the hanged man

the fool's journey - contributed by Anya Gascoine

Looking at life differently is something we rarely do, especially when faced with a dilemma or problem. Instead, we tend to stick to what we know and create security and safety with the familiar and trusted. As such when it comes to finding solutions or a way forward we can sometimes get stuck, with no perceived way out. This is where The Hanged Man will often appear in a reading, and The Fool’s interaction with The Hanged Man teaches him some very valuable and important lessons that we could all do well to take on board.

The mythology of The Hanged Man is connected with the story of Odin, the Norse God who, in order to reach the sacred runes in the centre of the earth, hung upside down from the Ygrasdil Tree, removed his own eye and threw it down to the guardian of the runes. As the guardian grabbed the eye, Odin was able to reach and take out the runes, which then gave him and his people not just a divination system but a language. From this story we see two themes, one of sacrifice (removal of Odin’s eye) and one of finding a new perspective in order to reach a goal.

Until he hung upside down from the tree, Odin had no idea how he would reach down into the earth, least of all how he could distract the guardian of the runes. Sacrifice and perspective do not always have to go hand in hand though - The Fool learns this when he first meets The Hanged Man. After all he is not missing an eye, nor does he seem unduly uncomfortable or in distress; in fact, in most decks The Hanged Man has a degree of serenity about him, as though looking at the world from a new perspective has given him a sense of calm.

Life does not have to continue along the same path forever, there are always new routes presented, new choices and unexpected changes. Coping and embracing these can be difficult, but if it feels too much to bear, try stepping back and look at it from a different angle.

Anya Gascoine is an endorsed tarot reader and member of the Tarot Association of the British Isles. She has been reading the tarot for over 15 years, and has an extensive knowledge of all things mystical and esoteric. To read more about the mystical arts visit her website at http://www.innermoo.co.uk where you can join a forum, subscribe to a newsletter, read about many interesting subjects and even buy readings online!

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