It’s Tarot Tuesday, again, blissmakers! Time to continue The Fool’s Journey through the Major Arcana!
Last week, The Fool stepped out his door and set out on the path that leads him out into the big, wide world. Today, he has his first encounter with another on the road. Today, The Fool meets The Magician.
The Magician is a smooth talker. He is a charmer with a magnetic personality. Some might call him a Snake Oil salesman, of sorts, but he’s not so devious as that, IMO.
The Magician is worldly. He is someone who possesses a keen understanding of how the game of life is played. He has developed a high level of proficiency with the tools of the four suits of the Minor Arcana. As a master of these tools - most commonly represented as Swords, Wands, Cups, and Pentacles (or Coins) - The Magician is in a unique position to teach The Fool how to wield them.
He can be a bit shifty, The Magician. I imagine him as hanging out at a crossroads in a shabby suit and a slightly oversized trench coat. When The Fool meets The Magician I see the latter slyly opening up his trench coat to reveal various and sundry swords, wands, cups, and coins. Some are in better shape than others, and all have been used before, but that doesn’t negate the fact that The Fool would be well served to have some tools with him on this great adventure.
And even if he does come across as a bit shady and unkempt, The Magician is more adept with these tools than most. If The Fool can overlook the shabby exterior of this character, he can really learn a great deal about how to harness the raw, undeveloped power of these tools. This can be a great boon to him as he navigates his way through this journey.
This first meeting on the road will play a role in how The Fool experiences any others he meets along the way. If he approaches The Magician with open trust and friendliness, he will be rewarded with wisdom that will serve him well the rest of his Journey. If he judges The Magician by his questionable outer appearance, and interacts with him in a guarded and suspicious manner, The Fool will miss out on a golden opportunity to obtain some very handy tools, and the great gift of wisdom regarding how to use them well.
Basically, The Magician introduces The Fool to the masculine energy he naturally possesses. He teaches him about assertion, aggression, will, and drive. He is the embodiment of empowered action and of conscious awareness. Thus, upon meeting him, The Fool starts to become more aware of the world around him, of his external environment, and of how these external forces might be manipulated for his gain.
With all this new intel, The Fool leaves The Magician feeling quite powerful and not a little full of himself. He takes his tools, returns to the road, and continues on his way. Who will he encounter next? What new experience will befall The Fool as he ambles down his road? Stay tuned to find out …