Category Archives: The Hanged Man

The Tarot of Good Friday

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On Good Friday, we remember the story of Jesus’ death. He was crucified on a cross. Nailed by his hands and feet to the wood. Struggled to draw breath for hours on end. Until eventually he passed away.

It is said that he suffered on that cross so all of us may live. That God loved us so much, he sent his only son to suffer public humiliation and death. This belief is at the very heart of Christianity.

Which seems like a strange notion, when you think about it! Why did Jesus have to die to heal our broken relationship with the divine? Wouldn’t a lifetime of preaching and miracles have been equally as affective?

Traditionally, Good Friday is celebrated by Christians as this…

Five of Cups: A day of mourning

The death on the cross always reminds me of this Tarot card…

The Hanged Man: Waiting for something to shift

Which doesn’t seem a really good fit for the story of Good Friday on the surface. Although it does proceed this card…

Death: Major change

And Jesus’ death did precipitate a major change in world history: It spawned a whole new religion!

But for me, this event feels more like this card…

Judgement: Being called to serve others

The Son of Man himself did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).

Sacrifice was an important notion in the ancient world. A central creed. By the prehistorical era, it had been twisted into acts of animal, and even, human sacrifice. Jesus’ death was the ultimate example of this. But before we lost our memory of the origins of human civilisation, back when we lived in the forest and worshipped in the cave, it wasn’t an obligation imposed by our gods. It was an act of appreciation. A nod of recognition to the plants and animals that gave their lives in our food, so that we may live.

This was the original meaning of reconciliation.

Our ancestors wrestled with the knowledge that our lives came at the cost of others. To resolve that conflict they maintained an attitude of gratitude towards every creature that provided support and nourishment for humanity. Created customs to formalise that acknowledgement. Life is a great gift. And when we lived in nature, we were much more cognisant of that fact.

Which puts me in mind of this card…

The Magician: Having attitude

When we appreciate the magic of our very existence in this universe, when we treat every being on this planet, beit animal, plant or mineral, with respect, we will find ourselves on a richer and more fulfilling path.

That’s what Tarot teaches us!

Throwback Thursday: Tarot’s Holy Book Part 2

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I’ve written before about how Tarot contains a holy book that charts the journey of a human soul through all the stages and experiences of life. I call these cards Life Lessons Tarot. But they’re better known as the Major Arcana.

These lessons are divided into three parts. We’ve already looked at the first part: Childhood. The second part covers adulthood. As follows… Continue reading →

The Hanged Man: Stuck In The Circumlocution Office

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The Hanged Man

I spent the better part of this afternoon in a government office trying to get some paperwork sorted out. Talk about feeling like I was stuck in The Hanged Man. The last two times I visited this department I had to wait 2 hours to be seen but I was assured that on this occasion because I had an appointment I wouldn’t have to wait at all (Cue: roaring laughter). I kept going back to the door bitch who controlled proceedings with her iPad to question what was taking so long and was constantly assured I was first priority. But first priority for what, I wondered. Maybe I was first in line in a queue going nowhere. Charles Dickens had a wonderful name for government departments where you go round in circles wrapped up in red tape. He called it the Circumlocution Office.

The Hanged Man is characterised by the following qualities: Waiting (tick.) Feeling outside of time (That would be me and my fellow citizens watching the world go by while we sat in hard chairs for hours on end, tick.) Making sacrifices (That would be the afternoon I took off work, tick.) Letting go of expectations (Yep, I hit that mark after an hour and a half, tick.) Things suddenly clicking into place out of nowhere (That would be me finally seeing someone after I’d given up hope, tick.)

Have you ever been stuck in The Circumlocution Office?

Gotye Remixed: The Hanged Man & Page Of Swords Reversed

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GotyeThe video link I’m giving you today is a YouTube parody of the Gotye song that’s been a worldwide hit. Instead of singing ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ the Gotye character in the clip sings ‘Some Study That I Used To Know.’ His point being that he learnt lots of stuff at school he’s now forgotten. As he says, ‘Why did I have to learn this stuff? It has never come in handy, never used it for nothing.’

The Kimbra figure in the clip represents Continue reading →

The Tarot Of Why My Holidays Have Not Lived Up to My Expectations (Do You Know That Feeling?)

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I don’t know about you but my Christmas holiday this year has not lived up to my expectations. It’s probably normal. You’re probably nodding your head right now, thinking, I hear you sister. Some of you at least. Holidays are unreliable like that, aren’t they? No matter how much planning you put into them you never know for sure how they’re gonna turn out. Makes me think of this card…

The Wheel Of Fortune

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The Hanged Man: Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?

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So. I’ve been asked to consider working in another position at my workplace. It’s not a promotion or demotion more a sideways crawl. The powers that be think it’s important to improve my overall professionalism whereas I’m more of a stay-in-the-job-you-love-kinda-gal. Still, I’m torn. They say ‘it’s better the devil you know’ but I’m not 100% convinced of that. Sure I’m all comfy where I am and anything new is scary but every time I’ve been asked to move before I’ve actually ended up enjoying the change. However I’ve no way of knowing if I’ll feel the same way this time around. It’s just so tootin’ hard to know if you’ll like a job before you try it. And once I move I’m locked in for a year or two. What to do? What to do? What to do?

This classic career conundrum – should I stay or should I go now? – is very much in the realm of The Hanged Man card. We all experience this sooner or later in our jobs whether it’s a nod from the boss or ennui setting in suggesting it’s time to make a move. And when you really don’t know which way to jump there’s nothing you can do but sit on the situation and hope for a sign to show the way. Which in my case may be a tap on the shoulder, lol.

Anyone else out there in the same boat?

This Versus That

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To understand Tarot it helps to compare cards with one another. We’ve met the cards below in previous posts. They both signify that it’s time to have a break in some way. Let’s explore their similarities and differences shall we?

The Four of Swords is Continue reading →