Journey in 78 Steps

The Knights

Knights play the role of seeker and doer of and through their element - they focus attention on the element's concerns, using great concentration to aim at their target.  As with the Knights of legend, they may disregard everything in order to pursue their goals and perceive everything and everyone according to whether or not it furthers their quest.  They are action/movement oriented and can indicate a rapidly progressing or changing situation.  Because of the association with Air and with travel, Knights may also indicate communications across distance (ie, mass media, letters, and online communications).

Depending on the deck, Knights may also be referred to as Son, Prince, Warrior, etc.

Knight of Pentacles (Air of Earth)
FOCUSES ATTENTION ON AND THROUGH MATERIAL SENSATION
This is the slowest of the four Knights, and is the most grounded. Keeps attention on physical concerns, material possessions and wealth, and the hands-on work being done.  They create change by physical manipulation of their environment and are able to patiently and methodically work toward long-term goals, seeing each step as a building block toward an ultimate purpose.

In the role of Knight of Earth, one would focus their attention on security, stability, physical and material goals and take steps toward that goal in a grounded, practical manner.  They would define success in their quest according to how well they are able to alter the situation so that it better matches their physical and material desires and generates increased security for self and others.

This Knight is willing to fight for security (their own or others) and to protect health and material possessions. 

They are willing to concentrate their efforts on routine details and practicalities and may ignore or reject anything that distracts them from attention to those details.  As a result, they may be perceived as strongly materially-oriented, plodding or 'boring' - their willingness to make progress slowly may annoy less patient people, but once they do complete a task it is well done and tends toward permanence.

They may have difficulty adapting to changing circumstances or altering their routines and do not tend to set or pursue goals that aren't likely to result in concrete, physical results.

As a method of communication across distance, this Knight prefers solidity - books, newspapers, letters, objects with meaning that create a sense of security and 'hominess' to more abstract methods of communicating.

Knight of Cups (Air of Water)
FOCUSES ATTENTION ON AND THROUGH EMOTIONS, SUBCONSCIOUS AND CONNECTEDNESS
This Knight moves at a flowing pace.  Keeps attention and focus on the emotional energy of a situation, their dreams and subconscious feelings, and pursues connectedness with others and with their own inner self.  They create change by merging with others emotionally and by attempting to alter the emotional feedback they get or feel themselves. 

In the role of the Knight of Water, this person seeks emotional connectedness and takes steps to a goal of generating an emotionally rich environment and to express their feelings safely.  They would define success according to how happy the result makes all concerned or how well the result expresses their inner feelings.  They take cues about how to pursue that goal by focusing on their dreams, intuitions and feelings about what to do.

This Knight is willing to fight for love, a rich inner experience and out of a sense of compassion and urge toward connectedness with others.

They are willing to concentrate their efforts on expression of feelings and on altering the emotional climate to one that enriches connections with others, even when doing so requires a sacrifice of practicalities or seems to be against reason.  They take emotions as their cues for how to proceed. As a result, they may be seen as a dreamer, an unrealistic romantic who may not be able to be counted on to stay should their feelings waver.  With the water association with the Moon, this Knight may be seen as 'inconstant as the Moon' as feelings are rarely stable and unwavering.

They may have difficulty staying on task during periods that aren't emotionally satisfying, or in working alone without others there to provide positive feedback and support.  They may have a very hard time understanding when a goal that is emotionally intense is not realistically achievable (such as pursuing someone one loves after that person has moved on), seeing the strength of their emotions as an indicator that it must be pursued.

As a method of communication across distance, this Knight favors sentimental messages that favor the expression of emotions and those drenched in rich inner symbolism.  Musical expression favors this Knight as a means of communication.

Knight of Wands (Air of Fire)
FOCUSES ATTENTION ON AND THROUGH SELF-WILL AND DESIRES
This Knight moves rapidly and with intensity.  Keeps attention and focus on the pursuit of self-identity and self-expression.  They create change by inserting their personal identity and desires into a situation and attempting to follow their passions and being themselves.  They may enjoy attention from others, and therefore will concentrate effort on persuading others to agree an join them in the pursuit of their vision.

In the role of Knight of Fire, this person seeks those things and events that most express who they are and what they want, possibly with little concern for how others are affected.  They define a successful quest as one in which they get their way and are not confined by the needs or desires of anyone else.  They take cues about the rightness of their path according to how well it reflects their own personal sense of destiny and are most comfortable with following their own instincts.

This Knight is willing to fight for independence and to achieve their own goals and do not operate well in situations where someone else is in control of either the desired result or how to go about getting it.

They are willing to concentrate  their energy on those things that will lead to their personal vision of the future and create change by matching activity to desire and their personal sense of who they are and what they're meant to do.   

It can be very hard for this Knight to put energy into behaviors that don't lead to their own desired result or aren't about them (asking this Knight to do something for your sake if they see no benefit to them is not likely to succeed).  On the other hand this Knight is very likely to instinctvely respond to crisis by acting first before having given due consideration to whether or not the activity will have a desireable effect - because instinct is operational here, this Knight doesn't always see the big picture or grasp that consciously deciding not to act even when the act matches 'who they are' is an option.

As a method of long distance communiction, this Knight may represent electical means - computer based communications that allow instant delivery and response.  They desire to communicate what they want and who they are and provide 'fire' to discussions both via inspirational conversations and 'flamewars'.

Knight of Swords (Air of Air)
FOCUSES ATTENTION ON AND THROUGH LOGIC, BELIEFS, AND COMMUNICATION OF IDEAS AND INFORMATION

This Knight moves like the wind and charges full speed into situations without fear or hesitation.    Keeps attention and focus on the pursuit of knowledge and communication.  They create change by gaining as much information as possible and then acting to share it - this Knight's motto is "Knowledge is Power".

In the role of Knight of Air, this person seeks those things and events that are mentally challenging, offer something to learn and allow them to pass on what they know.  They define a successful quest as one in which they know more than they did when they began.  They take cues about the rightness of their path according to  whether or not it makes logical sense, how well it gives them something to think about and whether or not they are able to communicate their knowledge to others.

This Knight is willing to fight for reason, truth as they see it, intellectual pursuits and freedom of expression.  They place a high priority on intellectual honesty, however - while they may fight for your right to express yourself, they will fight equally hard to insist that what you express is well thought out and backed by evidence.

They are willing to concentrate  their energy on those things that will lead to an increased pool of knowledge about the situation and provide teachable moments.   

It can be very hard for this Knight to keep emotional and intuitive concerns in mind, as they tend to reject these as irrelevent or not rational.  Their impulse to express what they know can lead to an air of arrogance, know-it-all behavior and the use of cutting wit to achieve their goals.  They may intellectualize and rationalize rather than engage in mature analysis, and can be distracted into debates rather than useful progress.

As a method of long distance communication, this Knight may represent information that travels across the airwaves - mass media such as TV and telephones.  This Knight likely has an array of wireless communication devices on them at all times so that they can communicate instantly wherever they are.  Good luck convincing them to turn off their cell phone for even short periods of time.

The Pages

Pages may be...
- children and young people
- beginners
- students/learners
- risk takers (associated with the Fool)
- messagers/message receivers
- situations that involve any of the above                                                                           

Pages play the role of student/studier of and through their element - as beginners, they are grounded in their element, and through that grounding they are able to take risks into the unknown.  They perceive situations, learn about them through sensory stimulus related to their element, and receive and offer messages through that elemental energy.

Depending on the deck, Pages may also be referred to as Daughter, Princess, etc.

Page of Pentacles (Earth of Earth) -
LEARN THROUGH AND ABOUT MATERIAL SENSATION
Learns through physical senses, studies the situation in terms of the material reality of it.  They are learning to understand and manipulate their physical and material environment.

In the role of the Page of Earth, a beginner would learn by hands-on experience, and receives information tactically and defines success through concrete results and/or reward. 

They are willing to take risks for the sake of material payoffs or to gain security.   They may label or defend their choices by calling them 'common sense', 'practical' or what is needed for safety, security or material gain.  As a result, they can be seen as overly cautious or more interested in the reward for learning than in learning for itself.

They may have difficulty processing abstract ideas or ethereal philosophies, preferring instead to stay in the realm of their physical senses. 

Page of Cups (Earth of Water) -
LEARN THROUGH AND ABOUT EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
Learns through examination of their emotional response, studies the situation in terms of how it makes them feel, and how others respond emotionally to their behavior.  They are learning to understand their emotions, intuitive self, and connections with others.

In the  role of Page of Water, a beginner would learn by working cooperatively with groups, intuitively feeling their way, and receives information about how things 'feel' emotionally and defines success through how emotionally satisfying the result is. 

They are willing to take risks that might lead to emotional satisfaction or to avoid emotional pain.  They may label or defend their choices by saying they are 'following their heart' or that it 'felt right' or what is needed for the sake of connection to others. As a result, they may be seen as a daydreamer, overly-sensitive or not paying enough attention to reality or planning.

They may have difficulty understanding practical concerns that lead to unpleasant feelings. 

Page of Wands (Earth of Fire) -
LEARN THROUGH AND ABOUT PASSION AND DESIRES
Learns through instinctively following their desires, studying the situation in terms of whether or not it's what they want and acting on their will.  They are learning to understand their will, their self-identity, and their instincts.

In the role of Page of Fire, a beginner would learn by examining their desires, determining their goals and pursuing them, and tends to work better alone so they can do things their own way.

They determine success according to whether or not it achieves their desired result.

They are willing to take risks in order to get what they want or to experience passion about the activity.   They may label or defend their choices by saying, "This is just who I am" or that it's simply what they want.  As a result, they may be seen as self-centered and 'spoiled' or prone to excessive risk-taking.

They may have difficulty understanding the need to take others into account, or to work even when the process is tedious or slower than they'd prefer.

Page of Swords (Earth of Air) -
LEARN THROUGH AND ABOUT LOGIC AND ANALYTICAL PROCESSES AND BELIEFS
Learns through analysis and thought, studying the situation according to what they think or believe about it. 

In the role of Page of Air, a beginner will learn through research and applying methodical systems of analysis (such as the scientific method) to the pursuit of information and knowledge.  They learn well via communicative methods (lectures, the written word).  They are able to comprehend abstract and philosophical ideas.

They determine success according to whether or not they know more than they did before, and can articulate what they know or believe.

They are willing to take risks in order to gain knowledge and understanding of a situation, and to speak out about what they believe to be true.  They may label or defend their choices by saying, "I'm just being honest" or "I just wanted to know this." As a result, they may be seen as insensitive and critical or nosy and overly-inquisitive.

They may have difficulty staying grounded in the situation (their minds tend to spin off into wider and more abstract realms when presented with concrete issues, making it hard for them to focus on the down-to-earth practicalities of the thing) or understanding the emotional reactions to what they perceive as intellectual communications - they often don't realize the effect their words have on others.

I Magician - Meanings (a selection of interpretations)

MEANINGS - What do others say?

Osho Zen Tarot (OZT), St. Martin's Press
"You are not accidental.  Existence needs you.  Without you something will be missing in existence and nobody can replace it."

The Mythic Tarot (TMT), Juliet Sharman-Burke & Liz Greene
"Hermes...called the Trickster...child of both spiritual light and primordial darkness...a mixture of earthly passions and spiritual clarity... Somewhere within us, no matter how lost or confused we might be... something has foresight and resources..which can divine what direction to take and what choices to make.  Hermes points to potential skills and creative abilities which have not yet manifested. He may appear as an upsurge of energy and an intuition of exciting new opportunities."

Mythic Tarot Workbook (MTW), Juliet Sharman-Burke
"The Magician stands for the inner guide who firmly yet kindly prompts us to develop and fulfill our potential.  He offers opportunities in the area of feeling (Cups), creative imagination (Wands), intellect (Swords) and of the material world (Pentacles).

Revelations Tarot Companion (RTC), Zach Wong
"He brings together all the elements as he is the catalyst of all.  He is the energy that drives; the one who sparks interest...a witty individual who is at home with his or her surrounds..highlights the characteristics of intelligence, leadership, self-management and self-understanding... embodies the individual who begins all projects."

Da Vinci Enigma Tarot (DVET), Caitlin Matthews
"Skill, mastery, self-confidence are yours.  You have the ability to bring things into manifestation through your skills and abilities. If you yoke clear intention and willpower to dexterity and concentration, you can achieve your plan.  By adaptation, flexibility and wit, your charismatic charms can make magic."

Lover's Path Tarot (LPT), Kris Waldherr
"Developing magic within yourself...Self-empowerment and actualization. A yearning to grow beyond perceived limitations. The ability to transform your life through originality and personal power."

The Celtic Tarot (CT), Helena Paterson
"...changes taking place around the querent are sometimes difficult to understand, but are instigated by an inner desire to come to terms with a situation...also referred to as "the juggler"...a title which provides another image of events and actions being carefully staged to create an illusion."

A Guide to the Celtic Dragon Tarot (GCD), D.J.Conway & Lisa Hunt
"Self-control; learning magick... you are discovering how to use magick, faith and will-power to get what you need and desire."

The Lover's Tarot (TLT), Jane Lyle
"...linked with language, communication, alchemy and control of one's destiny... The Magician often appears when you have accepted yourself on some level and are feeling balanced."

The Druidcraft Tarot (DCT), Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm
"The Magician knows the secrets of creation - he knows  how to open himself to the two aspects of Divine creative energy...inspiration and life-force. He knows how to let these forces flow through him into the world, directed by his consciousness and will."

Tarot Journaling (TJ), Corrine Kenner
(using Waite's "Pictorial Key to the Tarot")
"Skill, diplomacy, self-confidence, will, mastery, showmanship, and a reminder of the esoteric maxim "As above, so below.""

Tarot Reversals (TR), Mary K. Greer
"This is the card of 'me, myself, and I,' old 'numero uno,' the self or ego... It is about focused consciousness, concentrating your will on a task, backed up by tools, skills, and abilities."

Learning the Tarot (LT), Joan Bunning
"...the archetype of the active, masculine principle - the ultimate achiever. He symbolizes the power to tap universal forces and use them for creative purposes...His abilities appear magical at times because his  will helps him achieve what seem to be miracles... he is not afraid to act."

Learning Tarot Reversals (LTR), Joan Bunning
"Time for action.  You can do what needs to be done.  Having conscious awareness is important.  Your concentration level is high..."

Choice-Centered Tarot (CCT), Gail Fairfield
"...appears when you are aware that several different perceptions of reality exist...Your personal reality may not be the same as the collective reality."

Power Tarot (PT), Trish MacGregor & Phyllis Vega
"As an alchemist and transformer, he epitomizes the ability to translate ideas into action. He relies on self-confidence, power, and determination to see him through."

The Heart of the Tarot (HT), Sandra Thompson, Robert Mueller, Signe Echols
"...an enigmatic figure. As a showman and a creator of illusions, he may simply be another aspect of the Fool... the Fool after he has encountered his own teacher and become a little more sophisticated, more in control of his transformational abilities...He carries the message that 'real magic' consists in confident action based on principles of self-transformation.  His theme is 'focused attention that leads to creativity and insight.'"

Tarot Dictionary & Compendium (TDC), Jana Riley
"Doing it anyway.  Receiving energy, signs and answers on the physical plane in the form of synchronization, coincidences, magic, and miracles."

Tarot For Your Self (TYS), Mary K. Greer
"Singleness of purpose. Commitment. Being in control...Skill. Manual ability. Craftiness. Cunning...organizational skills. Manipulating nature and others to harness their energies. Magical or occult powers."

How to Read Tarot Cards (RTC), Doris Chase Doane & King Keyes
"...will power...triumph through analysis...mind over matter...take the initiative"

A Complete Guide to the Tarot (CGT), Eden Gray
"The Magician represents Man's will in union with the Divine achieving the knowledge and power to bring desired things into manifestation through conscious self-awareness."

Super Tarot (ST), Sasha Fenton
"A new opportunity and chance to shine...independence, self-reliance and self-motivation...may indicate freelance work and self-employment."

Tarot For All Seasons (TFAS), Christine Jette
"Focus/Lack of Focus.  Being able to prioritize and make a choice; being able to focus your energy effectively to accomplish your goals; the ability to visualize your goals clearly; discovering the creator within... at the worst, the Magician is dishonest about motives and can be destructive in relationships."

I Magician - Symbolism

Color Symbolism (meanings are my own impressions - what they say to me):
red (UW, MT, RT) - passion, will
white (UW, OZ, MT, RT) - purity of spirit
yellow (UW) - conscious thought
indigo blue (OZ) - emotional centeredness
light brown (MT, DVE) - groundedness, earthy
green (RT, OZ) - growth, generative energy, living earth

Number Symbolism:
I - beginnings, self

Text, titles, writing on card:
All cards are called The Magician, except for the Osho Zen card, which is called Existence.

Astrological Correspondences:
Mercury - planet closest to the sun, this planet governs communication styles, thought processes, understanding and the ability to see, as well as travel and movement.  Physically, Mercury rules the arms, hands, lungs, tongue and nervous system.

Hermes (the Magician who appears on the Mythic Tarot card) is the Greek name for the god Mercury.

Animal Symbolism:
snake - seen as a snake belt (UW) and in a pair as part of a caduceus (MT). Generally associated with wisdom and regeneration (as snakes shed their skin). As an ouroboros, it is associated with Gnosticism and Alchemy and symbolizes eternity, cycles, immortality, completion and Oneness.  In the caduceus, it is associated with duality, diplomacy, inventiveness, healing and Hermetic magic.

dove - seen carved on the Magician's table (UW), and flying overhead (RT).  Associated with Spirit, diplomacy, innocence and peace.

Elements Depicted:
Air - swords
Earth - pentacles
Water - cups
Fire - wands
Spirit - dove

The Magician symbolizes mastery of the elements, so all are depicted equally.

Other symbols/details:
posture - as above, so below (UW, MT)
infinity symbol (sideways figure eight) - (UW, RT)
red roses - desire, will, passion (UW)
white lilies - pure thought, reason (UW)
cross-roads - sacred space used for magical ritual.  In ancient Greece, statues of Hermes were erected at cross roads, along with statues of Hecate (MT)

I Magician - Putting them in order

If I were going to put these five Magician cards in some kind of order, I'd arrange it like this:

Osho Zen 1: Existance - the very first step to controling your environment is the realization that your most fundamental tool is yourself, and the realization that you're a part of the universe you seek to change.

Universal Waite Tarot I: The Magician - this Magician has learned to manipulate the elements using a structured form of ritual.  Often, when we first learn a skill we have to carefully follow the 'rules' to make sure we get it right.  Young cooks follow recipes, more experienced cooks can be more intuitive because they have a deep understanding of how each element actually works. This Magician seems to be very rules based to me.

Mythic Tarot: The Magician - this Magician is also following established rules but he is bringing in a more spiritual basis to it - he understands that he is not merely using tools, but connecting to spirit. He has remembered the fact of the Osho Zen card - that he is deity.  He respects that truth by standing on the sacred space of the cross-roads.

Revelations Tarot I: The Magician - This Magician is actively using his tools and has gained age, if not necessarily wisdom.  With the power to actively manipulate the elements to manifest one's will comes the danger that this power can be misused.  It shows in this Magician's face that he is familiar with this and has experienced a time or two when he's used his magic for less than stellar reasons.  This Magician has actual power and because of that, is potentially more dangerous.

Da Vinci Enigma Tarot I: The Magician - here is the aged Magician who has learned both skill and wisdom.  He no longer needs to make a display of his powers or his tools - his power to manifest his will in a consciously applied manner show in his face - he's now internalized it.  He can remember times of learning new skills, and has experienced the results of actions taken wisely and unwisely, and as a result he can see deeply into the hearts and motives of others.  He can create whatever he wants, but he has learned that sometimes it's best not to. He knows much more than he's telling because he realizes that some things have to be learned by each one of us in our own way and our own time.

I: The Magician - Descriptions

 

Deck 1:  Universal Waite Tarot
Card: I: The Magician

Description: 
A man with chin-length black hair is wearing a white forehead circlet, a white gown and a red robe.  The white gown is cinched at the waist with a silver belt in the shape of a snake eating its own tail (an ouroboros, which usually symbolizes eternity and the cycle of life from conception to birth to life, to death, to rebirth) with red ruby eyes.

The Magician is standing facing front with his left hand pointed toward the ground and his right hand holding a white want with points on both ends toward the sky ("as above, so below").  A sideways figure eight (eternity symbol) is hanging over his head and a white aura surrounds his entire body.  He has a tiny  smile on his face and looks calm and confident and as if he is enjoying himself.

In front of the Magician, on a wooden table carved with symbols (hard to see what they are, but I think one of them is a dove?), tools of the elements are laid out - a wand, a sword, a cup and a pentacle.  In front of the table, red roses and white lilies are growing tangled together and over the Magician's head, more red roses are growing, as if he is standing underneath a bower. The sky behind is bright yellow.

This card depicts ceremonial magic - the Magician is in a standard posture, using tools that would be familiar to anyone working with ceremonial magic.  He appears competent and familiar with the process of what he's doing and is neither nervous nor overblown about it.

Deck 2:  Osho Zen
Card: I: Existence

Description:
This is an entirely different take on this card's concept!  The card depicts a deep blue sky full of stars and nebulae with a shooting star.  In the lower portion of the card, a lotus leaf rises from somewhere unseen and a nude woman, back turned, is sitting in lotus position, apparently gazing at the stars.  She has long, dark hair streaming down her back.  The card's title is "Existence" and the overall mood is far more receptive than the traditional Magician - here, nothing needs to be DONE. The woman's power comes simply from what IS.

I am often not entirely comfortable with the Magician - I don't exactly know why (and hope to figure that out while I'm working with this card), but this one always fills me with relief.  If the standard Magician says that I can use power to manifest my will, the Osho Zen version tells me where that power comes from - that by existing, I am a part of the universe and can be a conduit for its energy.

The woman, even seen only from behind, seems to be very much at peace with herself, her surroundings and her place in it.  There is no planet visible - she is out in the Universe with the stars, not seeing them through the filter of atmosphere and as out of place as a lotus leaf might be in space, she appears to be very much at home there.  It is a beautiful card.

Deck 3:  The Mythic Tarot
Card: The Magician

Description:
On this card, the Magician is depicted by Hermes, wearing a white tunic with a red over tunic held together at his right shoulder with a gold pin.  He is stand in the same position as the UW Magician, but he is not holding a wand (instead, he is pointing upward with his finger) and his arms are switched - left hand up, right hand down.

Hermes is standing at a cross-roads behind a large rock that is serving as an altar.  The four paths leading away from the center are winding their way through a hilly, barren terrain.  Nothing living is seen except for Hermes himself.  On the stone altar, a sword and a caduceus created with a lit torch twined with a pair of snakes (a symbol of Hermes and used by medical professionals) are arranged so that they cross one another, along with a golden cup and a golden pentacle. 

Hermes has a distant expression on his face, as if he is looking inward or away in the distance and his head is cocked slightly to the left as if he is listening to something.  He also looks slightly concerned (or maybe just deeply concentrating) - he still looks competent and skilled at what he's doing, but he is not necessarily enjoying it as much as the UW Magician.

It may be that Hermes, as a god, has a more serious attitude toward the responsibility and risk of working with magic?

Deck 4: Revelations Tarot
Card: I: The Magician

Description:
This deck frustrates me - the colors really appeal to me but the images take much closer examination to glean what is going on.

The most immediate impression is the green of the background, and the splash of red in the middle of the card, surrounding white.  The upright Magician, with dark hair and a streak of grey wears a woven white undergarment covered with a red robe with loose sleeves. 

Over the Magician's head is the sideways figure eight, and s/he carries a sword on his back, and a forehead circlet with a pentacle.  The left hand is pouring liquid from a gold cup that is spilling frothy white in the center of the card, and the left hand is grasping a long wand wrapped in white cloth.  At the top of the wand, a dove is flying (so that must be a dove I was seeing carved on the UW card's table).  The Magician is staring intently straight ahead with a face that seems to be concentrating and full of self-will. 

In the reversed position, the Magician's robe is more of a deep purple and his hair is completely grey except for a streak of white.  He is facing sideways to his/her left, looking into the steaming contents of his cup, which is held close to his face.  In his right hand is a wand, much more gnarled than the upright Magician's.  A sword is also strapped onto his back and he wears the pentagram circlet.  The sideways figure-eight is much mistier than that of the upright Magician.

The green background appears to be the ground seen from a distance from directly above, as you'd see it if you were flying overhead. On the reversed Magician's side of the card, it is far less cultivated in appearance than on the upright side, which shows squares of crops and others signs of human manipulation of the land.

In the case of this card, the Magicians are actively using the tools of the elements rather than having them arranged before them.  The reversed Magician seems to be older and more inwardly focused than the upright Magician.  The facial expression, especially on the upright Magician seems craftier than the others - here I can plainly see the concept of the Magician as one who might be negatively manipulative and deceptive.

This one is reflecting the properties of the Magician that make me uncomfortable with it.

Deck 5: Da Vinci Enigma
Card: I: Magician

Description:
A sepia toned chalk drawing, done in red chalk, of Leonardo da Vinci himself.  He is aged with a balding head and long grey hair and a beard.  His mouth is stern and his eyes are deepset and penetrating.  He is looking of slightly to the left.

This is a very famous self-portrait and it's appropriate to regard da Vinci, artist, mathematician and inventor, as a Magician.  His life was spent learning how to manipulate and create tools, and to manifest his ideas and to use his  skills not only as a creative force but to improve his personal life.

I have no opinion about the whole 'code' thing - as far as I can tell the bruhaha is about a work of fiction that wasn't very well written that caused shock and dismay about a group of people who aren't ideologically inclined to understand what 'fiction' is. I haven't read it, yet.

But ignoring that, what we know of da Vinci's life and his work is impressive enough that I am comfortable with the idea of bestowing upon him the title of Magician.   I like that this portrait shows him in his later years, after he has mastered most of his skills.  The Magician, even though it comes early in the deck, isn't the card of an apprentice but of one who has mastered the elements and himself.

0: The Fool - Living Foolishly

Actions to take inspired by this card:

- Deliberately do something today differently than how you normally do it.  Notice how it feels - uncomfortable? Liberating?  Embarrassing?

- Do something today that you've been interested in but haven't yet made the leap because you're afraid you can't do it.  Just jump, already!

- Go for a walk around your neighborhood and take notice of details you've never paid attention to before.

- Write with your non-dominant hand. 

- Change a recipe for something you make often - try a new ingredient or a different method of preparation.

- Make a fruit fool for dessert.

- Watch a funny movie or TV show.

- Play with a toy you loved as a child.

- Take a trip to a part of town you've never visited before - what's in your local area that you didn't know about?

- Buy some craft supplies and spend time using them without worrying about 'making' something.

- Bring a bouquet of white roses into your home.

- Spend time with your dog today or, if you don't have one, go visit a shelter.  If you can't keep a pet, can you help care for these?

- Find a child and spend some time together playing - get down on the floor with them and experience life from their point of view.

- Play "Fluxx" a card game where the rules change constantly according to the actions of the players.  This is a great game for groups of people who aren't taking things too seriously because the constant changes keep it challenging, but it's lighthearted enough not to interrupt the socializing.

- Have a child's party for you and your adult friends.  Bring favorite toys, have children's food - pizza decorated to look like a happy face, ice cream sundaes with all the toppings...  Play games like pin the tail on the donkey and provide hula hoops, Twister and jump ropes.  Maybe dress up in your pajamas and play Truth or Dare or give each other manicures. Put "The Wizard of Oz" on play "Dark Side of the Moon" to see if they really are synchronized.  The key thing here is to play together and not worry about how silly you all look.

- create an altar to your Inner Fool - find small icons that remind you of your childhood, of a new beginning you're about to make (or want to make), of places you've been or places you'd like to be.  Include something that reminds you of something you might be embarrassed if others knew it mattered to you (that first edition Star Trek ornament? put it in there!) and something that makes you laugh.  Set it off with a white rose for innocence and pleasure.   Lay the Fool card in the middle of it and spend time meditating on the qualities of the Fool you'd like to draw into your life.

Got more?  Share your foolish ideas in comments!

0: The Fool - Foolish Prompts

Journaling prompts for future reflection on this card:

- Write about your earliest memory - how does it reflect a journey you're on now?

- List ten things you've begun that you don't know how they'll end.

- Write a letter to yourself as you'll be ten years from now.  What questions do you have for your future self about the things that are unknown to you now? 

- Write a letter to yourself now from the person you'll be ten years from now, explaining what signposts along the way you'll want to watch out for.

- Write the story of your life up to now as if it were a travelogue.  Point out the interesting landmarks, the events worth exploring, the pitfalls to avoid.  if you want, draw a map of the landscape of your life.

- Write about a time when you behaved foolishly - what did you do? How did it make you feel? What did others think about your actions?

- Write about your level of trust in the universe.  Do things tend to work out for you in spite of yourself?  Do crazy things happen to you that you can't foresee?

- Write about someone you know that is crazy (or eccentric, if you like).  What characteristics do they have that lead to that impression?  Give an anecdotal example or two.  Do you admire them? Pity them? Get annoyed by them?

- How do you handle the unknown in your life?  Can you go with the flow, or do you need to find ways to be in control of the situation?

- Write about a time you took an impulsive risk - what happened? Would you do it again, knowing what you know now?  What would you have done differently?

- Write about how you visualized being a grown up when you were a kid.  How does it differ from the grown up you are now?  Were you mistaken, or are there aspects of your childhood vision that you could be pursuing now?

- Examine a white rose closely, experiencing it through as many of your senses as you can.  Write about what you see, feel, smell, taste - even hear.  What memories or other thoughts and feelings does it invoke for you?

- Write about your relationship to a pet - does your animal friend spur you onward into playfulness, warn you away from danger, nip at your heels to nag you, follow you as a loyal companion?  What part do animals play in your personal journey?

- What cliffs are in your life right now?

- If you could be anywhere you wanted to be right now, where would you be?

- Write about a time when you were on the brink of something - how did it feel?  Were you exhilerated by the height and the possibilities, or worried and afraid of falling?  What happened?

- Write about warnings you missed - if only you'd been paying  attention, you'd have known better.  How would the outcome have changed?  Should the outcome have been changed, or did you need to learn by taking the scenic route, stumbles and all?

- Write about what absolute necessities you would want to have with you on a long journey, if you didn't know whether or not you'd find anything along the way.  Remember that what you take will weigh you down, so choose wisely - can items be used for more than one thing or used in ways they weren't originally intended?  Are you only taking into account practical needs, or are you bringing along things that others might regard as frivolous?

- Become the Fool on this card - what are you thinking about? What do you see? What are you feeling? Where have you come from and where are you going?

- Become the white dog on this card - why are you there?  What are you thinking and feeling?  What would you like to be able to tell the Fool?

- Draw a second card at random and consider it along side the Fool - what story does the pair have to tell? Freewrite your impressions of the combination.

- Write a poem about the Fool.  Try a limerick to keep in tune with the funloving nature of this card.

from The Da Vinci Enigma:
What is calling you to follow this new departure?
How does instinct empower you?

from Tarot For Your Self:
In what areas of your life are you operating entirely on faith and trust?
Where are you going?
What are you feeling foolish about?
What would be fun to do if you could do anything you wanted?

Do you have any other Foolish prompt ideas?  I'd love to hear your thoughts in comments.

0: The Fool - Foolish Quotations

Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.
~ Sholom Aleichem

You can have everything you want as long as you don't want it badly enough.
~ Yogi Berra

The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way.
~ Josh Billings

The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.
~ William Blake

All the wonders you seek are within yourself.
- Sir Thomas Browne

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.
~ Samuel Butler

Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself.
~ Charlie Chaplin

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
wich is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
~ e.e. cummings

Only a fool expects to be happy all the time.
~ Robertson Davies

The fool wonders, the wise man asks.
~ Benjamin Disraeli

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
~ T.S. Eliot

What lies beyond us and what lies before us are tiny matters when compared to what lies within us.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Draw your chair up close to the edge of the precipice and I'll tell you a story.
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

The fool wanders, a wise man travels.
~  Thomas Fuller

It is a fool's prerogative to utter truths that no one else will speak.
~ Neil Gaiman

Whatever you can do or dream, begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
~ Goethe

The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one's self a fool; the truest heroism is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when it be obeyed.
~  Nathaniel Hawthorne

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap.
~ Cynthia Heimel

He dares to be a fool, and that is the first step in the direction of wisdom.
~ James Gibbons Huneker

If I make a fool of myself, who cares? I'm not frightened by anyone's perception of me.
~  Angelina Jolie

If one does not understand a person, one tends to regard him as a fool.
~ Carl G. Jung

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily.  To not dare is to lose oneself. 
~ Soren Kiekegaard

A wise man fights to win, but he is twice a fool who has no plan for possible defeat.
~ Louis L'Amour

My imagination makes me human and makes me a fool; it gives me all the world and exiles me from it.
~ Ursula K. Le Guin

Trust no future, howe'er pleasant
Let the dead past bury its dead!
Act, -- act in the living present!
Heart within and god o'erhead.
~ H.W. Longfellow

For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
~ Alexander Pope

There is only one journey.  Going inside yourself.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke

You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Afoot and lighthearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me.
~ Walt Whitman

0: The Fool - Aspects

Ok, this was fun.  I brainstormed a bunch of aspects - questions or specific areas where the Fool might land in a spread, and then answered each one as if I'd drawn the Fool there.  Mind, these are still just general comments and only what I came up with for the moment - in a real spread they'd be modified according to the surrounding cards, the overall tone of the spread and my own attitude that day.

But as an exercise? Fun!

What message might The Fool hold in the area of...

Situations and Problems -

Situation - How does this card reflect my current problem or situation?

The Fool indicates that the current situation requires a leap of faith - an entirely new and unexpected path has opened up, and you don't know where it's leading.  This situation is going to require you to trust your instincts and be willing to appear foolish.

Challenge - How does this card reflect a potential challenge to the situation?

The challenge here is to be able to proceed without being able to see the path ahead, which can be scary if you're used to being in control of the situation.  You may need to act regardless of the opinions of others and regard the journey as meaningful as the destination - remember that every step is a learning experience for those willing to pay attention.  Do make sure that you're not being naïve about the risks involved.

Solution - How does this card reflect a potential solution to the situation?

Try an unorthodox approach that feels right instead of overanalyzing the problem.  Trust your instincts and try something off the beaten path.  Stop being so serious and do something silly - it might provide inspiration that serious analysis has failed to provide.

Attitude - How does this card speak to my attitude or response to the situation?

Your attitude right now is that of a person following the beat of their own drum.  You not only aren't listening to what anyone else thinks of the situation, you don't even hear them.  You're enjoying the open road ahead and are willing to experience whatever comes.  You're approaching the unknown with a playful attitude and don't have any serious concerns about the outcome - you're just enjoying the scenery along the way.

Time -

The Past - where have I been?

In the past, you've been inclined to be a wanderer through life, letting whatever happens happen without trying to set a course or determine any particular destination.  You may have made some 'foolish' choices that didn't make much sense to anyone else, but things always seem to work out one way or another.

The Present - where am I now?
You're on the brink of a brand new era of your life, with little idea of where you're heading.  There isn't much from your life so far that will help you in this new direction - you're going to have to start over with little but your own instincts.  Watch out for pitfalls that come from not paying attention to what you're doing, but trust in yourself and the world around you and know that if you listen to your heart, you'll be fine.

The Near Future - what is the next step I might take?

Try something different from what you'd normally be inclined to do.  Take risks and step beyond your comfort zone - go ahead and talk to the stranger that interests you instead of holding back, apply for the job that intrigues you that you're not sure you can do.  Trust yourself and remember that your dreams should 'exceed your grasp' - reach out for them if you want them to come true, and don't forget to have fun along the way.

The Long-term Future - what's ahead?

Your future is wide open to you - what happens will depend entirely on your own willingness to take risks and be yourself rather than what everyone else thinks you ought to be.  If you trust your own instincts, you will likely be seen as someone a little 'crazy' but you'll be happier than if you play it safe.  All doors are open to you - you just have to be willing to take that first step.

Self -

Body - what is this telling me about my body or my health?

If what you're doing now isn't working for you, try something you haven't considered before.  Standard knowledge doesn't always have all the answers - consider more holistic methods of keeping well.  Experiment safely, but be mindful of quacks and resist the inclination to put all the power over your own health into the hands of others.  Bring more humor into your life - laughter really is the best medicine.

Mind - what is this telling me about my thoughts and opinions?

You tend to have unorthodox opinions, at least according to those around you - they may even regard your ideas as naïve or overly-idealistic.  You sometimes have flashes of insight that appear as if out of nowhere - you can't explain how you came to your conclusions, but you instinctively understand things even without the knowledge or experience to 'show your work.'  You base your ideas on what feels right to you rather than sticking to what the so-called experts have to say.  You tend to find humor in situations and ideas that others take seriously.

Spirit - what is this telling me about my relationship to spirituality and beliefs?

Your base your spirituality on what feels right and approach it from an an exploratory basis, rather than being driven by any particular goal or outcome.  You may be prone to alternative forms of spirituality and prefer to keep an open mind rather than confining you to any rigid set of dogma or ritual.  Your spiritual beliefs are rooted in trust that the universe is essentially good and that you will be protected from deep harm as long as you act with purity and follow your heart.  You may be lacking in much deep knowledge of the details of your chosen spiritual path, believing and doing things 'just because' and you may have a tendency to take spiritual guidance from others without practicing discernment about their knowledge or character - can you say gullible?  You may have very eclectic spiritual ideas that you've gathered from a number of spiritual philosophies without having committed deeply to any of them.

Heart - what is this telling me about my emotional concerns?

Emotionally, you may be so wrapped up in your own issues that you are blind to the concerns of others.  Your emotions tend to be unstable and based almost entirely on what's happening to you right this moment and they may express themselves in ways that make little sense to those around you.  You have a trusting, possibly overly-trusting nature, and unhappy experiences might hit you hard because you haven't developed much in the way of experience to help you avoid unhappy situations - even if you've gone through this before, it hits you as if for the first time each time it happens. In the same way, positive experiences fill you with a sense of wonder, as if it is happening for the first time.  Your emotional responses swing widely from high to low and back again, depending on what you're currently experiencing.

Hopes - how does this card speak to my hopes?

You are hoping that an unknown path ahead of you will prove to an opportunity to soar.  You hope that your instincts will prove to be beneficial to you.  You hope most of all that whatever you choose to explore will be open and available to you and that you won't be forced to settled down and commit to a particular course of action.

Fears - how does this card speak to my fears?

You fear that you are about to make a foolish decision or that others will regard your actions as silly and naïve.  You're afraid of 'making a fool of yourself' which may make you overly sensitive to the opinions of others (mistakenly regarding negative opinions as decrees to do things their way and forgetting that you're in charge of your own choices) and too worried about losing your dignity.  You are afraid that others are laughing at you or that you're missing a part of the picture that will keep you from taking an undignified spill.

Significator - how does this card define who I am?

You are a unique and original thinker who tends to be offbeat, optimistic and willing to act without knowing exactly where you're going or how you'll get there.  You may tend to be flighty and flaky and a drifter through life, starting one project after another and then stopping after you lose interest - for you, the important part is the journey and the process, not the completed outcome.  You are highly instinctive in your actions but may sometimes appear thoughtless and naïve.  Sometimes, your trusting nature takes a fall, but you regard those situations as flukes and continue to trust that everything will work out as it should.

Areas of Daily Life -

Work/Career - what is this telling me about my working life?

Your job either tends to be one regarded as odd, or is one that your pursue in an unusual way.  It might involve travel to exotic places or require you to react on your feet without having the time or ability to learn much about the situation in advance.  You may experiment with new ways of doing your tasks that keep them fresh and fun and your coworkers may mistake this playfulness with goofing around until they notice that your methods do seem to get you where you want to go.  You might be the person at work that plays practical jokes on others, or turn normal days into a party - you keep the comic strips on your wall and the silly ornaments on your desk and you always have a funny comment to make in the middle of a serious discussion that breaks the tension - just be careful about not turning into a clown or won't be taken seriously when you need to be.

If you're looking for work, explore careers that you may not have thought of doing before, or brainstorm ways to create a job for yourself that doesn't exist.  You will likely be happiest with a job that doesn't have a regular routine, so that every day is new and different from the one below.  If travel is involved, you will enjoy the opportunity to explore new places and will thrive in a position where your instincts are more important than experience or knowledge.

Finances - what is this telling me about my financial concerns?

The Fool is all about speculation and taking risks - you may be prone to gambling more than you can afford to lose, and you're not very good at sitting down and planning or documenting your expenditures. 

Try setting a budget so you don't find yourself overdrawn unexpectedly, but make sure to block in some money to play with or you'll feel overly constrained and give up following your budget.  Be open and alert to creative ways to manage your finances - you may see an opportunity that others find too risky or foolish to pursue, but if your instincts are telling you to go ahead, give it a try.

Don't take the pursuit of money too seriously - as long as you have enough to cover your basic needs, you would do better to spend your energy on pursuits that are fun and enjoyable - stop to smell the roses rather than just acquiring as many of them as you can.

Romance - what is this telling me about my romantic relationships and attitudes?

Romantically, you or your partner may not be inclined to make a long-term commitment, favoring instead a one-day-at-a-time approach.  The long term outlook for the partnership is unknown and depends on the choices you make along the way.  While serious conversations about your future and settling down make you itchy, you have a lot of fun together, sharing a childlike pleasure in games, humor and playing harmless tricks on one another - it may drive your partner nuts that they can't pin you down, but you do keep each other laughing.  Once the fun is gone, though, you're likely to be on your way.

The fool also indicates some tendency to be naïve and impulsive in your relationship choices - you may become involved with someone who takes advantage of your innocence and trust, and friends may be concerned that you're playing the fool about the nature of your relationship.  You see your partner in ways that others don't see, but be careful that you're not ignoring vital aspects of their character that could be hazardous to you.

The relationship itself may be very unusual by conventional standards and incorporate playful, role playing elements that others regard as strange.  Playful kink, polyamorous groupings, friends with bed privileges all are influenced by the quirky fool's tendency to approach romance in unexpected ways.

Other relationships - what is this telling me about my non-romantic relationships?

You're the friend who is never on time, doesn't take things seriously and always seems to be on the verge of a great disaster that somehow never happens - "Heaven protects children and fools" and your friends worry about you more than they should, because things always seem to work out for you in the end.  You enjoy your friends and relate to them primarily by good times and shared recreation, but you may not be the best person to go to when someone needs to have a serious heart-to-heart discussion or to get practical assistance.  But that's ok - others can help do the mundane things and you'll be there to cheer everyone up.

As a parent, you're sometimes more like a pal or a child than someone in authority.  Lorelei Gilmore is a Foolish parent, often encouraging her child to be more playful or to play pranks, and yet she still instills a sense of 'you can do anything' vision into her daughter.  This parent doesn't follow the experts' advice and sometimes other parents (or even their children) will judge them as bad parents, but their children develop strong creative resources and the knowledge that they are protected and loved as they go out into the world on their own journey.

As a child, this is the kid that's always laughing and exploring - the mischevious kid that doesn't seem to understand why anyone would ever get mad about something they meant in good fun.  This is the toddler that is balanced on the back of the couch on tiptoe - the one you're sure is going to break every bone in his body except he rarely seems to actually hurt himself.  Even when he does, he takes the bumps and bruises lightly and impatiently waits for you to patch him up so he can get back to his explorations.  This kid will keep you jumping, but he'll also keep you laughing.  Try to stop worrying so much - you'll only wear yourself out and you won't stop him from taking risks anyway.  It's how he learns.

Home - what is this telling me about my home and personal space?

The fool's personal space should be colorful and pleasant to look at, with decorations that reflect humor and unique whimsy.  It should appeal to the senses and to the occupant's inner child.  Consider a collection of vintage children's toys or mementos from from your travels.

In terms of maintenance, the Fool may not be great at the boring details of keeping things neat - the Fool tends to be distracted from seeing what's beneath their feet or surrounding them and lives too much in the moment to plan ahead or see the effects of what they do on their surroundings.  That said, the Fool enjoys sensory pleasures and is happier when their surroundings are pleasing to the senses.  A Foolish person may buy things on impulse without thinking about how they will fit into their space or whether or not they will need to be maintained, and once they have what they momentarily wanted, they may lose interest.  It would be a good idea for the Fool to get someone to help keep them focused on these details (or, if they're lucky, do it for them) - it's fun to be a Fool, but not always wise and it can be crazymaking for the people sharing their space.

Fun - how does this card reflect the lighter side of my life?

The Fool is all about fun!  The Fool finds fun everywhere and is motivated by it.  The Fool plays lighthearted pranks on other people without any intention of hurting them or causing harm (but may sometimes accidentally do so simply because they tend not to see the negative consequences of their actions).  The Fool is very hooked into her childlike qualities and still enjoys the recreational activities she favored as a child - playing make believe, coloring, building with Legos.  Hook the Fool up with an actual child, and she'll have as much fun playing pretend as the child does.

The Fool would enjoy adult activities that include childlike forms of expression - karaoke, performing in a community theatre, any sort of artistic activity, travel - especially to exotic or fun places like Disneyland or Las Vegas.  Actually, watch out for Las Vegas - the opportunities to gamble more than the Fool can afford might be hard to resist.  On the other hand, 'fortune favors the fool.'

Creativity - how does this card reflect my creative life?

The Fool is highly creative because he sees things from a unique point of view and doesn't rule out ideas that others might reject as too crazy to try.  A good part of creativity is being willing to fail, often, on the way to creating something worth keeping and the fool not only isn't afraid of failure - he forgets that it's even a possibility. 

The Fool might express creativity in any way at all - no path is closed to him.  Whether it's artwork, fashion sense, a new way of doing business, or the development of a philosophy or lifestyle, the one thing you can be sure of is that the Fool will do it in an unorthodox and creative way and people will marvel at how they can pull off something that no one else could manage without looking ridiculous.

Overall Outcome -

The Fool indicates that the outcome is wide open - no potential path is block, nor has any yet been settled on.  There are likely many aspects of the situation that remain unknown, and it is going to be necessary to move forward before you have all those details.  Be trusting but not naive as you proceed and the shape of the outcome is in your hands.  What do you want it to be? That's what's possible.

(I'd be interested in any comments or suggestions on these.)