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{{infobox tarot
|name=The Magician
|image=Tarot Magician.jpg
|position=1
|color=Yellow
|direction=Above
|note=E
|hebrew letter=bet
|symbol=The Magician symbol.svg
|planet=[[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]]
}}
'''The Magician''' is the first of the [[Major Arcana]] of [[Tarot]].

== Description ==
=== [[Rider Waite deck]] ===
A youthful figure in the robe of a magician, having the countenance of divine [[Apollo]], with smile of confidence and shining eyes. Above his head is the mysterious sign of the [[Holy Spirit]], the sign of life, like an endless cord, forming the figure [[8]] in a horizontal position, the [[Lemniscate]] (this only appears elsewhere above [[Strength]]). About his waist is a serpent-cincture, the [[serpent]] appearing to devour its own tail. This is familiar to most as a conventional symbol of eternity, but here it indicates more especially the eternity of attainment in the spirit. In the Magician's right hand is a [[wand]] raised towards heaven, while the left hand is pointing to the earth. This dual sign is known in very high grades of the Instituted Mysteries; it shews the descent of grace, virtue and light, drawn from things above and derived to things below. The suggestion throughout is therefore the possession and communication of the Powers and Gifts of the Spirit. On the table in front of the Magician are the symbols of the four [[Tarot]] suits, signifying the elements of natural life, which lie like counters before the adept, and he adapts them as he wills. Beneath are [[rose]]s and lilies, the ''flos campi'' and ''lilium convallium'', changed into garden flowers, to shew the culture of aspiration. This card signifies the divine motive in man, reflecting God, the will in the liberation of its union with that which is above. It is also the unity of individual being on all planes, and in a very high sense it is thought, in the fixation thereof.

The bower above him represents the passion and protection of love, repeated in the [[Queen of Pentacles]]. It shows his work originates from Love.

== Upright Meaning ==
Upright, the Magician represents creativity, new ventures, and the successful manifestation of desires and goals. It's a good omen for specific wishes or new projects, and suggests that the subject should act consciously and keep focused and committed toward one thing. Distractions should be eliminated.<ref name="biddy">{{cite
|first=Brigit
|title=Magician Tarot Card Meanings
|url=http://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/major-arcana/magician/
}}</ref>

== Reversed Meaning ==
Reversed, the Magician represents greed, deceit, manipulation, and using skills for negative ends. It can also mean trickery, untrustworthiness, and confusion - a stereotypical cars salesman, using charm and manipulative ability to confuse one into buying into an idea. The reversed Magician suggests one is out of touch with reality, and that one's true potential isn't being realized. Additionally, one may have a skill that could help one's spiritual journey that isn't being used, and often indicates a need to focus within.<ref name="biddy"/>

== Correspondences ==
* Links [[Kether]] to [[Binah]] as path number 12 of the [[Tree of Life]]
* Yetziratic Intelligence - the Transparent intelligence
* Infinity symbol also over the head of the figure on [[Strength]].
* Organic Time - '''The Big Bang''' The exnihiliation of the universe. ''In Time, You initiate Change.''

==See also==
* [[Archetypal mind]]

== External Links ==
* [http://www.barbelith.com/underground/topic.php?id=1620 Barbelith Thread]
* [http://www.absolution-online.com/hypersigil/wiki.cgi?Chapter1 Hypersigil Chapter]
* [http://learntarot.com/maj01.htm LearnTarot.com page for The Magician]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magician_%28Tarot_card%29 Wikipedia page for The Magician]

== Resources ==
*  Waite, A.E. (1911) ''The Pictoral Key to the Tarot: Being Fragments of a Secret Tradition Under the Veil of Divination.'' London: Rider.

== References ==
<references/>

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