The Magicians
Sometimes called the Magus and sometimes the Juggler this card often features a man at table. Frequently on the in front of him are a series of tools. In the Smith-Waite-Rider deck the cools before him are the suits, but older cards have a variety of different tools. In the Smith-Waite-Rider deck he wears a sacred robe of divine Magick, but in older cards he is dressed like a juggler at a carnival.
Card Interpretation
Roses and Lillies
Two types of flowers appear on the card these are roses and lilies. My mind is immediately taken to the Second Song of Solomon which begins with “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys”. I explored the meaning the Roses and Lilies on in the Tarot cards. Find the article here.
Infinity
Above the magician is the symbol for the infinite which he is invoking as he holds up his wand.
Position of the arms
The arms are inspired by the works of Eliphas Levi who sought to combine a gesture similar to that of his personal Baphomet, but also forming a shape similar to Aleph. He tried to work Aleph into the card as he believed this would be the first card of the deck although most modern decks have the fool preceding it.
The arms of the Baphomet are often associated with alchemy because of the words which appear on his arms Solve et Coagula. These resemble the alchemical actions of dissolving a compound and reforming it. When this is done a compound is broken up into its component parts, which are refined and re-constituted.
The directions of the arms also remind me of the line from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes which reads “As above so below”. This text also suggests dissolution, as well. I will quote here:
As below so above, and what is above is as that which is below, to accomplish the miracles […] You will separate the Earth from the Fire, the subtle from the dense, gently and with great skill. It ascends from Earth to Heaven, and then it descends again to Earth, and receives the power of the superiors and the inferiors. Thus, you will have the glory of the whole world; and all darkness will flee from you. …
Emerald Tablet attributed to Hermes Trismegistus circa 900CE
So it would seem the arms indicate this alchemical process. You also see the wand raised high with two yods on the ends symbolic of the creative power that made the universe. The Emerald Tablet also reads “Thus, the world was created.”. The other hand points to the earth as if balancing or bringing to manifestation on the earth the power raised from heaven. With an invocation of infinite, heavenly power, he is able to get things done on earth. Waite writes in his Pictoral Key to the Tarot, of the sign of the hands, “it shows the decent of grace, virtue and light of all things above and derived, to things below”.
Intended face
A text interpreted from French by Waite written by Eliphas Levi informs us that the Magician has curly hair like that of Apollo or Mercury and his face has a smile that indicates confidence. Personally, I think that never made it to the final card, but it was intended.
White Undergarments and headband
Like the fool, this character has white undergarments perhaps indicating purity, particularly of mind, which in his case is surrounded by a white headband. I am also reminded of spells in the Greek Magical Papyri which required the practitioner to place divine words on paper wrapped around the practitioner’s head, the commonly known being the Bornless / Headless rite.
Snake belt
It is hard to tell, but the character may be wearing a belt made of serpent. This is related by some to Ouroboros. The earliest alchemical depiction of this comes from Cleopatra the Alchemist’s 300CE text and is accompanied by text saying “all is one”. It is possible for a turn of the 20th century Occultist, Ouroboros is symbolic of death and rebirth or reinvention. The same ritual which I mentioned for the headband has the line “heart girt with serpent is thy true name”. Although this is around his waist rather than his heart, I do wonder about the connection. Waite who commissioned this Tarot says that the belt indicates eternity; the eternity of divine spirits.
Red Robe
The practitioner wears a red robe symbolic of all things associated with fire, but first and foremost the will and the first movement that created the world.
Table and 4 tools
The table features the 4 elemental weapons. These symbols are also the 4 suits of the Minor Arcana. But encapsulating the 4 elements it also symbolises all things in the manifest universe. The magician has power over all manifest things. He is taking willful action and doing the work.
Signature
On the bottom right is Pixie’s signature.
Card 1 – Bet
This card is associated with the Hebrew letter Bet which is Mercury / Hermes. As Hermes, he is the extoller of the divine wisdom of Hermetics. Hermes is also a psychopomp that leads the dead through the underworld.
What does this card mean in a reading?
As with most of the cards, I tell myself a story about the character and see what parts of the story I am drawn to.
Here the Magician knows what he wants and is going to get it. He can tell what is a spiritual aim and what is gross, but has made up his mind and is going to apply himself to get it. He distinguishes between what he really wants and everything that is needed to get it. He takes earthly actions to try and get what he wants, but wants to give his efforts a magical boost so he summons the spirits of the tarot and begins diplomacy with the spirits.
Tarot
This is part of the Tarot Section.