1 - The Magician 1. Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot

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1 1 - The Magician 1 The first stop on our shapeshifting journey of self-discovery is to become The Magician. The Trickster Fool now takes on the power of the Trickster Magician, but the business of trickstering is now a bit different. While The Fool is more devil-may-care and spontaneous in his approach to life, The Magician is more focused and practiced, using the tools of his trade to create magic from hum-drum existence. The Magician invites us into the Mystery. In the Rider-Waite deck he holds his wand aloft in his right hand (masculine, consciousness) and with his left hand (feminine, unconscious) points to the earth. Here he stands as one who unites heaven and earth, the sacred and the profane, God/ Goddess and man/woman. He personifies the alchemical maxim, As above, so below. Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot Above him floats the lemniscate--a sideways 8--or infinity symbol--much like the yin/yang sign, it symbolizes the neverending flow of creation, unifying opposites. His belt is the ouroboros--the snake swallowing its own tail, also a sign of infinity and the round of existence we explored with the number 0, where we started and will come full circle. The snake symbolizes transformation and rebirth, through the shedding of its skin and the movement between the upper and lower worlds. The snake is a totem of the ancient goddess and it ties The Magician to the Divine Feminine, with whom we will be coming into contact on our next stop. The Magician is rooted and grounded in the reality of the earth plane as seen by the lush flowers growing around him. Unlike The Fool, he is not stepping off of terra firma, but standing firmly on it. He is at the same time open to spirit with his wand raised and lemniscate hovering at his crown chakra. The white band around his head suggests activation of the third eye chakra, the shaman s ability to see beyond the ordinary. Because the 6th and 7th chakras are energized and aligned with his 3rd, solar plexus chakra encircled by the snake, The Magician can be seen as an enlightened soul who is able to get things done.

2 1 - The Magician 2 The Magician is the alchemist, Mercurius, whose namesake, Mercury, is also a trickster god. The alchemist s mission was to turn lead into gold through a series of transmutational processes involving the four elements of earth, air, water and fire. However, the alchemists were magicians of a different sort, intent on learning the ancient mysteries of elevating themselves from the leaden darkness of the unconscious and material world to a golden state of consciousness and illumination. This entailed the psychological and spiritual transformation of the Self, represented by the philosopher s stone--the achievement of enlightenment in an earthly body. The Magician is also the shaman who is able to move between the seen and unseen worlds and divine answers. His magic is in Tarot Illuminati, Kim Huggans bringing down divine inspiration from the Higher Self/God/Goddess/Spirit into the earthly realm and creating something new, something tangible. He has the power to transform ideas into action through the use of the skills and tools he has acquired and knows how to use both instinctively and through practice. He uses both education and experience, intellect and intuition, to know what action to take, what path to follow, what tools to use, what magic to make. He is able to communicate his desires and he has the focus and will to see them through. Wildwood Tarot, John Matthews, Mark Ryan & Will Worthington He is the Number 1, the Creator, the primal force, the One who stands alone, the sturdy One who is self-sufficient, independent. The number 1 implies there is not yet another. Duality or separation doesn t exist yet. It is paradise before the fall. It is God before man was created. It is the Planet Earth before Life existed. It is through the Magician s hand that life, spirit, the world, is activated and animated. It is through the hand that magic is made.

3 1 - The Magician 3 The Creation of Adam, Michaelangelo He must work with all four to achieve the magical balancing act of life. In early tarot decks, The Magician was depicted as The Juggler, whose balancing act is to keep all of these balls in the air, touching each one briefly, continuously receiving and letting go. Before him on the table lay four of the tools of his trade, which happen to be the four elemental keys to the tarot suits--the cup or chalice (water), the coin or pentacle (earth), the sword (air) and the wand or stave (fire). Cup and coin, water and earth represent the feminine, receptive, internal aspect, while sword and stave, air and fire, represent the masculine, penetrating, external aspect. The Magician reminds us that we have the tools we need to get through life, to problem-solve, and to be effective in the world. They are within us and before us. If we don t have them or know what to do with them, we go back to Square One, being The Fool again. We had better learn how to use them so we are prepared for the journey ahead. He is able to show us what is illusion and what is reality, but we must pay attention. Otherwise, his sleight of hand could trick us into believing something that is not true--perhaps something we tell ourselves and have come to believe. The perceptive Magician can help us recognize and transform false beliefs.

4 1 - The Magician 4 The trick is to notice when we are lying to ourselves, which could appear as negative self-talk--telling ourselves things that if held up to the light of day, we know are not true. That s one of the tools The Magician relies on: the sword of truth for slicing through maya or illusion. The sword also stands for sharp intellect, clear thought and communication, inspired ideas--the mental awareness and acuity that we need in the world. The coin or pentacle is a tool of earthly existence, representing the currency we use to understand others, the world, and ourselves. Money and material things are one form of currency, but we also have other forms of currency, depending on what we are inherently gifted with or what we have acquired through education and experience. Our currency could be physical appearance, athletic prowess, psychological insight, intuitive or psychic gifts, mechanical skills, academic know-how, artistic or literary aptitude, empathic ability, communication, caregiving, etc. Knowing what we are good at and how to use it, and continually honing our skills, are keys to success in our journey through life. The coin is synonymous with manifestation of ideas, our work in the world, our sense of security and groundedness--our ability to take care of ourselves, to provide for ourselves and others. The cup or chalice is a vessel of love, much like the Holy Grail--a container that can overflow with abundance if we but drink from it and keep it full. It is where we hold all emotions--joy, sorrow, anger, fear and hurt. But it is, at the same time, the source of healing our pain through the transformative power of love and forgiveness--for ourselves first, and for others in our lives. It is a container of life-force, like the womb, and synonymous with the Divine Child formed by the union of sacred feminine and masculine. It is a tool we must learn to use wisely and keep filling at the well. An empty cup makes for an empty life.

5 1 - The Magician 5 The fourth tool is the stave or wand. One lies before The Magician on the table and one is in his hand, for the wand is the magician s tool of activation--of our passion, the creative spark, and spiritual wisdom. It could just as easily be a pen, a paintbrush, a musical instrument. It is a phallic symbol that goes with the masculine aspect of The Magician--the inner masculine energizes and activates us to use our tools--not in just a practical, pedantic way--but in a magical and mysterious way--in harmony with the cosmic dance of the Universe. The Magician asks you to examine your tools. Handle them, sharpen them, polish them, practice with them, and use them to bring about the change you want in your life. It is up to you. The Magician believes in herself and is convinced that all things are possible, including magic. Do you? Journal Prompts How are you The Magician in your life right now? What are you wanting to create in your life today? What tools will you need to bring your idea or spark of inspiration into form? Which of the tools outlined above are your strongest? weakest? What can you do to hone your life skills or tools? What is your unique gift or currency? Where is magic missing in your life? How could you bring more magic in? What does The Magician want you to know? Attributes: creative activating focused artist at work experienced knowledgable skilled crafty, cunning good communicator powerful strong will manifestation imaginative purposeful practiced performer conscious perceptive Shadow: manipulative blaming con man/huckster self-deception abuse of power arrogance, bluff destructive dilettante inner development lack of follow-through lack of will black and white thinking