The Magician
The Magician, the first card of the Major Arcana, is often viewed as a man in tandem with the second card, the High Priestess, but different decks depict the Magician in different ways. Some tarot decks don't even illustrate a human form, such as Kim Krans in the Wild Unknown Deck, who uses a leopard.
Carrie Mallon, who focuses her work in large part on the Wild Unknown deck, sees the Magician as ACTION and CREATION. I agree with this interpretation but can’t help thinking about Jessica Dore’s thoughts in Tarot for Change (2021).
Dore reminds us that the four tools available to the Magician, in addition to the staff in his hand, represent the four elements, water (cups), air (swords), fire (wands), and earth (pentacles). She launches from Tomberg’s Meditations on the Tarot where he defines magic as the subtle ruling over the dense. For Dore the pentacles represent the dense, the material world, behavior. The other three suits are subtle, energy, emotions, intellect, all interior. When we are able to use the three subtle to positively affect our behavior (the dense), for her that is MAGIC.
The Magician and the Enneagram
The nine types channel the Magician in different ways. If we remember the enneagram highlights our motivations and fears, and can show up in healthy or stressed ways, it is fascinating to interpret these types with the archetype/symbol of the Magician.
The Body Triad 8,9,1
Type 8
Type Eights protect themselves and others through their use of power. The Magician has a lot of potential power at his disposal and can use it in different ways. The key here is to use the fiery wand (8’s element) in a healthy way and to take the other suits into account before acting.
Type 9
Nines consider all points of view and can sometimes be indecisive because they think others may have better ideas. When the Magician appears for the Type 9 it is a wonderful opportunity to recognize that all the tools and resources are available and you have the capacity for right action at your fingertips. It is time to follow your gut.
Type 1
Type One’s gift and struggle are the same: knowing what is right. The Magician is an amazing opportunity for the One to look at all the available resources, and seeking where improvements can be made, to take time to look at the subtle over the obvious or dense, and to consider all the options, even other peoples’ opinions.
The Heart Triad 2,3,4
Type 2
My friend Gwen and I discussed her type and the Magician last week. Her take is that the Magician uses all resources at hand to help the other, and on the flip side, can manipulate the other as well. The Two might remember that love can be reciprocal, and one-sided helping may lead to resentment.
Type 3
Type Three uses all the tools at hand to focus on outward achievement. The Three may be careful to make sure the internal work of the other three suits is done, in order to drive good pentacle action as they move through the world.
Type 4
The Type Four is deeply emotional and intuitive, and has an incredible opportunity with the Magician. Fours do the subtle internal work, sometimes to a fault, and the strength they show in understanding what lies beneath the surface is an amazing gift. Fours love to be special and the Magician gives them the opportunity, not to withhold but to shine their light outward.
The Head Triad 5,6,7
Type 5
The Five has an amazing capacity to study and learn. Knowledge is king and what the Magician can remind the Five is that they must use all the elements in order to be successful. Plugging into the emotion of the cups, the fire of the wand, and the groundedness of the earth will help balance the Five’s sword inclinations.
Type 6
The most important message the Magician can share with the Type Six, is to trust themselves. The Six is prone to self-doubt and anxiety, yet deep within, even though they are part of the head triad, is a deep intuitive knowing and an empathy which gives them incredible access to cup energy. All suits are available to the Six if they can access courage.
Type 7
is absolutely pumped that the Magician showed up in their reading because look at all the possibilities! Let’s go! Type Seven loves movement and action, often as a way to avoid pain. So when the Magician shows up for a Seven, if they can put the brakes on for just a bit, and consider feeling their feelings, taking the time to think things through, the results they achieve may in fact be much more satisfying.
Let me know what you think of these interpretations. I’m beginning some deep work on a book, and integrating tarot and the enneagram will be the subject.
Tarot Circle
The first Tarot Circle for paid subscribers occured last Sunday and I think it went really well. We focused on the Magician in a small group, read some cards and got to know one another. The next meeting will be Sunday, December 11th at noon PST.
Winter Solstice Gathering
Sign ups have begun for my gathering with Laurie Blackwell on Sunday December 18th at 3pm PST.
See details when you click this link:
I am so grateful to you for taking the time to read this newsletter. Lots of love as you create magic in your own life.