prepared to wait. You say that you've been asking questions of a spiritual nature. It would seem that yes, new spirituality is coming your way--but with the Death card, you are often brought low by the end of something. You have to spend some grieving time, some time feeling that you are in a bleak, winter landscape, before you come upon that fresh, new something that will fill the void. Likewise, the Hanged Man spends his time not only seeing thing from a new perspective, but also waiting, suspended. When he knows what sacrifice he has to make, and is willing to make it, then things move on. Till then, they hang. I started a thread in another forum about coming out of my Hanged Man Year and entering into my Death Year and, yes, it is very much about change... Unfortunately, I didn't know any of this while I was going through it! I think the whole Arcana/Year interp. is very helpful in giving us direction and focus and faith that no state or time or period we're in is permanent. For example, I had a very painful, difficult year and I decided to go into therapy and do some very hard work on myself. That was a choice. At the time, I was so focused on my pain, that I rarely took the time to pat myself on the back for taking that first step. So, while you're not necessarily in the HM or Death Year, you do seem to be in and of a moment of letting go of something, which will inevitably make way for something new. What are everyone's thoughts on the Death card? Primarily positive?

Phaedra	21 Dec 2004
other wrote: I started a thread in another forum about coming out of my Hanged Man Year and entering into my Death Year and, yes, it is very much about change... Unfortunately, I didn't know any of this while I was going through it! I think the whole Arcana/Year interp. is very helpful in giving us direction and focus and faith that no state or time or period we're in is permanent. For years I've done New Year's Day readings for myself and friends and family. It's interesting to look back at them. other wrote: What are everyone's thoughts on the Death card? Primarily positive? Positive, but certainly not in the sense of upbeat. I read Death as natural, inevitable endings. Seasons change. Flowers fade. People (and pets and love affairs and dreams) do die. The Death card is acceptance of the ending (serious lack of accepting would be the Tower) with the accompanying sadness and grief. I tell my clients to give themselves permission to grieve and to process the sadness. That is part of moving on.

The Death and Hanged Man cards thread was originally posted on 05 Dec 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.