Understanding the Tarot: What Happens from the Hanged Man to the Devil?

The concept of The Fool's Journey as you're describing it was popularized by Eden Gray in her 1970 book, "A Complete Guide to the Tarot." It draws on the basics of The Hero’s Journey outlined by Joseph Campbell, which is all about self-discovery. As a tarot teacher, I find the Fool's Journey method quite limiting. However, if it resonates with you, Eden's book is a solid resource to explore further.

The way I see it, the Hanged Man represents a calm acceptance of fate. Then, we move to Death, which brings change – usually accompanied by some grief – before we can recognize what's next. After that transformation, we can explore and find balance in Temperance. But that perfect harmony doesn't last forever. Eventually, we might lose that balance, which is where the Devil comes into play. It's important to remember that the Devil represents the chains we create for ourselves, often from a weak foundation, and then the Tower shakes things up, forcing us into a wake-up call—either through our own choices or life making those choices for us. Just my late-night thoughts on it, but I hope it helps you out! 😄

I think it's crucial to go back to Justice, card 11, before we jump into cards 13-15 or even 16. Death is most meaningful when you consider it after both Justice and Hanged Man. Justice is about facing our truths, which we can’t move past without accepting. The Hanged Man, in his suspension, teaches us surrender and acceptance. Once we let go, that takes us into Death, which is more about our attitude towards change. Afterward, Temperance represents our rebirth from Death, a balance of inner and outer experiences. As for the Devil, it symbolizes the darkness of materialism and the illusions we need to break free from. The Tower finally liberates us through its destruction, allowing light to emerge.