THE TRICKSTER
The Magician is a trickster. But he also reflects the inner truth within us. He embodies the principle: as above, so below. The Magician is a trickster because he gives birth to form or illusion and it all seems so real as if that is the only reality there is. the magician tarot
Magician is the first card after The Fool, so therefore, he still carries infinity / nothingness with him. The most important thing to understand about his path on the Tree of Life is that is is sheer WILL that is purposeful and direct, that brings nothingness into matter.
The Magician contracts the zero of the Fool into a point of light. He paves the way, so to speak for the Fool to focus on his spiritual journey. The Magician is the first path of emanation from nothingness into something. The problem, however, is that while doing that, the Magician brings forth the ILLUSION of reality of life. So, in some ways, this is a let down from understanding NOTHINGNESS (Kether). As Aleister Crowley put it : “Manifestation implies illusion.” However, this illusion will be shed at the end of the journey, by the time the Fool reaches the World card.
ASTROLOGICALLY SPEAKING
Astrologically, the Magician is ruled by the planet Mercury. Mercury (Hermes, in Greek mythology) was a messenger god. Therefore, communication, in general, and words, specifically, are an integral part of the card. After all, what are words if not intelligent vibrations? Thus, it is through words that Magician (Mercury) carries out his will. Through the number 1, the Magician is the first vibration through which pure Spirit begins to manifest itself. Many Magician cards carry symbols that say: “As above, so below.” The Magician, therefore, brings us the idea of Self-Creation from Spirit (Kether).
A DIFFICULT TRANSITION
The path between The Fool and The Magician is not easy. It is this path that has us leave the dream-like state of the Fool and drops us into the reality of the manifested world. Read More About “The magician tarot”
This path is the very first step the Fool takes when he separates himself from the Spirit bubble and plunges into the realities of the World Card (which will take him 21 more paths to complete). He has to start somewhere – and this is it. Through this first step of ‘reality’ manifestation, The Fool starts the process of self-reflection and enlightenment. The more he will understand about the separation of self from the ONE, the more he will be pulled back into the ONE when he reaches the World Card.
Yet, as difficult as this transition is, the Fool needs to understand separation, in order to really understand and appreciate the one. After all, how would you understand light if there were no darkness? How would you feel the heat if there were no cold?
In a Tarot Reading, The Magician may mean:
- A time to create something new in your life and bring into fruition what you wish.
- You have a strong desire to begin something new, that will express your creativity.
- Manifesting your goals by utilizing the skills, tools and resources that are available to you.
- This card is a signal to act consciously and immediately, provided you understand exactly what you want and are committed to getting it and so you need to be clear about your motives and intentions.
- You need to know what you are doing and why you are doing it.
- Focus on a specific goal and channel your energies into the task.
