12 – The Hanged Man
Traditionally, the Hanged Man shows a man hanging upside down from a live tree whose branches form a “T” shape. His right ankle is secured with rope. The inverted posture suggests a change in perspective, while the bondage signifies a deliberate pause taken to re-evaluate one’s life. The free left leg, forming the number “four,” suggests that he still retains the ability to break free from this self-imposed restraint.
Although the historical imagery of this card is compelling, nothing about it has ever made sense to me, including the shape of the tree. A figure hanging by one foot reads as torture. I can find no convincing historical or mythological context in which such an act would be voluntary or enlightening. I can visualize how he might have gotten into this position by himself, but he would need help to get free. In short, everything about this card feels contrived and contradictory to the card’s core meaning.
For my interpretation, I wanted the suspension to be painless and voluntary. I also wanted the means of release to be easily accomplished, because the pause represented by the Hanged Man is not imposed from outside. It is an internal decision to stop, to change one’s perspective, and to suspend motion until the mind has achieved a heightened consciousness. To express these concepts, I re-imagined the figure as an aerialist.
An aerialist hangs upside down with strength and self-mastery. He is completely in control of his bindings, and he uses the intentional stillness and positioning of his body to engage them. They hold him, working with him as supports rather than restraints. This returns agency to the figure and speaks more clearly to the central meaning of the card. It is a card of deliberate action, calm reflection, and conscious choice.
Costuming was an important part of making this idea legible. By dressing the figure in tights and leaving his chest bare, he is immediately recognized as a performer. His body is lean, strong, and fully engaged. We recognize immediately that this is a man who can use his skill to hold any position he chooses with ease and grace.
Establishing a believable setting for my aerialist also presented a challenge. I wanted the structure from which the figure was hanging to be present, but not distracting. I wanted to create a scene that was rich and expansive, but also serene and meditative. I found the perfect image among the photographs I had taken at the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual winter light show. By compositing multiple photos of the lights, I was able to express the altered viewpoint the inversion creates.
In this card, the Hanged Man is not bound by outside forces but held in balance by the tension he creates with bindings he controls. This card is about letting go of mental limitations, tuning out distractions, and gaining insight by changing perspective. It is about being open to wonder and seeing the world with fresh eyes.
work in progress
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