Does drawing 'The Hanged Man' tarot card mean 'lying flat'?

Hey, that's an excellent question! Many people have similar thoughts the first time they see The Hanged Man card. It certainly looks a bit like 'giving up' or 'resigning oneself to failure,' but in reality, its meaning is vastly different from 'lying flat' (a term referring to resigning oneself to minimal effort in the face of intense competition) – in fact, their core spirits are completely opposite.

We can understand it this way:

What does 'Lying Flat' feel like? 'Lying flat' is more about a passive, helpless surrender. It feels like the 'involution' (fierce internal competition) is too severe, effort is useless, and there's no hope, so one simply gives up doing anything, letting things be. Behind it is a feeling of exhaustion and discouragement. The keywords are: helplessness, giving up, negativity.

What does 'The Hanged Man' feel like? Look at the card: the person is hanging voluntarily, and their expression is calm. They even have a halo around their head, which represents wisdom and enlightenment. They are not a victim; they are someone who actively chooses to pause.

Why choose to pause actively? Because they've realized that pushing forward in conventional ways is no longer working, or they need a completely new perspective to look at the problem. Imagine turning your head upside down – doesn't the whole world look different to you? The Hanged Man uses this 'changing perspective to see the world' approach to gain new wisdom and solutions.

Here's an analogy to help you understand better:

• 'Lying Flat' is like: You're playing a difficult game, you're stuck, you've tried many times but can't get past a level. Finally, in a fit of anger, you throw down the controller and say, "I'm not playing anymore! It's pointless!" Then you slump on the sofa and scroll through your phone.
• 'The Hanged Man' is like: You're also stuck in the game, but you haven't given up. You choose to pause the game, stand up, look for guides online, or watch videos of others completing the level, or simply go to sleep and let your brain rest. You temporarily stop the action of 'playing the game,' but your goal is to 'pass the level better.'

So, what does drawing 'The Hanged Man' mean?

It's not telling you to give up; instead, it's reminding you to:

1. Actively Pause: Now might not be the time to push hard. Stop, take a breath. You can put aside what you're currently busy with for a moment.
2. Shift Perspective: Have you been stuck in a rut? Try looking at the problem you're facing from a completely opposite or never-before-considered angle.
3. Sacrifice and Wait: The Hanged Man also represents a necessary sacrifice. You might need to give up some immediate benefits, some ingrained ideas, or dedicate some time to waiting, in order to gain long-term, more valuable rewards. This is the wisdom of 'retreating to advance.'

To summarize:

'Lying flat' is a passive surrender; it's an end. 'The Hanged Man' is an active pause; it's a process for moving forward better.

So, when you draw this card, the universe might be telling you: "Don't rush, pause for a moment. You're not giving up; you just need to change your posture, and you'll see a whole new world." It encourages you to view your current predicament as an opportunity for wisdom and growth.

Hello! When many people first draw the "Hanged Man" card, they often feel a bit bewildered, thinking it might be a bad sign, and might even associate it with what you call "lying flat" (tang ping). I used to think that too when I first started with Tarot, but in reality, they are completely different things.

The term "lying flat" (tang ping) is more about a passive, somewhat helpless surrender, feeling that effort is useless, and simply doing nothing. It's a state of depletion and stagnation.

But the "Hanged Man" is completely different. He is not passive; instead, he actively chooses to hang upside down. Look at the card: although he is suspended, his expression is usually calm, even radiating an aura of enlightenment. This signifies that he is observing the world from a perspective different from everyone else's.

So, drawing this card usually isn't telling you to give up; rather, it's reminding you to:

1. Look at problems from a different angle: You might be stuck in a rut right now, constantly trying to solve problems with old methods and ideas, only to hit dead ends everywhere. The "Hanged Man" is saying: "Hey friend, try looking at it upside down? You might discover a whole new world."

2. Active Pause and Reflection: This is a strategic "step back to advance." It's like being stuck on a Boss in a game: you pause, check a guide, or upgrade your equipment, instead of just turning off the console and quitting. The Hanged Man represents this "pause to check the guide" phase, allowing you to stop, think, and gather energy, rather than blindly rushing forward.

3. Necessary Sacrifice and Contribution: Sometimes, this card also means you need to give up something to gain something more important. For example, you might need to let go of some stubborn opinions to reconcile with others; or sacrifice some immediate leisure time to learn a new skill. This kind of giving is voluntary and for a greater reward.

To put it simply: "Lying flat" is like saying: "This mountain is too high, I can't climb it. Forget it, I'll just sleep at the foot of the mountain." The "Hanged Man", however, is like: "I climbed halfway and found the path blocked. I won't force my way through. I'll find a safe spot to hang, see if there's another route, or wait for better weather before continuing the climb."

So, don't be afraid if you draw the "Hanged Man"; it's actually a card full of wisdom. It's telling you that now is not the time to push relentlessly, but rather to calm down and examine your current life and dilemmas with a fresh, detached perspective, waiting for that "aha!" moment of enlightenment to arrive. This is an internal, active effort, completely different from the passive "lying flat."