Conversing with the Cards – The Major Arcana: The Magician

The Magician

by Morgana Moonfire

Impressions: A shirtless man with a scruffy red beard and a big hat sits on his knees on a seat carved out of a rock. He holds a staff around which a snake is curled and various metal objects hang from the tree underneath which he is sitting. His clothes are simple and apart from the hat solely consist of plain trousers. Quite a few other animals surround him, including a white goat, a turtle and a rooster. At his knee he touches an object that resembles a chess board. A pouch hangs from his shoulder.

This man is obviously a magician. Earthly riches, other than those serving as instruments or tools, bear no importance in his eyes. As such, his attire is kept to a minimum, very plain and simple. The animals sense his capacities and are drawn towards him. His eyes are blue and bright and he lifts up his head just enough to fix one eye on me. Such a man has no need for earthly desires; to him they are futile and unimportant. He understands the greater treasures that life has to offer and knows where to look for them. Due to his appreciation of simplicity, he has learned to understand and bend the elemental forces in the world. Due to his patience and perseverance, he has mastered many arts, gained much knowledge and has become proficient in many a skill.

It are those who contemplate the profound nature of a situation – that which resides at the heart of the matter and which drives all else – who are able to grasp the true meaning and as a result wield the outcome to the benefit of all. We must learn to distinguish between what is important and what is not, see the virtue where virtue is to be found and identify the vice in any given position. By weighing up all the different sides to a story and by carefully pondering the various options available, a solution may be found to any problem. More often than not, all it takes is some healthy common sense.

Key words and sentiments: Make sure you can see the wood through the trees; if the situation asks it of you, climb a hill so that you may see everything from a distance; confidence; logic; satisfaction; fulfilment.