The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man illustrates one who has taken his life into his hands and cast himself head first into the depths of the unconscious. This action is very dangerous, since, according to Jung, "By descending into the unconscious, the conscious mind puts itself in a perilous position, for in doing so it is apparently extinguishing itself." In order to do this he must have the courage to let go of all he has learnt, voluntarily releasing the grip of intellect, and allowing the deeper forces within to take the reins.
His action is not foolhardy, however, for he hangs safely suspended by the knot of his own faith. By casting himself off from the solid ground of past consciousness, he trusts that a larger power will support him and stop him from falling into a psychic void. This knot is sometimes depicted as being formed from the living branches of the World Tree (Yggdrasil) which crosses all planes of existence.
The Hanged Man's enraptured face reveals that his self-sacrifice has not been in vain, and that he has found his reward. He has balanced the demands of both his conscious and unconscious mind, and achieved a blissful state of total freedom from desire. His torture is transmuted into ecstasy.

Upright: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Flexibility of mind. Willingness to submit oneself to the dictates of the inner self and cast aside practical considerations when the time is right. Wisdom and guidance from the unconscious.

Reversed: Over-reliance on the concrete mind. Materialism. A warning of impending psychic disorder through an inability to accept the reality of the unconscious. An inner struggle ending in defeat.