By Lorraine Kemble
Image from the RWS Tarot
12. The Hanged Man
Rachel feels confined with her inner thoughts and, becomes quite overwhelmed. Her mother, Frances, has arrived from Australia without warning. Her mother merely speaks to her and when it suits her, for her ends. She has given her no stability and support, over the years which Rachel finds emotionally challenging to handle. A repeating visualization is the image of a double-edged sword and it's unbelievable how vulnerable she still feels towards any being. There are guilt and threat towards anyone whom Rachel views as menacing.
The Fool settles beneath a tree, intent on finding his spiritual self. There he stays for nine days, without eating, barely moving. People pass by him, animals and all the Elements of Nature. On the ninth day, with no conscious thought, he climbs the tree and dangles from a branch upside down. He surrenders all that he is, wants, knows or cares about. Coins fall from his pockets and as he gazes down; seeing them not as money, yet, only as round pieces of metal. His perspective of the world changes as if his inverted position has allowed him to dangle between the mundane world and the spiritual world, able to see both.
The Hanged Man reveals a man, upside-down, from the living World Tree, rooted in the underworld and supporting the heavens. He is serenely intent on hanging to the tree of his own will. His right foot is bound to the tree, yet his left foot remains free, bent at the knee and tucked in behind his right leg. His bent arms, with hands held behind his back, form an inverted triangle. The man is wearing red pants, symbolizing human passions, a blue coat for knowledge, and yellow shoes represent his high ideals. Around The Hanged Man's head is a yellow halo, indicating spiritual attainment. This shows surrender, of being suspended in time and martyrdom to the greater good. It is the archetype upon which to meditate, breaking well-worn patterns of restrictive behavior.
The Hanged Man’s number is twelve – a higher octave of the number three, representing careful planning and orderly growth leading to spiritual development. 1= beginning + 2, the reasoning force = 3, the product of rebirth.
The ruling planet is Neptune, the planet of self-sacrifice and idealism.
The previous installment can be found in the December 2019 issue of Tarot Reflections. Watch for the next installment in the February issue.