The Hanged Man
Suspensus Vĭr
As Depicted Through Catholic Christianity
Suspensus Vĭr, from Latin suspendo (to hang or suspend) and vĭr (man), translating to The Hanged Man. The card typically symbolizes gaining a new perspective and circumspection through trials, sacrifice, and often betrayal or punishment - in reverse, it tends to be a sign of selfishness or body politic.
The Divinity
The depiction of the altered card represents the both the imagery of St. Peter as the first pope of the Christian church and Judas hanging in his field. Pope Peter was crucified but deigned himself unworthy of dying in the same way as Jesus Christ and, thus, he was crucified upside down instead. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus and led to his crucifixion, is said to have taken the money he earned through his betrayal and thrown it into the temple. Then, he went and hung himself from what is now called a Judas tree. Both men were forced to act based on introspection and the perspective of guilt that came with, changing their confident and each being humbled.
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The Components of 'The Hanged Man'
Recently, the inverted cross has become a mark of the occult, yet it was initially a sign associated with Saint Peter, an esteemed member of the twelve apostles. These Apostles, according to the Bible, were the disciples most intimately acquainted with Jesus Christ. Frequently characterized as the prime apostle, the Pope Peter (or simply known as Saint Peter), is distinctly noted in several biblical excerpts. An important narrative involves his refusal to acknowledge Jesus Christ during the arrest of Jesus and subsequent crucifixion. Forewarned by Christ himself, Peter was told he would deny knowing Christ three times before the rooster crowed.
Saint Peter did inevitably deny him thrice, but reaffirmed his adoration and later when he died declared he didn't deserve to be crucified in the same manner and was instead crucified upside down. Conversely, Judas was the apostle who sold out Christ to the Romans and led to his crucifixion and death. Judas is often associated with the figure of the Hanged-Man in tarot.
The tree on which the man hangs is strikingly alive and thriving. In the tale of Judas taking his own life, he specifically chooses a field for this act, his body falling onto the earth and decomposing there. In starkly brutal and punitive recounts of the event, Judas' corpse dangles from what later becomes labeled as a Judas tree long enough for the body to swell and drop, bursting upon impact into nourishing soil. His sorrow — void of repentance despite his remorse — for his decisions triggers a swift shift in his subsequent actions, marking a significant progression in his internal character and viewpoint.
In Christian iconography, the presence of a halo denoted a sign of sanctity, exclusively ascribed to characters with an association to divinity. A glowing ring of illumination portrayed behind a person's head signified their sacred character, linking it with the luminous aura encircling celestial entities and figures.
It is a visual distinction that was used specifically to show the spiritually enlightened as separate from those who were not. This spiritual enlightenment can be seen as the wisdom an individual gains through the perspective of their introspection as guided by not just their spirituality but their world experiences.
Per the Holy Bible, Judas Iscariot, a disciple, betrayed Jesus for a sum of thirty silver coins. Post betrayal, despite avoiding physical repercussions, Judas experienced a moral awakening and regretted his deeds. The silver coins he collected embody the tangible reflection of his transformed mindset. Overwhelmed with guilt, he attempted to give back the sum to the temple, but his offer was rejected by the priests, due to the coins' association with 'blood money', contaminated by Christ's crucifixion.
