The Magician serves as a catalyst who has real power to shape and influence events, not through positional power, but through charisma, influence, and the triumph of character over circumstances. Often the Magician understands natural laws that others do not, and so appears to have supernatural powers. Magicians often life on the edges of society, as most contemporary societies focus only on the surface of things, and Magicians seek to understand forces at depth.
- From What Story Are You Living? by Carol S. Pearson and Hugh K. Marr

THE FIRST NUMBERED CARD of most Tarot decks is The Magician. From Yoda to Harry Potter, Mary Poppins to Jesus, The Magician archetype casts its spell in the form of visionaries, mystics, healers, shamans, wizards and Wise Ones. In its shadow form, The Magician manifests as a charlatan, illusionist, propagandist, master manipulator or trickster - for example, Professor Marvel in The Wizard of Oz, trickster gods such as Loki, spin-doctors, and swindlers.

Often silver-tongued with seemingly miraculous powers, The Magician card in the Tarot is usually associated with Mercury, the Roman god of communication and messages (Hermes in the Greek pantheon). As such, whatever its manifestation, The Magician archetype influences perception and, in so doing, shapes consciousness, expands awareness and even moves mountains.

In many Tarot decks, The Magician stands behind a table, his right arm upraised and his left pointing downward, while four items representing the four elements (wand/fire, cup/water, sword/air and coin/earth) lay on the table before him. Tarot author Robert M. Place notes in his book The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination notes that the Magician's stance represents the "...Hermetic axiom 'as above, so below'... that the way of Heaven should be manifested on Earth. The Hermetic texts tell us that it is our purpose, given to us by God, to complete His creation by making the world beautiful. The Magician points the way."

However, in the Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot version of the Magician, there is a checkered board on the table, pointing to this archetype's amazing ability to strategize, as well as its ability to persuade, influence and "move" various "pawns" in the game of life.

Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov, creators of the Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot, have added a mask to the table, an additional motif pointing to the mysterious aura often surrounding The Magician in all its guises, as well as its dubious manifestation as a trickster, imposter or con artist. The mask can also point to yet another form of The Magician - the shape shifter that can take on various forms, much like a skilled actor or magical helper at best... or a malicious deceiver at worst.

In the beloved movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is outraged and disappointed to find out that the wizard is actually a charlatan, calling him a "bad man." The well-intentioned "wizard" protests that in fact he's a good man... just not a very good wizard! In the movie, the "wizard" hides behind special effects, smoke, a voice modifier, and, of course, the curtain. He also uses intimidation to hold Dorothy and company in his sway, as well as the appearance of possessing secret knowledge.

For this reason, manifestations of The Magician may not be trustworthy in the conventional sense - who is, after all, behind the "curtain?" But, one thing is almost certain: an encounter with this archetype, for good or ill, will rarely leave us untouched in some way.

Shown in this particular version of The Magician, as with many Tarot decks, are the four symbols that we find in the Minor Arcana suits, which also correlate with the four elements: a wand (fire), a cup (water), a sword (air) and a coin (earth). The Persian cat in this image holds a lily-tipped wand, while the other three symbols lay on the game board (the white lily is often a symbol of purity or Spirit). Because the tools seem inanimate (for now), it could be said that they are a bit like the four Aces of the Minor Arcana: absolute potential, and the purest representation of its element.

In order to use any one of these four items, The Magician must have the will to not only pick up the tools, but also to use them. Next, he must apply concentration to begin to weave his particular magic, often resulting in profound manifestations within the realm of each element. Robert Place says, "The Magician's relationship with these symbols aligns him with the fifth element, spirit."

In the Tarot, the four items depicted on The Magician card (which, as I mentioned, also embody the four suits of the Minor Arcana) correspond to four areas of life:

Wands
Associated with the element of fire, Wands is the suit and symbol of passion, gumption, perseverance and selfhood. It is the "I AM" that knows itself as a separate entity. In Tarot, the Wands suit tends to correspond to vocation, life purpose, passionate action, energy and ambition.

Cups
Associated with the element of water, Cups is the suit and symbol of emotions, relationships, spiritual communion, love and dreams. This is the suit that connects with the pursuit of the Holy Grail (indeed, some say the Ace of Cups represents the Grail itself), as well as the part of us that seeks deep connection with the Divine and other individuals.

Swords
Associated with the element of air, Swords is the suit and symbol of thoughts, ideas, assumptions and decisions. This is the rational mind, the place where plans (both grand and profane) sprout from the human intellect.

Coins
Associated with the element of earth, Coins (also known as Pentacles) is the suit and symbol of the material realm, including the physical body, health, finances, possessions, nature, and jobs. This is the realm of manifestation, where hands build, ideas become "reality," feelings birth states of being and relationships form babies.

So while the four latent "tools" epitomize pure potential for incredible ways of seeing, doing, and being in the world, it's the fifth element of spirit - the Magician's relationship with these tools - that provides the energy to manifest the "heavenly" (above) to the "earthly" (below).

In ancient Tarot decks, The Magician is called The Bateleur, which translates as "acrobat." Sometimes, he is even called The Juggler. Both of these terms suggest that The Magician must be flexible and adaptable in order to use the four implements before him, as well as to channel Spirit through all he touches.

So what does that mean in the "real" world where most of us reside? Well, for one, rigidity doesn't serve us well. The ability to sense, hear, and see Spirit - as well as be moved by Its promptings - requires open hands, tender hearts, supple minds, and the purity of "right action" (to borrow a Buddhist term).

If a proverbial coin stays clutched in our hand, it is unlikely we would share it with others. If we hold this earthy existence in a death grip - material security, insatiable desires, obsession for physical "perfection" - we invite suffering of all kinds.

If we cannot bend our elbows, we are unable to sup from the cup of spiritual nourishment, compassion, and connectedness. If our hearts are hardened, the energy of empathy and love cannot flow through us.

If we cannot sheath our sword when necessary, inflexibility gives rise to cutting judgments, bias and cruelty in the name of honesty. On the other hand, if we are unable to take the sword out of its casing, we may lack equanimity, decisiveness and clear intentions.

And what of the proverbial wand? It can be said that the uplifted wand serves as a hollow reed, a tube guiding the flow of inspiration and Spirit, connecting with the desire for action and authenticity. Without flexibility, The Magician would have great difficulty grasping the wand, let alone using it with passion and purpose. In the same way, if we are conditioned by habits and assumptions, we may lack sensitivity to Spirit, let alone the ability to trust higher Wisdom.

There is fluidity with The Magician archetype, the predisposition to walk between worlds, bridge barriers, transmit vision, and effect change. In the highest form, his flexibility is a spirit of allowing - the ability to love what is, to be an open channel for grace, to transform perspectives and to create miracles. In the book What Story Are You Living?, the authors say of this archetype,

When things go wrong in their outer world, Magicians know how to go inward to pray or meditate to right their inner world, knowing that when they become different, they will act differently, and events will then shift - not just causally, but synchronistically in a way that cannot be completely explained.

Have a romp in the energy of Magician. Ponder its implications not just in a Tarot reading, but also in your waking life - when it surfaces via conscious contemplation, meditation or symbol. Below are some questions to ponder for your edification... Consider journaling the answers to these questions for some surprising and illuminating wisdom direct from your glowing, upheld wand:

1. The Magician is associated with the messenger god Mercury/Hermes. What messages have you delivered lately? What symbols are appearing in your dreams, environment and relationships? What might these messages and symbols say to you - or about you?
    
2. If you were an open, willing conduit of Spirit, what would you desire to channel to others? To yourself? What have you been "transmitting" lately in the form of your words, thoughts and actions? Tap into your energetic system, or your spirit, and assess how open and flexible you are - and where there may be blockages or leakages.
    
3. A wizard appears to you today. This figure has a magic wand and grants you three wishes - one for yourself, one for your family/loved ones, and one for the world. What would you wish for each?
    
4. After you make your wishes, the wizard places his hat on your head and directs you to "make it so." What first step would you take to make each wish come to pass?
    
5. Spiritual teacher Byron Katie says that arguing with reality, with what is, causes suffering 100% of the time. What perspective, attitude, expectation, assumption or belief is causing you suffering right now, perhaps in the form of anger, disappointment, hurt, anxiety, fear or shame? As Katie would say, "What would it feel like without that thought?" Who would you be without this particular "story?"

Text © 2009 by Janet Boyer
Art © 2007 by Alex Ukolov and Karen Mahony. All images used with permission.

Join us as Janet takes us on a romp
through each of the Major Arcana, one-by-one!

Next Month: The High Priestess

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janet Boyer is the author of The Back in Time Tarot Book (Hampton Roads) which features her innovative Back in Time (BIT) Method for experiencing the cards. Dubbed the Queen of Tarot, Janet has written over a thousand reviews, articles and interviews for both print and online publications, specializing in Tarot, New Age and Self Help topics. She is an Amazon.com Top 10 Reviewer, as well as an Editor at TheTarotChannel.com.

You can visit Janet on the web at JanetBoyer.com where she provides hundreds of pages of content, as well as eBooks, a monthly New Releases page, a Shop, intuitive counseling services and Tarot readings. Janet makes her home in the gorgeous state of Pennsylvania with her soulmate, Ron, their son (whom she homeschools), and two cats. In her free time (yes, she actually has some!), she enjoys her lush backyard, the laughter of her two guys, mystery novels, thriller movies, RUSH, bookstores, hidden object PC games, and gourmet eating.