[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape as the Hanged Man (tarot)

[MadameSSnape at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 73305

In a message dated 7/26/2003 7:42:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
iris_ft at yahoo.fr writes:

> I think Snape in a certain 
> way, is still hanging upside down, mentally. He didn't manage to 
> overpass the trauma, he didn't manage to go back to his feet and go 
> on.

I've always been taught that the essense of the Hanged Man is WILLING 
SACRIFICE.  Yes, it's connected to Odin dangling from Yggdrasil - a sacrifice he made 
willingly, in order to obtain the wisdom of the runes.  Here's a little blurb 
on it, based on the illustration on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck:
"The gallows from which he is suspended forms a Tau cross, while the 
figure--from the position of the legs--forms a fylfot cross. There is a nimbus about 
the head of the seeming martyr. It should be noted (1) that the tree of 
sacrifice is living wood, with leaves thereon; (2) that the face expresses deep 
entrancement, not suffering; (3) that the figure, as a whole, suggests life in 
suspension, but life and not death. It is a card of profound significance, but all 
the significance is veiled. One of his editors suggests that Éliphas Lévi did 
not know the meaning, which is unquestionable nor did the editor himself. It 
has been called falsely a card of martyrdom, a card a of prudence, a card of 
the Great Work, a card of duty; but we may exhaust all published 
interpretations and find only vanity. I will say very simply on my own part that it 
expresses the relation, in one of its aspects, between the Divine and the Universe.He 
who can understand that the story of his higher nature is imbedded in this 
symbolism will receive intimations concerning a great awakening that is possible, 
and will know that after the sacred Mystery of Death there is a glorious 
Mystery of Resurrection."

Now, this, from TAROT: THE ROYAL ROAD.  If we're thinking of Snape as the 
Hanged Man, I rather like this:

"The Hanged Man refers to obstacles, burdens, limitations, and outmoded 
thought pattems that are held steady in our lives. These thing need to be given up 
so that progress can continue, but often they are the things most dear to us. 
This makes the surrender all the more difficult. However, when the submission 
to the higher self is achieved, it often enables us to take two steps forward 
for every one that seemed to be taken backwards. It is important to understand 
that this is not a card of action. Merely seeing and understanding those 
conditions which are causing stagnation will begin the action of transformation. 

"In a spread, The Hanged Man can also pertain to timing. There may be a sense 
of waiting for the right time to act with reference to a situation. There may 
also be feelings of disorientation; as though the individual is 'on the 
outside looking in'; of seeing and experiencing things in a different manner from 
everyone else."   


Sherrie
(33 years as a Tarot reader)
    
    
    



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