We need to talk about the Hanged Man🦖

Is he the Fool caught in a snare?

Is he Odin hanging from the Tree?

Is he the Buddhist principle of non-attachment? (If so how did that make it into the deck?)

Is he the planet Neptune? or the Element of Water?

Why is his face so serene?

Why is he sometimes portrayed as Judas with bags of gold?

Is he Major Tom lost in space forever?

Why is he upside down and hanging from a single foot and not the neck?

I’m asking these questions because, I, myself am stuck. And being stuck is a Hanged Man thing, so I’m told.

I’ve been writing this newsletter once a week for 4 years now and I always pants something.

I like pulling stuff out of the air and making something of it.

I tried creating an editorial calendar and it never worked for me. So I have allowed the newsletter to be the place where I create what I want, how I want.

But today, I’m stuck. Really stuck.

I’ve been going through a lot lately, and last week was just a lot. Again. The air element of my brain is stuck on pause.

I saw a starling with a baby garter snake in my front yard the other day. I keep thinking that’s some kind of a sign. A sign of what?

The diminutive starling was pecking away at the snake. And the snake was playing dead.

After a few moments, it picked up the snake and flew away!

That’s what surprised me.

That the bird was able to hoist the snake up into the air with it.

Was the snake the Hanged Man? Just playing dead and hanging in loose coils as the bird forced him into the air?

Wow, so far this newsletter is interesting, but I still don’t have a point - nor any answers for myself.

What changes if I stop trying to force this? (A Hanged Man question).

I guess this becomes a (hopefully) engaging stream of consciousness piece where readers can catch a glimpse of themselves, heads bobbing in Neptunian froth-filled waters with no shore in sight.

What if I flipped the script? (Another Hanged Man question).

If I flipped the script, I would stop being the Tarot teacher and embody the Tarot, not worrying about whether or not anybody “gets it”.

Well the Hanged Man in the Rider Waite is portrayed with a halo. He must be filled with the faith or spirit of something, I suppose.

Or maybe it’s just cock-eyed optimism.

How can I operate with faith and cock-eyed optimism in this situation?

I could go ahead and publish this newsletter as is, knowing it will be whatever it will be, and this is all leading somewhere.

Like the snake playing dead and being carried up, up, and away by the bird —
Like being adrift at sea with no wind for the sails —
This is a season of surrender.

Well, so be it.

-Cassandra the Card Reader
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