The Hanged Man from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck
(Property of US Games, Inc.)
Does it feel like you’re not going anywhere for a while? Take a look at this guy. He’s in the same situation you are.
The Coronavirus has completely changed our daily lives and many of us find ourselves struggling to keep up with what is happening. Here are three lessons from the Hanged Man!
1) Life in suspension
One of my first instincts with this card is to say, “I’d expect some delays in your plans.”
Suspension is the name of the game here. Our lives have been put on hold for now. Everything from the biggest sporting events to local and regional conferences aren’t happening. Event organizers have moved events or cancelled them outright. Governments have even temporarily suspended enforcement of certain laws; here in Virginia, you’ll have an extra 60 days to have your car inspected, for example.
Instead of lamenting the change in your calendar, use this time to your advantage by making time for the things within your span of control. I’m writing blogs, doing readings and charts for people via Zoom, and de-cluttering some areas of the house. Consider all those household projects you would do if you had time. Well…now you have time!
When I draw this card for a client, sometimes the next question from me is, “What has to go?” It could be a relationship, friendship, job, or life situation that is no longer serving you.
All of us have given up a lot. I know folks who have had to change their wedding dates, high school seniors who have lost their last three months and all the associated activities they had been looking forward to, and countless astrology conferences, family events, and vacations—including my own 25th anniversary trip to Europe. And it’s not over; even once the restrictions end, people may prefer to avoid large-scale events for a while yet.
One thing to do is to consider the “why” of the whole thing. Why are we giving up these activities that made us happy or excited? Look past the regulations and imagine how you would feel if you carried an illness to a friend or family member who suffered or even died by attending an event that should have been cancelled. I’m not telling you the sacrifices won’t hurt a lot, but the alternative is a lot worse.
3) Change in perspective
When you’re hanging upside down, you see the world in a unique way. Sometimes this card portends a significant shift in a client’s perspective. I’ll often say, “Is there a different way you could look at this problem or situation that might give you insights?”
Things appear quite differently than they did a month ago in our world! Admit it: You might not have ever considered your checkout clerk at the grocery store a hero, but there’s no doubt in my mind that they are now. Americans are rising to the occasion in unprecedented numbers, going to work to keep the rest of us healthy and safe. Neighbors are helping each other, and people are staying inside to minimize the spread of this disease—for the common good.
The virus gives us the opportunity to see things from a very unique perspective, one that we might not see again in our lifetimes. We are all receiving a lesson about who and what is important to us—the people we can’t touch, the co-workers we can’t talk to, and the normal, everyday activities that we can’t perform. Will we value these people and things more over the long haul once things return to normal? That’s really up to you.
If you have a tarot deck, take out the Hanged Man and put it somewhere you will see it every day as a reminder of these important lessons. And please know that you are not alone; reach out if you need help or just some human contact, and check in on each other.
We’re all in this together, good people. Hang in there!
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