Tarot lessons – Page 7 – Just the Tarot

Getting Real – The Hanged Man

An exploration of the loss of false identity and the need to create an authentic self as exemplified in The Hanged Man tarot card.

I said in my original definition of The Hanged Man that having this archetype blow through your life is a lot like getting hit in the face with a two by four. It involves an experience that is so painful, so truly devastating that you have to totally reevaluate how you relate to life and the souls around you.

In other words, you have to have a new framework for your existence.

We tend to focus on the central figure of The Hanged Man – the individual hanging from one foot with his hands tied behind him – and not see the background of the picture which includes the frame from which he is hanging. The frame, though, is every bit as important as the person.

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A.E. Waite chose to design the frame in a shape which is very much like a cross and evocative of Jesus, but that’s not how the frame was shown in the older cards. It normally consisted of two living trees, one on each side, with a beam laid across their tops. It wasn’t a cross and had zippity doo dah to do with Jesus.

We can, perhaps, get a better grasp of what the inventors of the Tarot were getting at if we look at The Hanged Man from the old Marseille deck.

The name is Le Pendu, the hanging one. It’s related to a slew of our modern words such as pendant, pendulum, dependent, and depend. The commonality is that they all describe something that hangs from something else.

We all have a central point that our worlds (as we perceive them) hang from. You might call it your, “identity.” Or perhaps your, “social fabric.” It’s made up of a myriad of factors that, blended together, make up the way that we see the world and our places in it.

“I’m a conservative hispanic catholic from New Mexico.”

“I’m a liberal jew from Marin County.”

“I’m an african american wiccan from Alabama.”

There are literally millions upon millions of variations, with each of us picking out and identifying with the things that make us feel unique and influence the way we perceive the world and our lives. “This is who I am.”

The Hanged Man has had a forced realization that everything he believed in, everything he thought of as, “myself,” was an illusion. Maybe it was a divorce that caused him to see that. Maybe it was the death of a child. Maybe it was an illness. Whatever it was he KNOWS that his previous life wasn’t real.

No, you aren’t your sports car because that can be taken away from you.

And you aren’t your house.

Or your brand new computer.

Or your family.

Or your religion.

Or even the color of your skin because, in case you haven’t noticed, you’re not taking that with you when you leave this beautiful world.

The Hanged Man has had that kind of a shocking realization. That none of it’s really REAL. Everything he dePENDED on can vanish in the blink of an eye. Everything he hung his identity from was an illusion. He’ll never see the world in the same way again.

And now he has to put himself back together, only this time in a way that IS real and that can’t be taken away from him. He needs to reclaim his soul.

When you look at the trees in the old Marseille card it’s obvious that the branches have been cut off. Everything that was once his life has been pruned away. BUT . . . the tips of the branches also look very much like buds in the Spring. Full of life and ready to grow again.

Here’s how Eckhart Tole put it in The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment:

“Ego is no more than identification with form, which primarily means thought forms . . . What a liberation to realize that, ‘the voice in my head,’ is not who I am. Who am I then? The one who sees that.”

That’s the Hanged Man.

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The High Priestess and Growing Your Intuition

A discussion of intuition as a function of the right hemisphere of the brain making sudden contact with the left hemisphere and The High Priestess as a representation of that mid-brain connection.

The High Priestess represents our connection with what some people call, “deep mind.” She is our – frequently unconscious – connection with the higher realms of spirit and magic. She is the exact point where the truth travels through the creative, feminine right brain and emerges in consciousness in the linear, masculine left brain as a flash of, “intuition.”

It all sounds very complicated but it’s not. It’s actually hardwired into our system but we’ve taught ourselves to ignore it. Our language, however, is replete with phrases describing it.

“I had a hunch . . .”

“I just had a feeling . . .”

“Something told me . . .”

“I just knew . . .”

What all of that describes is suddenly reaching a firm, undoubtable conclusion without any preceding rational thought. And, yes, it seems magical for exactly that reason: it seems to burst out of nowhere.

Another way that it manifests is as a, “sixth sense.”

If you’re hiking in the woods and a predator is watching you, you somehow, “know,” it and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Combat soldiers describe the same feelings just before the enemy starts shooting at them.

A classic example is thinking of someone you haven’t seen in years and the phone suddenly rings and it’s them.

A silly example is that if a man is walking behind a woman and stares at her butt she will always know that someone is staring at her butt. I don’t know how women do that, but it’s true.

Now, to a rationalist all of that is impossible. You can’t, “sense,” that a mountain lion is watching you or that a guy is staring at your butt or that an old friend is about to call. But we still do. It happens and we all KNOW that it happens.

So, two thoughts on, “intuition,” that we should probably keep in mind. First of all, we live in a society that denigrates it and treats it as if it’s irrational. It’s not irrational, it’s NON rational, or perhaps META rational. It has nothing to do with the left brain, logical, linear thinking process that the western world worships. It, “arrives,” out of thin air, like a telegram from an angel. But it’s also not a metaphysical belief.

It’s important to be clear about metaphysical beliefs. I’ve known christian fundamentalists who believed that Jesus is right there at their sides 24/7 to solve each and every problem that they’ll ever have. And that this beautiful world of ours is positively dripping with devils and demons who have nothing better to do than make people have, “impure thoughts,” about their neighbor’s wives.

I think fundamentalists are total fruit cakes but, hey, they’re welcome to believe whatever they want.

I believe in ghosts and spirit guides and totem animals and the Goddess, and I’m sure the christian fundamentalists think I’m a total fruit cake.

The point with either set of beliefs is that they are metaphysical and totally unprovable one way or the other. They are NOT demonstrable facts. They are beliefs.

Intuition, on the other hand, operates daily in the physical world. There are millions of reported incidents of it and anyone who says it’s not real is either in denial or an idiot.

Second, we can all do it. And we can get better at it. That’s important.

We tend to think that some people are psychic and some people aren’t. Some people can read Tarot cards and some people can’t. Some people can achieve enlightenment and some people never will.

It’s not true. It’s just a function of time and effort. I guarantee you that if you sit down every day and concentrate on your brow chakra for 15 minutes you WILL start to see some magical, astral scenes. If you read Tarot cards over a period of time you WILL become more psychic.

It’s exactly the same deal with intuition. It’s something that you were born with and it’s just a matter of practicing. Start paying a little more attention to your feelings. Start asking the universe (or your angels or your spirit guides or your totem animals) for answers when you’re puzzled about something. And the answers will appear. Just like magic.

You are The High Priestess. You just forgot.

Queen of Pentacles

The meaning of the Queen of Pentacles in a Tarot reading, with definitions for both the upright and reversed positions.

A crowned woman sits on a heavily carved throne adorned with goats and cherubs. She is surrounded by a lush garden and gazes down at a pentacle which she holds in her lap. A rabbit is hopping by in the lower corner of the card.

Upright: This is a very sensuous, materialistic woman. Since this is the Queen of Pentacles, the suit of money and possessions, we know that both of those are very important to this woman. Beyond that, though, there is an awareness of the fact that money really represents the good things in life that money can buy. This is a woman who enjoys – and expects – the finer things in life. A nice car, a lovely home, a good income, and, yes, probably a very nice garden.

And with the goats on the throne and the rabbit at her feet we can interpret that there is a very strong element of sexuality to this woman. Among the other fine things she expects and enjoys are good lovers and slow, delicious love making.

On a mundane level, look for a woman who possesses and excellent business sense and knows how to turn money into more money.

Reversed: A tough, resilient business woman who is willing to get down in the ditches and fight it out hand to hand. Very good with money but there is a hard, materialistic edge to her soul.

EXAMPLES: A middle aged business woman who lives happily alone in a beautiful home and enjoys sharing her bed with the occasional lover.

A sensual, beautiful wife who EXPECTS to be supported in a luxurious manner because she’s damned well worth it.

Knight of Pentacles

The meaning of the Knight of Pentacles in a Tarot reading with definitions for both the upright and reversed positions.

A heavily armored man sits astride an immobile horse. He holds a pentacle aloft in his gloved hand. Sprigs of greenery are attached to his helmet and to the mane of the horse. A plowed field stretches out behind him.

Upright: A good money card, though hardly exciting or glamorous. Unlike the Knight of Swords, this Knight isn’t going anywhere. He sits still, solidly planted on his very solid looking horse. The plowed field represents the routine, day to day, hard work that’s necessary to bring projects to fruition. This card shows a dependable, hard working individual who takes care of details and keeps money coming in.

On a mundane level, this may show the presence of a young, conservative individual in the questioners life.

Reversed: Problems with money due to the disruption of the daily routine. A young, conservative person who is causing problems in the questioners life.

EXAMPLES: The single mother or father who reliably shows up for work every day, does the job with no drama or complaints, and put food on the table and shoes on the baby.

A college student who grinds his or her way through to a PhD by taking a few courses every year while working a full time job.

Page of Pentacles

The meaning of the Page of Pentacles in a Tarot Reading, including definitions for both the upright and reversed positions.

A young man in a fancy hat stands in a beautiful field and holds a single pentacle aloft with both hands.

Upright: Good news about business ventures is on the way. Look for the possibility of a promotion or a raise.

There may be a young person present in the questioners life who is doing exceptionally well. Perhaps graduating with honors or receiving a scholarship.

Reversed: Financial news may be discouraging for a brief period of time. The young person may be experiencing difficulties rather than honors.

EXAMPLES: A fairly junior employee who is promoted for doing excellent work.

A young man or woman who totally nails the college entrance exams.

Ten of Pentacles

The meaning of the Ten of Pentacles in a Tarot reading, with definitions for both the upright and reversed positions.

An elderly, bearded man draped in a shawl sits and pets some dogs. A man, a woman and a child stand just beyond him and the child reaches out to touch one of the dogs. A tower and part of a castle complex are visible through an archway and ten pentacles are arranged in the pattern of the tree of life.

Upright: This is the end of the pentacle or money cycle and indicates good fortune and financial success. There is a strong, multi-generational presence of family in the card so it may indicate a family owned business which has done very well. The elderly man may point toward a happy, secure retirement.

Reversed: Money is on the way. It may be of the unexpected sort such as winning a lottery. May point toward securing a good pension and medical benefits.

EXAMPLES: A family owned store that is thriving and expanding.

Turning your business over to your children or grandchildren and entering a happy, well deserved retirement.

Nine of Pentacles

The meaning of the Nine of Pentacles in a Tarot reading, with definitions for both the upright and reversed positions.

A woman in a long, flowing robe stands in a garden surrounded by pentacles. Her left hand is covered with a heavy leather glove and a bind folded hawk perches there.

Upright: A card of financial success with an emphasis on the home. Perhaps redecorating or redesigning the questioners residence. There is also an odd element of a lack of freedom here. Possibly someone who has compromised his or her desires for freedom in order to have security. In any case the card is very positive in terms of money.

Reversed: Bad news financially. If the questioner is involved in some sort of money making project she should cut her losses and walk away. Continued efforts along these lines can lead to financial ruin.

EXAMPLES: The trophy wife who has oodles of cash and a brand new luxury car but is very much under the thumb of her husband.

A writer or artist who has given up his creative ambitions but is still doing very well financially.

Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles in a Tarot reading, including definitions for both the upright and reversed positions.

A craftsman sits astride a wooden bench carving a pentacle into a tablet. Six pentacles are displayed on an upright beam and one lies on the ground.

Upright: Profiting from your skills. Learning new skills that will advance your career. Possible promotions or awards at work.

Reversed: Employment problems that may involve a need for retraining or learning new job skills. Possibly the questioners position being eliminated or some sort of a reshuffle of employees that will place him or her in a job requiring different skills.

EXAMPLES: The office worker who knows how to do ALL of the jobs at the office and gets promoted to supervisor as a result.

An apprentice electrician, carpenter, or plumber who is studying at night to get his contractors license.

Seven of Pentacles

The meaning of the Seven of Pentacles in a Tarot reading, including definitions for both the upright and reversed positions.

A man leans against a hoe, resting and contemplating a plant that is covered in seven pentacles.

Upright: Anyone who is a gardener will understand this card immediately. Achievement and success as a result of sustained work and careful planning. This card emphasizes the need to keep working on things on a daily basis and the questioners efforts will ultimately bear fruit.

Reversed: A long period of hard work that isn’t ready to pay off yet. Wait for more developments.

EXAMPLES: A small business owner who has worked meticulously over the years and is seeing her business profit and grow.

An artist or writer who has slowly but surely acquired new techniques over a period of years and is now a master at his craft.

Six of Pentacles

The meaning of the Six of Pentacles in a Tarot reading, including definitions for the upright and reversed positions.

A richly dressed man drops coins into the hands of a beggar who kneels at his feet and holds a perfectly balanced scale with the other hand. Another beggar kneels on the other side of him, hands outstretched. Six pentacles are displayed above the scene.

Upright: A loss of money. The questioner has to pay out a fair amount of his resources to cover bills or debts. There is a sense of stinginess here, of giving but not with a willing heart. Of carefully measuring out what the person is willing share and not giving one dime more. Probably bad times coming financially.

Reversed: There has been a bad stretch financially but it will be ending soon. Possibly new resources and helpful people on the way.

EXAMPLES: A bad divorce where a person ends up paying large amounts of spousal and child support and has very little left over to live on.

Losing your ass in the stock market and having to radically adjust your lifestyle downward.