discussion on tarot cards; the magician

[Emy]

So time for the magician...

I'll attach a picture of the magician in my deck although the photo is taken from the picture in the book... :)

In this deck it the magician is a woman, it is always a man in my other decks. She holds a sword to the sky, a sky of thunder and lightening, and a big shield shaped like an elephants head in her other hand. She wears a helmet with wings and a snakes head on it. The elephant shield holds a wand in his trunk (the trunk also shapes into a snake at its end...) and her her clothing is covered in little coins/pentacles. There is also a little altar on which the cup is placed and next to the altar is a monkey. You can also see a crayfish (or whatever "kräfta" is called in english ;P )

This card is especially interesting to me since all the people close to me has this card as "their" tarot card (you know when you add your birthday numbers to find out which card you are...). I am the chariot, but my two brothers, my fiancée and my mother are all the magician and so was my father when he lived. There are also other magicians near me, some of my friends etc. Isn't that strange?

This card stands for all the elements to me. I often think of a person with focus, who can direct energy according to its wishes when I see this card. The magician is also intelligent to me, cause it has knowledge of things in the universe, it understands universal laws. The lightening in the sky suggests lots of energy and we see this woman from sort of underneath. She has her head held high, and I think she is a woman who know what she wants and where she is going. When someone gets this card it often stands for lots of motivation, energy and that the time is right to start off whatever it is you are supposed to start off. The person who gets this card often sees the possibilitys around them and knows what is to be done next.

Now moving on to the animals in this card... This deck is so special to me, just because it is so different from the others I have. The other cards I have doesn't use as much animals and not the same ones either.

The elephant, to me it is a large animal with a good memory. It is a large protective animal that doesn't rush but is well focused. The snake is a clever one, stands for wisdom to me. The monkey (or is it a baboon?)here looks like some sort of monkey you would find in a temple and therefor it tells me that it is sacred. And I guess the elephant is sacred too... The wings on her helmet brings my thoughts to think of Athena. The crayfish I am not so sure of, but it is connected to water and therefor it could stand for some emotions.

Anyone who has any other ideas?

[Flaire-FireStar]

The crayfish I am not so sure of, but it is connected to water and therefor it could stand for some emotions.

I think so too ~ this is what I got in an e-mail newsletter though. Thought it was a really interesting bit of info.


From the Angel Paths e-zine
The crayfish is renowned for its ability to fall in love with, mate and impregnate itself. This suggests some of the Moon's more illusory meanings.
http://www.angelpaths.com/day.html

I love the power shown in your Magician card, Emy! It's really stunning.

Will have to meditate on my cards tonight though. :)

[Azure]

A friend who did a reading for me told me almost a year ago told me, in spite of the fact that I thought I was going to get more serious about my grad school bf, that she saw the magician in my future, and i might as well wait for him. I didn't get it at the time, but I do now - he has a mixture of the warrior, the sorcerer, the poet and the lover in him. He is prince and pauper in one - he has an understanding of the world that few are able to appreciate. And for me at the moment, he's a real person.

Likewise, my understanding of the magician is someone who literally is able to walk multiple paths at the same time - he's the guy who can excel at sports and then come in and make a multi-course gourmet meal and not feel his masculinity is threatened. He's the person who can revere science, yet have an abiding faith in the potential of magic. The magician is a walking contradiciton - he is able to comprehend that some things are incomprehensible.

The magician is a card that signifies that the querant has the power to make the situation work in his favor by stepping out of the ordinary. The magician can make the impossible possible.

Likewise, he takes the potential of the Fool and channels it into specific directions which may not seem reasonable or probably, but in fact are, becaue the force of will exists to make it so.

[Mithrea]

The Magician is one of my favorite cards. When the Magician comes up in a reading, I usually take it to be representative of my inner self and the ideal self I strive to be.

In my deck, the Magician is elegantly dressed in complimentary colors of red and green, accented with gold. He holds a wand and stands behind a table with objects of various shapes, sizes and colors on it. These objects represent to me many different types of knowledge. The Magician stands over them with his wand. He is a master of them all. I see the Magician as sort of a Jack-of-all-trades. He is a master of the elements and in control of the world around him. He makes decisions after careful, thoughtful deliberations (that's one way I am connected to the Magician--as a Libra).

I also think of him as the ideal student. He absorbs information and learns new skills in order to put them to good use. He is confident and deliberate. The Magician is representative of someone who attacks problems head on. He engages the world and will not stop until he finds a solution or resolution. Because of this, I think it is a positive and very powerful card. He represents the power we all have to be conscious of what is going on around us and take an active role in our own lives rather than just allowing thing to happen to us or give in to "fate."

[Azure]

I should make note of why specifically I usually refer to the Magician as 'he" - especially when Emy was talking about her deck, which sounds quite cool, with a female version of the card. I use the Robin Wood and Hanson-roberts decks most of the time and to me, the Magician and the High Priestess sort of compliment each other - and for me in readings they tend to represent people with the qualities the card represent. Likewise, the Magician almost always represents a man, the High Priestess a woman.

I should add, both cards for me have an element of sensuality - something that classically, both cards are supposed to sort of deny. Most of the older tarot books I have suggest that both cards imply platonic love, or celebacy, but for me they often both seem to be otherwise.

[Flaire-FireStar]

I use the Robin Wood and Hanson-roberts decks most of the time and to me, the Magician and the High Priestess sort of compliment each other - and for me in readings they tend to represent people with the qualities the card represent. Likewise, the Magician almost always represents a man, the High Priestess a woman.

I agree totally, Azure.. Though I find it really interesting, having the Magician as a female..

Anyway.. :) I kinda got myself stumped with my Spiral deck this time.

Rider-Waite

Standing behind a table which holds the symbols of the suits- almost seems to hint at the Magician being untouchable; holding up a wand to the skies and showing he is one with the higher powers and is not to be messed with, but also having his other hand pointing towards the Earth...showing he is equal to the rest of us in human flesh. I think the flowers add beauty and serenity to the overall look to the card, and the Magician doesn't look to intimidating, that we shouldn't be afraid of him, but just be forewarned of his power and knowledge....But he's an excellent student; always practicing and studying and wanting to learn more.

Spiral

A very powerful looking individual (much like a sorceror from a movie) clothed in just a robe (with the suit symbols as the print) and winged boots. That reminds me of Hermes - being the messenger of the higher powers?!
As well, he seems to be "floating" above an orchard in the lower right hand corner of the card. As an emphasis to the power of the Magician, there is a burst of light coming from his left hand - which engulphs one of the trees in the orchard. In his other hand, he carries a scepter, pointing it at himself as if showing off to others his power.

Then in the upper right hand corner of the card, there's a symbol that looks like the thing I've attached... And I have *no* idea what it means...It's not very visible and I really had to look hard to get it copied down.

[Myst]

That'd be the tree of life, I think, Flaire. It has to do with the Qaballah, each ball represents a sephira or stage between First Emanator and all things that exist. It has to do with high magic and that's why you find it with the magician.

[Flaire-FireStar]

Aaaaaah...Okay then. :)

[Emy]

Originally posted by Myst
That'd be the tree of life, I think, Flaire. It has to do with the Qaballah, each ball represents a sephira or stage between First Emanator and all things that exist. It has to do with high magic and that's why you find it with the magician.

Yes, that is the tree of life :)
And Flaire if your interested in knowing more about it there are lots of sites on the net, and I believe also a few threads here... *guessing*

The Gill tarot deck (which I also have and sometimes use) has got the tree of life on the back of each card, and there is also a special spread called the tree of life...

:)

[Silver Venus]

Gives me a chance to love everyone's idea's on the magicain!

To me the magicain is a boy or a girl (even though my cards only show him/her as a he), whoever the reading brings him/her up as.. I love your card Emy as its so different from the typical male portrayal!

He ultimatley means to me, that the querrant should believe in his/her own will, power and experience from life for the ability to create, and follow his/her inner voice and instincts and guides to make a decision.. you can create whatever you want you just have to have the will.

In my mythic deck he is standing at a meeting point of four crossroads, infront of him, below at his feet are his magical tools which stand for his creative, gifted power and now learnt knowledge ~ the Wand, Sword, Cup and Pentacle, (these also represent the minor arcana and the lessons in these, suggesting that he has been through or knows of these and this is where his knowledge has come from)

He is about to draw power from the universe, from the ground below his/her feet, with one hand poiting downwards and one up to the sky, the left points to the sky, our intutuion and creative side (this is also shown by the tree of life or the infinty symbol)

He now has taken charge and salutes the sky with his new power, he has everything now, just has to decide which of the four path's to take, and again his reference to the gods is implying that he is seeking advice form above!

"As above, so below" always comes to mind when I draw this card and I think it is a reminder of how we are so connected to below and not the above and often do not associate the two together to gain power and knowledge.
The Fool did not know of this, he boldly stepped out innocent and ready for anything and now the magician acts as a messenger (this card is also connects with Mercury who is the messenger of the gods) to say that you can make anything out of anything, will is all that is needed... which is the key of magick, and therefore WILL is at the heart of the magicain (to me).

[Mithrea]

Last time I commented on the Magician I only used my Renaissance Deck. Silver Venus' comments reminded me that I had not picked up the Witches Tarot. :) I noticed something about this card that I had never noticed before.

In the Witches Tarot, the Magician is a man (and quite an unattractive man at that) He is dressed in purple and white robes with one hand in the air. The Infinity symbol is above his head and he sort of looks like he has made it rise off of the table in front of him (wingardium leviosa!--heehee just kidding). On the table is a pentacle, a cup, a sword and a wand. Here is the part I didn't notice before. In the the top right hand corner is a piece of a large white circle that I always assumed was the moon. What I didn't notice until I read Silver Venus comments is that his other hand is pointed at the lower left side of the card where there is an identical BLACK circle. I guess it just blended in with the dark gray of the table so I never paid attention to it. But now, "As above, so below" really makes sense to me. I'm starting to see all sorts of new possibilities for this card. :)

What I am trying to say is Dang! I am learning so much from these discussions :D Thanks!

[Faery-Wings]

As I always say, better late than never. ;) However this gives me a chance to read over all of your responses. he he. But I don't always see the same things you all do, especially since you all seem to use different decks. But I am so amazed by the depth of your impressions. I can see I need to spend more time with my cards.

Emy~ I am really enjoying your deck. Did you mention the name of it and I missed it?

Flaire~ I like the idea of him being untoucahble, yet human as well. Never thought of himthat way.


I am using Universal waite. For me, the Magician has always represented masculine power, assertiveness, confidence. Not that these aren't seen in women, but that this is more of a "yang" energy. He is a pivital point in controling this energy and the elements as shown by the raised hand/lowered opposing hand, as well as the tools (elements) on the table before him. He is vital and vibrant, shown by the red robes and lush flowers. He is intently conscious of his ability and his knowlege and is not afraid to use it to get what he wants.


:)

[Emy]

I don't think it has a name really Chryssi... or maybe... it says "Jolanda den tredjes tarotlek" on a swedish website, the website is in swedish but here is the URL anyways: http://www.kristallporten.com
click on tarot and browse that category... I think you might also need to click on "mer tarotlekar" (= more tarot decks) to find it. It costs 199 swedish kronor, which should be something like 20 dollars or 20 euro... If you are interested in buying it try and contact the webpage owners (click on the mail link) and see if they could deliver outside Sweden. :) I haven't searched for this deck on other webpages but perhaps you could find it there too...

Blessings

[Flaire-FireStar]

Flaire~ I like the idea of him being untoucahble, yet human as well. Never thought of himthat way.


:) Well....here's a pic of the Magician from the Spiral Tarot. (He really looks intimidating!)

[Flaire-FireStar]

And if you can't see it...I circled the Tree of Life (which is on all the Major Arcana cards in this deck...you really have to look for some of them. ;) )

[Silver Venus]

Mithrea ~ I missed your comments after mine last time, glad youve seen new things in your magacian too!
I too am learnng loads from these great re-runs :)

Chris ~ I loved your description of his yang energy!

Flaire ~ Thats really interesting about the tree of life being in all the major of your deck. I tried to get into the theroy behind it all but found it too baffling, is there a simpler explanation that goes along with your deck?

[Flaire-FireStar]

I'm really not sure. :huh: Neither the book or the "introduction card" (heh) said anything about it.. But I have a book that has a bit on the Tarot and the Tree of Life, so hopefully that will help. :)

[Silver Venus]

O no worries I just wondered :)

[Faery-Wings]

Celtic Dragon Magician :)

So different than from what I wrote about UW!

A woman is the Magician here (cool!). She has the tools of the Universe in front of her, as well as a book of knowledge. Astral dragon come out of the mists to guide and help her. I get a much more mystical sense of power from this card as opposed to a more physically drawn power from the UW Magician. This card, to me, symbolizes a connection to the astral and the ability to use that power.

[Silver Venus]

Originally posted by chryssi1
This card, to me, symbolizes a connection to the astral and the ability to use that power.

Thats exactly what got me when I saw your picture!

Wow youre deck is really something! I bet you are having so much fun with it :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

:) It's a really awesome deck...I love the images.