Tarot Card Interpretation & Meaning - (12) The Hanged Man Reversed
General: When the Hanged Man shows in reverse, it’s possible that the time has come to let go of an outdated attitude, situation, or friendship. Think things through first, of course, but be aware that a sensible sacrifice made now of something that no longer works for you will open up your life to something even more positive than what you “let go of.” In reversal, this card particularly encourages you to not fight change.
Work: If things are not going well at work when this card appears, it’s important that you resist the temptation to blame everything and everyone besides yourself. At the same time it’s important that you don’t blame yourself for everything and paralyze yourself from being able to move forward. You may need to ultimately change something major about your current work; give some thought to what your “ideal” situation may look like.
Love: Again, when it comes to the Hanged Man in reverse, the theme is generally (and more emphatically) one of letting go. You may need to “let go” of a vision of a particular kind of relationship or a relationship with a certain person as being “the only way that you can be happy.” If you’re in a long-term relationship, it too may well be at a crossroads. There’s no need to freak out if the latter is the case, just take some time to think about some subtle cues which you may have been getting. Don’t ignore them.
Finances: When the Hanged Man is reversed, you may be unsure about what to do with regard to your financial situation. One of the most important things to realize now is that you are NOT alone and you don’t have to try to do everything on your own. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need it. At the same time, as with the upright meaning, If things are tight financially, (yet you still have some resources remaining) this is an important time to “open up the flow” of prosperity by giving away some of what you have, even if all you have is a piece of bread. If that’s the case, know that there is someone nearby who would probably give their right arm to share that piece of bread with you. Find them, and share it. Something as simple as this may start the wheels turning to bring your “prosperity” into better times. We are all in this life together.
Health: When this card appears in reverse and you've not been feeling well,this can be a very important time to consider some radical changes in your habits to see how it affects your health and if it improves it. (With your medical practitioner’s blessing, of course.) For example, many people have found that their health improves markedly when they completely stop any intake of dairy food or meat or nightshade vegetables. You may change your mind radically about something that you think is wrong with you physically. As with the upright meaning, if you are not feeling well, give it some deep thought, do some research. It’s possible that something you thought you understood could best be treated in another way. Listen to your body and what it’s telling you, and consider the potential spiritual relationship to any physical symptoms.
Spirituality: When this card appears in reverse in relation to spirituality, old messages we received as children can be coming back to haunt us. This is especially true for those raised in fundamentalist or evangelical religions. Examine your long-held beliefs and see if they withstand the light of day. Ideally spirituality is a process and a growth. Concepts that were complete enough when you were twelve years old may not be so complete today. Don’t hesitate to reach out and study with others- consider their spiritual points of view and see what rings true for you.