Images from the classic Rider Waite Tarot represent The Empress and Hanged Man birth cards.

Tarot Birth Card Meanings: The Empress and The Hanged Man

Your path is all about comfort and surrender

Your Tarot birth cards are special guides meant to help you find your way. Based on your birth date, these cards carry messages of encouragement and reminders to help you stay on track.

The Empress and The Hanged Man are united by the need to figure out when to prioritize comfort and when to go through something difficult, so if you have this pair in your Tarot birth card lineup, you have a special opportunity to explore this dilemma and make it your own.

MEET THE EMPRESS + THE HANGED MAN
Receptivity, Surrender, Presence
Gifts: Self-reflection, Warmth, Generosity
Challenges: Excessive self-sacrifice, Procrastination, Suspicion
Advice: Challenge yourself in manageable ways. Practice seeing things from the opposite perspective. Connect with the natural world.

Interpreting The Empress (#3) and The Hanged Man (#12) Birth Cards

The Empress connects you to the sensory experience of being alive. Often shown in a beautiful outdoor setting, this card represents the Earth and its seasons. The Empress also represents motherhood traditionally, but that common association brings to mind creative prowess and a desire to nurture, not necessarily literal childbirth or being an actual parent. Anyone who symbolically generates new life -- perhaps in the form of ideas or opportunities -- is channeling The Empress. This card invites you into comfort, ease, gratitude, and physical pleasure.

The Empress’s counterpart is The Hanged Man, and he looks far from comfortable! Most versions of this card show someone hanging upside down by the ankle, often secured to a tree branch or something similar. This imagery has its roots in a historical punishment for traitors, and we can assume that the person in question has somehow run afoul of the law. However, in many cases, The Hanged Man is portrayed with light emanating from his head, almost like a halo. In accepting the discomfort and public shame of this situation, he’s surrendered to enlightenment.

Together, The Empress and The Hanged Man Tarot birth cards remind you that moments of easy delight and moments of intense discomfort both have their place.

The gifts of The Empress and The Hanged Man

Each set of Tarot birth cards suggests certain talents and natural abilities. Here are a few associated with The Empress and The Hanged Man:

1. Self-reflection

Both of these cards support attitudes of looking within, though in very different ways. With The Empress, the vibe is very much about serenity in the natural world, looking out from a mountaintop or floating peacefully in a lake. The Hanged Man encourages you to contemplate your choices, your values, and your future in moments of difficulty.

2. Warmth

The Empress suggests a tremendous ability to welcome others with open arms. You see people’s best efforts and potential, and you care about giving them a safe place to land. No one’s perfect, but in your presence, no one has to be. This makes you a valued friend and mentor to many.

3. Generosity

You see the world through the lens of abundance, so you don’t mind sharing what’s yours. Courtesy of The Hanged Man, you also have a keen awareness of how it feels to be in situations that are out of your control. This sensitivity makes you eager to help whenever you can.

The challenges of The Empress and The Hanged Man

Alongside the gifts, your Tarot birth cards can indicate some particular obstacles. Here’s what to look out for as you get to know The Empress and The Hanged Man:

1. Excessive self-sacrifice

Your penchant for generosity can go to extremes. Compromising your own priorities is necessary at times, but if you’re not careful, you can make a habit of giving up what you need so others can have what they want. Doing this over the long term can build up resentment and make you feel like a shell of yourself. If you’re stuck being a people-pleaser, remember that you’re a person, too.

2. Procrastination

Comfort calls to you like a siren, and that can make it hard to buckle down and get to work. It’s a little too easy to hit the snooze button or scroll on your phone for another 15 minutes, and before you know it, the whole day is gone. Instead of getting stuck in this rut, try to think of your most enjoyable tasks as the reward after a job well done. Turn your temptation into your motivation!

3. Suspicion

In some instances, The Hanged Man can indicate difficulty trusting others. You might wonder if people are really telling you the whole truth or if they’re plotting behind your back, which is a huge source of stress. Try to be patient with yourself as you determine whether your intuition is giving you valuable information or just putting you on the hamster wheel of needless worry.

How to work with The Empress and The Hanged Man

1. Challenge yourself in manageable ways.

There’s a sweet spot between the supreme relaxation of The Empress and the total overwhelm of The Hanged Man. When you’re looking for opportunities to grow, be careful not to push yourself too far. Take on tasks you know you can handle, and if you breeze through them, shoot a little higher next time.

2. Practice seeing things from the opposite perspective.

In the simplest terms, The Hanged Man sees the world upside down. There’s an important lesson to be learned here! Practice setting your own point of view aside for a moment, then ask yourself how another person might understand the situation. This can inspire you to make a different decision than you otherwise would, but if not, you’re still able to learn from considering a variety of angles.

3. Connect with the natural world.

Your relationship with The Empress underscores your need to get out into the great outdoors. Whether you gravitate to oceans, deserts, mountains, or prairies, connecting with nature restores your spirit. You don’t have to go on a huge backpacking trip -- even just a quick walk or a little meditation outside can work wonders when you’re in a sour mood or looking for clarity.

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Curious about other birth cards and what wisdom they hold? Use our Tarot birth card calculator to explore the possibilities!