1. The Magician

Keywords:

Upright:

• Creation,
• Mastery,
  
• Energy,Control,
  
• Bringing dreams to fruition,
  
• Creativity, Organization,
• Self-discipline,
  
• Practical Knowledge,
• Resourcefulness,
• Achievement of goals.

Reversed:

• Unable to make a choice,
  
• Abandoning plans,
  
• Lack of commitment,
  
• No energy,
  
• Not seeing plans to conclusion.
  

Description:

• The Magician is the master of his universe, in touch with his abilities as well as the natural laws. Having this knowledge, self-awareness and skill ties into the Magician's abilities to manifest.
  

• Skills are part of the equation, but patience and timing are also required. The Magician knows that everything happens with time and that it is impossible to force nature to move faster than she wants. With the Magician, you realize that regardless of your level of experience, there is always more to learn.

• The Magician has absolute power over all circumstances. Simply put, the Magician is in control of his own thoughts, and therefore the ruler of reality.

• It is a card that reminds us of our unlimited potential.
  

• The Magician is the archetype of the active, masculine principle - the ultimate achiever. He symbolizes the power to tap universal forces and use them for creative purposes. Note his stance in the picture. He acts as a lightening rod - one arm extended up into the Divine for inspiration, the other pointing toward Earth to ground this potent energy. His abilities appear magical at times because his will helps him achieve what seem to be miracles.

• With the Magician, you are still inspired by the creativity the Fool brought but now have the skills and self-discipline to make these a reality. Knowing yourself and your environment is the first step to having mastery.

• Dreams need conscious work and effort to become realized. The Magician shows that this organization when combined with your hidden talents can achieve anything. Forward action, control and practicality help you make the world your oyster.

• In a reading, the Magician implies that the primal forces of creativity are yours if you can claim your power and act with awareness and concentration. This card is a signal to act and act now, provided you understand exactly what you want and are committed to getting it.

• Everything is possible through power of God.
  

• Able to take power from above and make it real.

• If your willpower is consciously and aggressively directed, you can accomplish all you visualize.

• Challenged to go forward in the world and use your skill and intelligence to produce change for the better. Make magic.
  

Reverse Card:

• When the Magician is reversed, you may find yourself unable to make a choice. You've spent time considering the possibilities but you're stuck in your thoughts. Plans or opportunities that seemed like sure things haven't panned out - is the problem lack of commitment or lack of resources?

• You still have choices to make, especially about priorities. You are the only person who can bring your dreams to life. Ask yourself what you really desire and what it you take to inspire and motivate you.

• Abuse of power.

• Use of power for destructive ends.

• Able to manipulate words and actions to suit selfish ends.

Symbols:
Lemniscate: Also known as the infinity symbol, the Lemniscate symbolizes the endless, infinite nature of energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, and the Magician is intimate with this knowledge. The infinity symbol above the Magician's head illustrates that he understands the energy of his thoughts always lead to infinite consequence. Some decks depict an additional Lemniscate at the Magician's throat - this symbolizes the infinite power of the spoken word.

Uroboros: The serpent swallowing its own tail is symbolic of cycles, and is another message of the infinite nature of energy. The Magician tarot card meaning here, as with the Lemniscate, is that energy is endless, and our ability to manipulate energy is key. The Uroborus further signifies the concept of rebirth and regeneration. The Magician understands that rebirth occurs in each moment - hence another source of his power. Most importantly, it is a symbol that stands for the maxim "one is all" which is the highest philosophy for the Magician All the elements: The Magician is keenly aware that we are all born perfectly prepared to live our lives. We each have all the tools and resources within us to use at our whim. This is indicated by all the symbols of the suit shown within the Magicians grasp. The Magician realizes that he is the master of these tools, they are not his master. The Magician reminds us that everything we need to live our best life is available to us as long as we master the gifts of potential, and not become slaves to our circumstances.

Lily: The lily has symbol meanings of purity, innocence and fertility. Also, lily symbolism deals with vulnerability, and the freedom to be ourselves, as well as allowing others to be as they are too. The lily is also a symbolic flower of health and provision. In a reading, the lily can signal growth, development, and a quality of innocence in our lives. Depending on the surrounding cards, the lily may also indicate new relationships and births.

Rose: A long-standing symbol of purity, promise, and beauty. The rose symbol meanings deal with the promise of new beginnings and hope. We must also take the thorns into consideration - with the promise of new hope, we may have to endure a few stinging thorns (painful ordeals) along the way. Overall, the rose is a poignant symbol of the beauty that is ready to unfold within each of our hearts, and a reminder that we must take the opportunity to savor the beauty around us.

Snake: Snake symbol meanings deal with renewal, rebirth and development primarily because they shed their skin during each cycle in growth. Snakes are also cold-blooded which means they depend on their environment for their body temperature. This is a symbolic message that we must be adaptive, flexible and adjust as best we can to our circumstances. When the snake slithers across the cards into our consciousness way may need to ask ourselves if we need to shed a part of ourselves to allow further growth, or perhaps we need to be a little more flexible in situations at work or home.

Numerical significance of 1:

• Independence,
  
• Action,
  
• Motivation,
  
• Singleness of Purpose,
  
• Driven,
  
• Positivity,
  
• Will.
  

The meaning of One is about the initial point of contact. The Zohar indicates: ”When the Unknown of Unknowns chose to be revealed, it came as one point of light.”

This statement is profound. It is in this statement that we derive the prime meaning of number One. If we come from the understanding that prior to One there is void - we begin to see the gravity represented by One.

Effectually, One changes the landscape. It alters the entire view of what was before.

When we encounter One’s in our lives or in the cards we are asked to recognize that which sets the fire to burn. In other words, we must observe the point of ignition in our lives. This analogy is best illustrated with a few questions you may ask yourself when confronted with the meaning of One:

• What is the point of contact that lights up my life?
• What beginning action must be taken to move me in a desired direction?
• Where is the point of entry?
  
• That space I can enter into in order to clearly see and change my landscape?

Alternatively, the meaning of One is also an indicator of completion. Just as we see reference to the beginning (the Alpha) One also symbolizes the ending (the Omega). Even in the ending’s One is changing the landscape of our lives, because as an ending approaches we must become aware of a new beginning on its heels.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly the number One reminds us to focus. It is only through concentration that we are able to accomplish anything. With singleness of mind, body and spirit there is no end to our potential. In this light, we can identify our objective and see clearly to our prime purpose (which, ideally, would be to ease into the knowledge of our highest, truest selves).

Visually, the meaning of One illustrates:

• Door – One way in, one way out
• Street – A path in a new direction
• Staff – A motion in one direction
• Arrow – Hitting the focused target
• Sword - Cutting through to reach clarity
• Building – Reaching higher and higher

Potential Personality: Those who resonate with number One are driven and ambitious; they get things done. Their ability to focus is amazing, and they can concentrate even in the midst of chaos around them. One people are usually objective, and shrewd, able to make hard decisions with ease. Sometimes these people are stubborn, obstinate and have inflated egos. However, when these people are set in one specific direction or given a constructive goal, they will excel. Here the goal overshadows the ego as this personality has purpose now - this makes him/her congruent with the vibration of One, and thus successful.

Key Questions:
When contemplating the Magician Tarot card meaning, ask yourself or your querent the following questions:

• Am I aware of my own power?
• Am I recognizing my fullest potential?
• Am I playing the role of victim or victor?
• Am I using my power for good or abusing it?
• Am I connecting to my higher source of energy?
• Am I applying myself effectively and beneficially?
• What action can I take to move into a better direction?
• What resources are available to me, and how do I tap into them?