The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man is the thirteenth card in the Major Arcana. Most often, we see him suspended upside down by one leg - quite literally hanging around. Sometimes, you just need to stop for a second, and have a change of perspective. This is the Hanged Man’s message. This card often appears when you feel suspended between the past and the future. Reversed, it may indicate that you’re at a crossroads, struggling to make a decision. No matter what, however, a change is coming, and although it is scary, sometimes you simply need to surrender to a situation and make sacrifices in order to be your truest self and continue to grow. By letting go of old patterns, stepping back, and switching your perspective, you might just see things in a different and better light.

Julian as The Hanged Man

Generally, the change in Julian’s life has not been of his volition, or under his control. When Ward Earp pushed him out of the triangle, he lost his memories, forcing him to see the world anew. If the Hanged Man encourages us to cede to events, take a step back, and change our perspective, then Julian’s story takes this to the extreme. As the Hanged Man reversed, he wandered outside of Purgatory for over twenty years, suspended between his past and his future. In the end, his sacrifice and surrender become literal, as he saves Nicole’s life and eventually loses his own in the battle against Bulshar Clootie.