“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Overview of Tarot -The Magician of the Major Arcana

Common Meanings

Where the fool invites us to begin, the Magician does begin.  This is about taking the concrete steps to manifest.  This card is about owning your personal power and ability.  It is inspired action.  The Magician, the magic is in YOU.  It tells you that you have all the tools you need to begin this new endeavor, and that you can make it a success. It is time to focus your energy and willpower and do some kick ass manifesting.  This reminds us that everything is created twice: first in mind and then in time.  The Bible even talks about this same sort of manifestation in the story of creation.  The Magician himself is tied to the heavens, inspiration, ideas, and then, is earth bound to manifest those things that inspiration brings.  He is the lightning rod marrying divine inspiration to concrete manifestation.  This is about being inspired and then knowing you have the correct tools to make that thing happen.  This is building a house – first you envision, then you draw the plans, then you have the foundation, lumber, nuts, screws, drywall, wiring, plumbing, paint, carpet, furnishings.  That is the earthly vision of manifestation. 

The Many Faces of The Magician

The Magician is higher learning, metaphysical and spiritual values, magic married with practicality.  The Magician can be the trickster in the manner of the Great and Powerful Oz, loud noises, and dramatic visuals, while the reality lies hidden behind the curtain madly twisting knobs to make the Big Show.  The opposite or dark side of the Magician can be the charlatan, the false prophet leading the weak and susceptible, it can tell you that you are not quite ready to begin; that you have not gathered all the tools.  I rarely talk about reversals in Tarot, simply because I feel that where and how a card shows up in a reading tells you which meaning to attribute.  However, that said, I will likely do a post on reversals down the road to help deepen and develop a greater understanding of the subject. 

The Journey of The Magician

A few weeks ago, in the overview of the Major Arcana, I mentioned the three septenaries within the Fools Journey.  The first septenary is the journey of self-discovery, of owning your own power, it is the journey of self.  The Magician IS self.  YOU are the magic.  I have said that before, but I am saying it again and again so that it gets through to you.  If you are struggling with inspiration, the Magician is here to urge you to dig deep and find your why, your muse, what drives you, your own special fire.

Description

In Smith Waite, the Magician, in red and white, stands at an altar, or table, one raised hand holding a wand, pointing at the sky, the other pointing to the ground, symbolic of the marriage of the divine (inspiration) and the earth (the work to make it happen).  Above his head is the Infinity symbol ∞, indicating infinite potential, power, and options.  Around his waist is a snake eating its tail, also known as an ouroboros, another sign of infinity.  On the altar before the Magician sits symbols representing the suits in the tarot deck: cups, wands, swords, and pentacles, which, in turn represent all 4 elements, water, fire, air, and earth, representing wholeness – all the tools necessary for creation.  All is present; as above, so below. 

Themes of The Magician

• Personal Power
• Taking concrete action
• Inner Wisdom and Knowledge
• Willpower
• Creation
• Ambition
• Leadership
• Singularity
• Discipline
• Responsibility

The Number One

• Drive
• Ambition
• Momentum
• Inspiration
• Huge Potential

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

• Infinity symbol – infinite potential, power, options
• Ouroboros – eternity, infinity, never ending cycles of life/death/rebirth
• Red roses – unfolding wisdom, physical self, desire
• White lilies – creative thought, soul, spiritual
• White robe – clarity and integrity
• Red cloak – worldly understanding and experience
• Headband – mind, spirituality, intention

Herbs for The Magician

• Carnation – Good luck, transformation
• Vanilla – Vitality, Strengthening intellectual capacity
• Astragalus – merging ideas with physical reality to bring about change
• Acorn- courage, strength, luck
• Balsam fir – change, insight, progress on goals

Questions that The Magician asks us:

• What motivates you, makes you get out of bed in the morning, makes you feel capable of anything?
• Do you have a clear vision of what you need to accomplish- and why- and have you learned all you need to learn? 

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That is the Magician! You have the tools, and the magic is you.  Go create something amazing. 

Wishing you a week of inspiration, willpower, and Wisdom!

See you next week for The High Priestess

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Definitions of Terms used in this post:

*Magus

ma·​gus | ˈmā-gəs

plural magi ˈmā-​ˌjī

1a : a member of a hereditary priestly class among the ancient Medes and Persians

b often capitalized : one of the traditionally three wise men from the East paying homage to the infant Jesus

2 : magician, sorcerer

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magus

 

** mountebank

moun·​te·​bank | ˈmau̇n-ti-ˌbaŋk

1 : a person who sells quack medicines from a platform

2 : a boastful unscrupulous pretender : charlatan

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountebank