12 The Hanged Man

For The Hanged Man, I circle right back to Dr Strange because before he was the Sorcerer Supreme, he had to hit pause, let go and see the world from a whole new angle (sometimes literally, courtesy of a trippy astral push out of his body). The Hanged Man is about surrender, patience and opening your mind to possibilities you never imagined, which is basically Dr Strange’s whole origin story.

He goes from stubborn control freak to mystical upside-down genius, realising that sometimes you have to stop fighting, hang in the unknown and trust the process. Only then does true magic kick in.

In short, Dr Strange is The Hanged Man because transformation begins the moment you stop struggling and dare to see things differently.

UPRIGHT - This is the sacred pause, when forward motion halts so understanding can catch up. The Hanged Man invites you to release expectations and allow a shift in perception. You don’t need to act right now; you need to see. Sacrifice isn’t loss here; it’s an exchange for insight. When you stop resisting the moment, wisdom arrives quietly.

REVERSED - Impatience meets stagnation. The Hanged Man reversed often shows up when insight is available, but you’re avoiding it because it demands change. You may be delaying the inevitable or resisting a shift in mindset that would set you free. This isn’t punishment, it’s a stalled breakthrough. The moment you stop fighting the lesson, momentum returns.