Demystifying the Major Arcana: The Magician

“The universe conspires with those who dare to manifest their desires.”

—Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

The Fool's journey through the Major Arcana begins with the Magician, where you enter a world of possibilities, where anything is possible, and dreams can come true. This is where The Fool's sparks of creative inspiration are brought to form with fierce action, self-discipline, planning, and perseverance.

You've taken the leap of faith, and even if you fell flat on your face, you've built confidence knowing you can survive hard things. Have you ever got up the courage to do something that terrifies you? Maybe it was a rollercoaster or public speaking—and as soon as you finished, you felt invincible, like you could do ANYTHING. That expansive feeling of self-empowerment is the energy of this card.

The Magician is most often associated with the term' manifestation.' Some teachings oversimplify things and ignore real-world challenges some of us experience. When I say "manifest" here, I mean it as a personal tool, understanding that it's different for everyone.

"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen."

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

You are encouraged to realize your own power and recognize that you already have all the tools you need to manifest your goals. Think of it like the confidence to create what you want. You know those days when you leave the house smiling, and suddenly, everyone is smiling back at you, and you have an unexpectedly magical day? That's an example of exercising this power.

"The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you already are."

—Rumi

The Magician is a visionary who thinks outside the box to create new and innovative things. They are highly skilled and knowledgeable and can master their craft through hard work and dedication, as well as the elements as they connect to different aspects of ourselves and our lives—fire/action, air/thought, water/emotion, and earth/grounding. Consider how these elements interact in your life. If you're overwhelmed, trying to think your way out of it doesn't help; you're adding 'air' and feeding the 'fire.' Slowing down, sitting with your emotions and grounding yourself can make a big difference, dampening the fire with water and earth. You're already in control of these elements; now is the time to find a healthy balance that works for you.

"Don't be afraid to begin. You have the power of all four elements within your reach. Now is the time to use them."

—Kim Krans, Wild Unknown Tarot

The infinity symbol on the card symbolizes your limitless potential, and the traditional image of a figure whose arms point to the sky and ground represents the connection between spirit and the earthly realm—and the conduit you are. The Divine Feminine Tarot Deck Guide Book describes this as "The power of the stars is transformed into earthly magic by the Magician." In this energy, we alchemized the power and wisdom of the universe into creative endeavours. When we are able to bring our guidance from Spirit into our reality in a tangible form, we are, in essence, making an offering back to the divine. Your work is essential to the universe.

Examples of The Magician are shamans, wizards, witches, hags, and sages. Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, Yoda from Star Wars, Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, and the Architect from The Matrix—they use their powers and knowledge within their respective worlds among the people.

If this card appears in a reading, it asks you to recognize your skills and use them to achieve your goals. It represents self-confidence, resourcefulness, innovation, creativity, and the ability to turn ordinary situations into extraordinary experiences.

"Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive, because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny."

—Gandhi

Remember, the origins of Tarot remain a mystery, and there are different ways to understand and connect with the cards. Your way is always the right way.

Go Deeper

Chakra: Crown

Keywords: Rebellion, Fresh start, Leap of faith

Brief Interpretation: New journey, exploration, free spirit, trusting the universe

Mantra: Embrace the possibilities of a new journey.

Astrological: Uranus, Earth

Gemstones: Azurite, Chrysoprase, Chrysocolla, Moldavia, Orange Carnelian

Candle Magic: White candle used for new beginnings, children, and creativity