Ruby Jewel
One of the original names of the card was "The Traitor" and his position is how traitors were hung in Italy. Upside down by one foot.
Let's start there. The idea here is that the "Traitor" sees things very differently from the status quo. And the status quo (those in charge at least) hang him up so he won't influence others and change the way things are. Remember that the card indicates "sacrifice" as well as a new perspective. One person's "traitor" is another's "rebel leader" and rebels need to be willing to "sacrifice" themselves in order to turn things upside down. Shake up the status quo.
In fact, during the American Revolution, the British forces sung a song about the "world being turned upside down" meaning that the rebels (as they saw the American colonists) were trying to turn things topsy turvy by putting common folk in charge rather than obeying a king. That, to them, was all horribly wrong. But, obviously, to certain Americans, it was not. And every American leader risked being hung (literally executed) when they signed their named to the Declaration of Indepenence, if they were captured by the British. To the British, they were all traitors to the Crown.
SO. The card may not *literally* have to do with being a traitor or rebel or getting hung up for it. But metaphorically, it's very aptly connected to those old roots of how "traitors" were hung up (willing to be hung up, to sacrifice themselves to get across their opposing views). Note that the Hanged Man is always pictured as "serene" and never in distress. Those in charge are trying to dissuade others from seeing things his way...i.e. "Upside down." But they'd just advertised his position by hanging him up this way. They are making his point.
Thanks for this "teaching." It is one I won't forget. On a different level, the card seems to imply an even deeper meaning by the halo around his head....as if he were being "enlightened" in some way. I also like to see him as the last card (12) before going into the "Dark Night of the Soul" or what is often called "The Night Sea Journey" of cards 13 through 18, and coming out of the Moon card to become a newborn child in the Sun card (19)....which could be considered a reference to this halo...would love to hear your thoughts on this.