Tarot
XII — The Hanged Man
Keywords — The Hanged Man
Letting Go & Relinquishing Past Habits Back to Keywords
When the Hanged Man appears, it signifies that now is the time to let go of the past and all your attachments to it. Many of us remain emotionally bound to our history, and finding the effort and boldness to let it go can often feel incredibly difficult. We tend to feel safe with the past because it is known, offering nothing unpredictable that might unnerve us.
The Hanged Man invites you to temporarily surrender your absolute control and accept the reality your life is currently facing. It is a time to pause the struggle and accept your present circumstances, whatever they may be. We must begin to view life from entirely new dimensions, as this is the only way we can progress successfully toward our true destiny. Old traditions and stagnant habits must be left behind on this journey; otherwise, they become the chains holding you back from expanding into this great Universe.
Patience Back to Keywords
While walking away from the past can feel like a heavy loss, you can absolutely achieve this transition through conscious effort and industry. It will take time, requiring immense patience and deep consideration to learn how to live entirely in the present moment.
You must wait for the right alignment and refuse to act rashly. Take your time to contemplate your true intentions, completely free from the shackles of yesterday. Urgency is not required when the Hanged Man appears; instead, he grants you the ability to refrain from making needless, impulsive choices. You must give yourself up wholly to this awakening of the new you.
Self-Sacrifice & Helping Others Back to Keywords
The appearance of the Hanged Man can also mean that an act of self-sacrifice is required. Beyond sacrificing the familiar experiences of the past to build a better future, there may also be a call to step outside of your immediate personal comforts.
Letting go of these comforts to offer your time and effort to others will bring much-needed benefits to those around you who are seeking assistance. By showing up selflessly for others, you enrich your own spiritual journey.
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About Karl Swainston
Karl Swainston is a writer and storyteller whose work is forged from a life lived across the North of England and far beyond. Growing up on a Leeds council estate in the 1960s, Karl's journey was anything but linear. By the age of thirty, he had already lived a dozen lives: from the rigors of grammar school to a degree in Latin, a stint as a fishmonger, a period of discovery living in Marseille, and a return to the hustle of London. Whether working as a postman, a builder, or competing as a county-level chess player, he was, above all, an avid reader—constantly documenting the world around him. This restless spirit continued into his professional life. Karl later taught in Bradford, where he ran a specialist unit for 244 of the most excluded students from across the region—young people whom even the local Pupil Referral Units could not accommodate. Working alongside his old friend Malcolm, Karl spent his days navigating the volatility of Bradford's most aggressive and dysfunctional teenagers. Throughout his life, Karl has been an avid runner and has always shared his home with a rotating cast of beloved dogs and cats—companions who have been constant witnesses to his work. As a writer, Karl's range is as expansive as his history. He works across a wide breadth of genres, including fiction and short stories, autobiography and memoir, biography, non-fiction, and metaphysical writing, as well as providing sharp commentary, opinion, analysis, and essays. Whether writing about his years managing the Harrogate Arms or offering insights from his current adopted home in South East India, where he lives in a simple village with his dog, Bambi, Karl's voice reflects the full, untidy, and deeply human breadth of life. He continues to draw on the rich, decades-long tapestry of his experiences to tell stories that matter, proving that no matter where you live, the human story remains the same.
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