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Tarot
The Magician
The Magician is the number one Arcana, the first of the sequence, and as the first step in the individuation process, symbolises
action, the masculine energies, the ying aspect. In the traditional image we see him standing
before a table or altar, with different elements in front of him, representing the different suits of the Tarot, that, as we
already kno, symbolise the four traditional elements: air, water, fire and earth. He's standing pointing with his wand to the
sky and his with other hand to the earth, like some sort of human lighting rod, atracting cosmic energies to him to pull them
down to earth and put them in action. If we look closely, we'll see his hand points to the only terrain where nothing grows
in the middle of an exhuberant garden, and it wouldn't be strange to think that the garden has grown helped by these energies
set in motion.
This is, I believe, the more inmediate message the Magician brings us: apply our energies and will to make things grow, whether we're talking about a garden or about our projects. Especially in this case, it symbolises a very pagan view of life: we must live in harmony with our surroundings, yes, but we must also understand that a life in harmony doesn't mean a hundred percent passive life, aspect that will be depeloped more in depth in next card, The High Priestess.
The different elements found on the table gives us a similar message. The traditional elements of Magic reminds us of the more
mystic aspect of the Magician, shown on a better light in decks such as "Legend: The Arthurian Tarot", where he is identified
with Merlin, the magician of King Arthur's court and responsible of his conception, himself son of a
princess and a demon. These cups, swords, wands and pentacles also represent each of the natural elements of nature, and tells
us about our ability to manipulate our environment, a meaning that gains depth when recalling that in the Tarot of Marseilles
he is called "The Juggler", that might well be a simple humbug if the lemmiscate (symbol of the Infinite) on his hat didn't
tell us there is something beyond. This symbol that we see repeated over the Magician's head in the Rider Waite deck also
connects him to Strenght, a card that in the three line disposition initially explained, is right
under this one.
The divinatory meanings come from this attitude towards life: the Magician gives us the energies and will necessary to face any new project, and generally, tells us that the best stand to take is that of responsible action.
