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This card bears the number XII, and is represented by the image of a Hanged Man. He hangs upside-down, suspended from his bound foot. The other leg is bent across his lap. His hands are hidden behind his back, and we do not know if they are also bound or not. The Hanged Man is immobile, his body a prisoner, with only his head free. From this we can conclude that he is free to think what he wants.
In spite of the problems, he is mulling things over, thinking about the situation he has found himself in.
In the Tarot of Marseille, the card of the Hanged Man indirectly advises the cards' consultant not to act, meaning that it would be better to think things over rather than jumping straight into something that they might regret.
The Hanged Man in essence symbolises impotence, solitude and abandonment. It represents inactivity; a lack of action that could prove to be positive in the end, as the problem can be gotten through.
Drawn face up
The Hanged Man drawn upright shows that a situation will need to be accepted as it is, even if it has already started. Things will sort themselves out. The future can only get better if the consultant takes a step back. Whatever they do, they must not act; it's not the right time and they'll only end up regretting it if they do. If the surrounding cards are positive, then this is a sign of victory. The consultant will prevail after a long and painful ordeal.
Its meanings: forgetting oneself, immobilisation, silence, platonic love, sacrifice
Drawn upside-down
The card of the Hanged Man drawn upside-down is not a good sign. If it is surrounded by bad cards, it symbolises a situation that can't be overcome; there's something in the way. The consultant will feel paralysed, impotent. Failures will be many and things could really sink into hell. Being unable to do anything will sap their morale.
Its meanings: solitude, false paradise, depression, rupture
Summary
To get out of the bad situation that the consultant finds themselves in, they must look back through their past. It is time to meditate on the matter, and to re-examine themselves in order to move forward.
