DTC: The Hanged Man

Daily Tarot Card

The Hanged Man
Major Arcana #12

Castle Perilous

Today I actually drew a card from the Major Arcana! I am surprised. Normally these cards are elusive in my readings. I will need to do a post later on what the Major Arcana is and how these 22 cards stand apart. But that will be later, for now lets just keep in mind that these are the big cards.

That being said I do not like my card today. It is a sad/depressing scene. You have come upon a an army hanging in the grove outside a castle. It looks like this may be the lane into the castle. These men appear to have been laying siege to the castle, as evident by their camp behind them. the knights are hung and their right leg and arm are bound behind them. The trees are barren, the grass is brown, and overall it feels grey in the picture. I look and look for that little bit of bright light, that small glimmer of hope and I just cannot find it.

Typically this is a card of stagnation and feeling trapped for which its is spot on. In most other decks the man is hung upside down and alive and thus hope is given that it will be better. It is meant to represent self sacrifice and mediation. The Arthurian deck makes it more difficult because the card depicts death from the men to the trees and even to the very grass!

Castle Perilous: The would-be champions of Lady Lyones hang in the trees, unable to free her or themselves. Eager to make a name for himself, the Knight Ironside held Lyones hostage in Castle Perilous, hoping to attract the rescue attempts of the Knights of the Round Table. Many knights came and failed, but still the opponents Ironside wished to face, namely Gawain and Lancelot, had not come to take up his challenge. In a further effort to lure the chosen knights, Ironside began the grizzly custom of hanging his fallen opponents in the trees for all to see. Arthur eventually sent the young Gareth to challenge Ironside. On his arrival, Gareth counted forty knights amongst the trees. This sight enraged Gareth and gave him the strength to overcome Ironside, the Red Knight of the Red Laundes.

May be I should not be focusing on the men, the Card is named for the Castle not the men.  The Castle holds the Lady, she is trapped and waiting.  Possible I should look at this card and see the failures as just that a failed attempts, and that with proper motivation (not death a destruction) that circumstances will change.   That with patience and planning one can change and rescue the lady?

I do understand why this card is showing up in my life.  I will not be posting a recap, it is personal and not something I want to discuss on a public forum.