The Magician

The Meaning of the Magician
Major Arcana Tarot Card in Readings

The Tarot Magician card meaning in a nutshell:
A sudden solution, as if by magic
- but it may be just an illusion.

Archetype:
Wizard — surpassing the plausible.

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Among devoted Tarot users, the Magician is often the favorite card. That's because already using the Tarot is a kind of magic — opening the door to a reality yet to be explained in scientific terms, if that's ever going to be possible.

The Tarot Magician seems to have everything in control, like a master of fate, but that might just as well be an illusion.

In our days, most magicians are illusionists, but the one of the Tarot Magician card is the first to fall for the illusion. That's particularly true for those who favor the Magician card. They want the illusion.

In the picture of this Tarot card, the Magician has gathered the symbols of all four suits on his table, as if the whole Tarot and thereby everything in the world is at his disposal. Hardly.

If the Tarot Magician believes it, he's more of a fool than the card with that name — because the real Tarot Fool knows he's a fool. That makes all the difference in the world, and it's precisely the weakness of the Tarot Magician.

The Tarot Magician card indicates things being solved as if by magic. It can be a person making big problems disappear or splendid solutions appear as if out of nowhere. But life doesn't work like that. If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't.

The Magician's solutions will by time prove to be somewhat lacking. Either they don't last or they don't solve everything, so new problems will emerge — this time more difficult to handle.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, since the initial solution was probably urgent and beneficial. Without it, who knows what would have happened? It's just important to understand that the Magician's solution is rarely the final one. The problem is not really dealt with, but just made to disappear for a while. Still, that can be a blessing.

The Magician's weakness is to be overly confident. Just look at the sign for eternity like a halo above his head. So, we tend to be overly confident about solutions of that kind. When this Tarot card appears in your reading, expect a fantastic turn of events, but also watch out for what remains to be done — that which is at first invisible in the dazzle.

But who doesn't want to be dazzled, now and then?

Merlin. Illumination from the early 13th century book Merlin, by Robert de Boron.

Merlin, the archetype of magicians, appeared in legends during the Middle Ages. Illumination from the early 13th century book Merlin, by Robert de Boron.

The Magician Card as a Person

If the Tarot Magician card refers to a person, and that's usually the case, then that person is one who trusts the so to speak magical solutions. It is not the realistic approach, but the daring and the imagination of it may still actually work — at least for a while. This person may be impressive and seems to accomplish the impossible, but you probably have your doubts. You should.

The Magician Card as an Event

If the Tarot Magician card in your divination spread refers to an event, which is not that likely, it suggests a situation where the solution comes as if by magic. Inexplicably. No logical approach would solve matters, but the absurd just might. Something totally irrelevant may prove to be the only relevant course of action. It is not altogether trustworthy, even if it seems to do the trick, but it may be the only remaining option.

The Magician Card as You

If the Tarot Magician card has a position in the divination spread referring to you, then you are the one attracted to actions that may seem both irrelevant and a bit absurd. Your approach is unconventional, to say the least, but that's exactly why it might work — to everyone's surprise. But you should avoid applying that approach to things as a matter of routine. That just won't work. Know the time and the place for it. And stay wary of what it might lead to at length. The world of magic is not predictable.

A. E. Waite about the Tarot Magician Card

Click the header to read what A. E. Waite had to say about the Major Arcana Magician Tarot card symbolism and meaning in divination.

The Major Arcana Tarot Cards

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Stefan Stenudd

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I'm a Swedish author. In addition to fiction, I've written books about the Tarot, Taoism, astrology and other metaphysical traditions. I'm also an historian of ideas, researching ancient mythology. Click the image to get to my personal website.

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