Amulets by Merlin's Blog

This is one of the more Iconic Images in Western Lore.

We are reminded of the Story of Odin.
Following several adventures in a search for a better understanding of the World;
One encompassing an exchange of an Eye for wisdom with the Giant Mimir;
Odin continued deep into the Heath in search for wisdom.
Struggling deeper until he found the stark tree Fogmoon in the twilight,
his coat got tangled in the branches
rendering him bound:
immobile,
suspending him for nine nights.

The Hanged Man Amulet
Baptismal Water
Sacrifice
“Mem”

As his head cleared,
wisdom formed in his mind.
He was able to then free himself,
then carve glyphs into the tree
which held him hostage
and he named them Runes (to whisper).

We also recognize this as an image of Self Sacrifice and suspense.
A man is hung upside down over a pool of water.
In some versions of this card,
he is hung from a rough shape of the Hebrew letter Tav
(the Material World) .

In both cases,
it is the suspension of time when the mind is no longer distracted from the body
when we can process information.
Much of that time is not rely englishable
(meaning able to be expressed in words).
When one takes a Vision Quest
one is cut off from other influences,
it is just you and where you are.
You don’t have to perform a roll as a parent,
friend or child.
This kind of suspension from the mundane
is much like the Hanged Man.

To take it one step farther,
when you are in deep meditation
or deep sleep
you step beyond your senses
into pure thought.
The first step is to recall the sensation of suspense:
floating in water,
completely relaxed in liquid
– ungrounded.

The element associated with The Hanged Man is:
Baptismal Water
(the Fool was Baptismal Air);
and the letter Mem:
also Water.

In Alchemical Terms
and in the Tarot,
Sacrifice
is interpreted as a Transmutation from one thing to another.
In the old sense of offering a sacrifice,
the ancients would take the best animal of their herd,
place it on the alter and burn it for the Almighty,
accompanied with prayers for a good harvest,
fertility, and a better year.

Odin sacrificed his time, energy,
even an eye in search of Wisdom.
Finally when he was completely bound and suspended,
beyond help he bore deep into himself.
Equating his tangled coat with his role in life,
he realized Noble Truths
and was able to communicate what he discovered with others.
Concepts which became the building blocks of their language.

There are times when reaching into darkness
you may draw forth Light.

The Hanged Man Amulet is designed with these things in mind:
the triangle of Elemental Water is the central focus;
the suspended inverted figure in Water (Consciousness),
is embossed on the front with the letter of Mem on the top.
The position of the legs on the suspended figure
is the same as in the classic image of
The Emperor: the use of Mind is suspended as well as Body.
This is the Amulet of Self Reflection,
absorbing knowledge while suspending disbelief,
the Vision Quest.

The Hanged Man Amulet is for any one who meditate, go on a Vision Quest, Enjoys Solitude.