Card Name: The Hanged Man
Corresponding Card: 8 Strength
Corresponding Astrological Sign: Pisces
Corresponding Figure: Prometheus
Element: Water
Key Words: Sacrifice, Waiting, Self-restraint, Retreat to Advance, Perspective-taking
Strengthening Cards: The Fool, The High Priestess, Strength, Five of Swords, Ten of Swords

Related Myths

Prometheus, a descendant of the earliest Titans and one of the wisest deities. Prometheus was the son of Iapetus, a Titan, and Clymene, a goddess of fame. When Zeus led an army to overthrow the Titans, Prometheus stood on Zeus's side and provided him with a lot of help, so he was greatly favored by Zeus. Prometheus created humans in his own image using clay (only men), and after the new Olympian gods came to power, they began to pay attention to human activities, demanding that humans respect them in return for protection from the gods. Prometheus stood on the side of humanity, hoping that Zeus and the other gods would not impose excessive sacrificial demands on humans. Clever Prometheus represented humans in offering a bull that had been divided into two parts, with the smaller part covered with beef and internal organs wrapped in hide, and the larger part covered with fat. Zeus saw through Prometheus's trickery, but Prometheus was unaware. Zeus chose the larger portion, only to find out that he had been deceived, and thus decided to retaliate against Prometheus. He refused to provide humans with the essential fire. However, to help humans, Prometheus devised a way to steal the fire. With fire, humans developed rapidly. Enraged, Zeus ordered a mountain god to chain Prometheus to a tree on the Caucasus Mountains and have a hungry eagle eat his liver every day. As a god, Prometheus's liver would grow back, but this did not mean he would not feel pain. Thus, Prometheus endured great suffering every day. But for the sake of humanity, he voluntarily suffered these hardships without ever bowing to Zeus. Finally, Heracles, while completing his twelve tasks, passed by the Caucasus Mountains and rescued Prometheus, killing the eagle and having his teacher Chiron take Prometheus's place as a substitute.

Card Description

The image shows a man whose hands are tied behind his back, hanging upside down on a T-shaped tree trunk. The man’s hands, bound in a triangle, and his legs crossed in a cross form a Western alchemical symbol, indicating the completion of a great undertaking and also implying a process of rising from lower desires to moral elevation. The color changes from top to bottom (red pants, blue shirt, and golden halo) correspond with the three-tiered headpiece of a priest and the three concentric circles in the Wheel of Fate, representing the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions respectively. This sequence highlights the significance of perspective-taking. The golden shoes on his feet not only indicate the noble spirit of sacrifice but also foretell the position of morality (or ethics), emphasizing that even when taking another's perspective, morality remains the highest priority.

Upright Card Meaning

Meaning

Represents: Accepting trials, limited actions, sacrifice, not fearing hardship, not being tempted by benefits, loss and gain, learning from experience, rebirth from fire, broad learning, and loving dedication.
* A time for reflection, focusing on a certain ideal or belief, resting to gain inner wisdom. 
Love and Marriage: Misunderstandings deepen with explanations, selfless love, love through perspective-taking, love that withstands tests, giving up love for the other's happiness.
Work and Study: Effort leads to success, suitable for welfare or voluntary work, perspective-taking helps solve problems.
Relationships and Wealth: Spending money to avoid misfortune, losing money by helping others, often playing the role of a loser, difficult interpersonal situations.
Health and Life: Long-term recovery needed to regain health, facing illness bravely and strongly.
Other: Re-evaluate yourself and surrounding things, perseverance leads to victory.

Card Interpretation References

1. A period of ongoing transition.
2. Sacrifice with payment. Indicates loss before gain.
3. Change in thinking.
4. Seeing the issue from another angle.
5. Peace after decision-making. Quietly waiting for a change in circumstances.
6. Making a sacrifice for one's ideals, knowing it will be hard but still working hard.
7. Having a repentant mindset.
8. Making adjustments.
9. In love, a state of reflection, calm and peaceful inside.

Reversed Card Meaning

Meaning

Represents: Useless sacrifice, broken bones, bad luck, lack of effort, being at a disadvantage, capriciousness, selfishness, lack of patience, punishment, avoiding love, love without results
* Unable to gain freedom beyond social pressure, selfishness, role-playing self-imposed limits.
Love and Marriage: Love that does not bring returns, no potential for development, unworthy object of devotion, losing patience with feelings, lingering attachments.
Work and Study: Unable to tolerate harsh environments, passive work situation, effort without reward, reversal of fortune, disorganized speech, considering only one's own interests, declining grades, lack of progress, failed exams.
Relationships and Wealth: Emotional expenses, extravagance, uncostly giving, selfishness, hesitant interactions, worrying unnecessarily.
Health and Life: Easy to break bones, prone to numbness in limbs due to poor blood circulation, existing illness may worsen due to negligence.
Other: Wasted efforts, detached from reality, lack of action, annoying obligations.