My family helped me create the question for this collective Tarot reading. Thank-you!

Question: What will help us to, collectively and individually, recharge our hope?

The Deck: The Rider-Waite Coleman-Smith, first published in 1910.

Astrological Circumstances: I cast the reading during the Waning Gibbous Moon in Leo, in a cloud of white sage, with clear and compassionate intentions. May it harm none.

The Card: Major Arcana XII, The Hanged Man

Rulerships: Pisces, Neptune, Saturn.

Element: Water.

I’ve seen The Hanged Man provoke fear in Tarot clients, but this card (mostly) comes in peace

In Major Arcana XII, The Hanged Man, we see a figure hanging upside down from a tree by one foot. The other leg is crossed comfortably at the knee; in ballet terms, in a kind of passé. The figure’s arms are resting near their hips. The face is serene and relaxed; a halo floats above their head. In some Tarot decks the halo is also an infinity sign. In the Rider-Waite Coleman-Smith deck, the inverted figure is most certainly not struggling. They are serenely suspended from one ankle.

There are many factors to consider when dealing with The Hanged Man. It’s a Major Arcana of particular heft. Many struggle with this card, the feelings it can provoke and the kinds of things it calls upon us to do. I’ve seen The Hanged Man provoke fear, but this Tarot card (mostly) comes in peace. Take note of your initial response to the hanging figure and keep that response in your back pocket.

To recharge our hope, we are called upon to employ faith. To feel faith, one must first give in. Sometimes we need to surrender to something greater than ourselves. The figure in The Hanged Man is not struggling because they are willingly giving themselves over, in and through faith. The halo is not decorative. The Hanged Man reminds us faith is stimulated by being of faith. To increase one’s faith, first surrender to something benevolent and much greater than one’s self. The Hanged Man also reminds us it may take a little while for the processes of hope to become available to us. Sometimes things take time.

Awe, gratitude and wonder are other handy gateways to faith. And faith leads to, and creates, hope. Sure, it’s a bit of a process, but when you are serenely hanging from a tree, what else ya got to do? Hope is the reward, the delicious elixir after a bit of spiritual work.

The Hanged Man also advises, be sure whatever you sacrifice you make at this time is intentional. Take care when and where you make sacrifices in your life. Intentions are important. Be sure to avoid sacrifices to or for things or people that do not share your values. Prevent being dramatically sacrificial, or sacrificing the wrong things or people.

Some other time, let’s talk about other aspects of Major Arcana XII, The Hanged Man! For the moment, these concepts around surrender and faith and their interaction with re-finding and recharging hope is the message for us for this moment. May it harm none!

Recognize one another and act in ways worthy of recognition

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