A Trip Through the Major Arcana - I The Magician

The Magician is numbered 'I' because the magician represents where things begin. Where creation occurs and where will is mixed with action. The figure stands at a table with one hand holding a wand and the other pointing to the earth. A symbol of infinity is above the figure's head and an oroboros is at the waist. The figure wears white for purity and spirit cloaked in red for worldly life. At the table lay before the magician lays four tools of manifestation: the sword, the wand, the cup and the pentacle. Roses grow above and are mixed with white lilies below the figure.

If we think of the Magician as being a point on the trip of our friend the fool we must think of what the Magician wants to show her. Ultimately the Magician teaches her that if she wants anything in this life she must make it happen herself. She must be in tune with all aspects of herself and believe in her ability to do it. She must embrace her own duality and not fall into the trap of rejecting aspects of herself by overly identifying with only one side of herself. Her true power lies in acceptance of herself and in her choices.
Most people get off track because they forget this simple lesson. Society wants us to be passive observers. Capitalism alienates us from our own labor to the point that we often forget the power our labor has. Meditating on the Magician card brings us back into the seat of power in our lives. It allows us to dream again, to create again and to believe in ourselves again.