This
is the aspect of 'manifestation' onto the physical plane from the
formless; the manipulation of objects and events out of the
'nothingness.' The nomadic ‘Fool’ has become familiar with the
changing ground beneath his feet. He has no fixed home, so he must
continually invent out of the unfamiliar space he finds himself in.
The 'Fool' is an allegory of course, one doesn't have to literally be
a homeless gypsy rover to possess these qualities. The home-dweller
has the capability of seeing life afresh, each day, as if for the
first time. Within the ‘nothingness’ of space exists the building
blocks – the elemental and atomic infrastructure by which all
things are born, so anyone has the potential and the opportunity to
create, as a magician, from inspiration.
What
one conjures, whether for good or ill, depends upon the motives and
intentions one carries forth - not all adepts remain with the
altruistic attitudes that they originally set out with. At any rate,
the Magician has acquired and developed the power to use the elements
- arrange and rearrange in accordance with the vision in mind.
But
lets take a fresh look at this very specialized term – 'magician.'
We tend to think of a 'magician' as someone with special powers,
above and beyond the normal range of abilities common to us all. This
is good as an accepted term, and there are certainly many who fit
this description. But let's rethink it a bit, and give ourselves some
credit. As human beings, we all have and use this 'mystic' power
everyday - we want an omelet, so we get all the ingredients together
to cook it up. We are all magicians - our commonly shared powers are
so commonplace that we take them for granted, not realizing the utter
uniqueness that we possess. No other creature but human is able to
visualize, then manifest and bring into reality a given 'vision'
apart from the instinct it is born with – a monkey is very smart
and even has an opposable thumb, but will never make a very good
omelet. Humans – the magicians – can do this and a billion times
more. The same exact principles as frying an egg apply to inventing a
computer's motherboard, or a jet engine – first comes the idea of
it then the mind goes to work to pull the necessary ingredients and
components together to bring it into being. Some even find a way to
pull a rabbit out of an empty hat. The Magician card brings into
focus the creative aspect of our lives and helps us to define and
refine the capabilities that are innate within us. What is required
is our imagination and attention. The focus of the mind is the one
factor needed to produce anything; first we visualize then we think,
then we take the actual steps.
Any
card in the Tarot has as its primary function and source of value,
the quality of defining - by means of an image - some aspect
of our lives. We look at a card, focus our attention, contemplate its
meaning, and clarity emerges, perhaps in ways never considered
before. But keep in mind, you are the one who provides its
meaning. It's your life, and you, as the Magician, interpret the card
– just as you interpret all you see - and take from it the
relevance that arises for you. This is the 'magic' of the Tarot.
This
and other guides may be useful, but ultimately, you are the
alchemist, the conjurer who will choose your ingredients to
synthesize and shape the physical and metaphysical world you live in,
and in so doing will shape your life.
By
Ananda G. Brady copyright 2011
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