The Hanged Man

2021-06-21 · philosophy

I have always wondered about The Hanged Man.

He is hanging upside-down, viewing the world from a completely different perspective, and his facial expression is calm and serene, suggesting that he is in this hanging position by his own choice. He has a halo around his head, symbolizing new insight, awareness, and silly enlightenment. His right foot is bound to the tree, but his left foot remains free, bent at the knee and tucked in behind his right leg. His arms are bent, with hands held behind his back, forming an inverted triangle.

The Hanged Man, as I see it, represents the surrender to the human inability of being great, of being part of history. It feels as if he put effort, surely not a little effort but a considerable amount, he would be free.

However, he just doesn't. He is just a clown.