Each and every tarot image is an archetype that captures a universal human situation or propensity to experience life in certain common ways. Each archetype holds a full spectrum of possible interpretations, from the most negative interpretation to the most positive interpretation. The positive "pole" of a tarot image is the "gift" and the negative "pole" is called the "shadow". Each tarot card has both a gift and a shadow. The gift of the archetype is a useful, helpful and hopeful explanation that can show us a way to live more successfully. The shadow is a more negative interpretation and usually shows a darker aspect of the psyche, a piece that most of us would rather not admit that we have. The gift of the Magician shows us our ability to draw down spiritual energy into our earthly endeavors. It reminds us that there is a vast and powerful resource available to us to help us with all our earthly endeavors -- the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual realm – when we choose to focus upon it. The Magician provides a model of how to achieve that focus. On the other hand, the shadow of the Magician shows us a darker side of this resource -- manipulation, trickery or egomania. The shadow may also include being scattered and unable to focus or focusing on the wrong or inappropriate issues. The shadow side of the Magician can portray someone who is dishonest about their motives and their desires. Here on in, the focus of this article will be on utilizing the gifts of the Magician, but it is still important to acknowledge its shadow. The shadow holds a gift, too, although perhaps not as readily accessible or as easily understood (But that is a topic for another discussion!).

The Magician’s gift is the concentration needed to achieve the results you seek. The focus offered by the Magician will help you access your originality, creativity and inner spiritual power. For example, you could visualize the Magician card before a job interview to help you present yourself in the most positive way. The Magician may assist you in acknowledging and then using all your resources. The focused energy will also help you translate your ideas, like those which spring from the imagination of the fool (the Fool is the card immediately preceding the Magician) into actions, resolving any obstacles and achieving results.

The Magician may also be viewed as the personification of Carl Jung’s concept of the "self." According to Jung, the self is the organizing principle of the personality, representing order, organization and unification in which, ideally, all the aspects of the mind are integrated to give the personality cohesion and coherence. As such, the Magician can represent pulling together and integrating various parts of ourselves, with the important addition of a spiritual umbrella. You can meditate on this card if your self-worth has been damaged. The Magician may be able to provide a mirror for you to project a more positive image of yourself by reminding you that you can draw on energies from above to sustain you. Through these spiritual realms, you have the inner powers, abilities and wisdom to achieve whatever you seek. It is not necessary for you to seek validation and power from others -- it is already inside you! This concept of unification is further demonstrated by the four symbols of the Minor Arcana (wands, cups, swords and pentacles) which appear right there in one place on the Magician’s altar. All the forces of the universe are available for your use; you have the tools you need -- there are no apparent external obstacles.

In summation, the essence of the card is concentration, focused attention, manifestation, originality, creativity, actualization of potential, self-confidence and self-esteem. It can represent an inventor, creator or anyone who "operates" on the perceptions of reality. When it appears in your Tarot reading, the Magician invites you to pay attention, be mindful -- there is something that requires your utmost attention. This is an antenna card, tuning in to the energy around in order to provide a focused result. The Magician represents mastery of one's surroundings, skills and talents. The lemniscate (the sideways figure 8), which appears in most Magician cards from various decks suggests the infinite connectedness of all things. It especially highlights that the wisdom and authority which the Magician commands comes from above and is, therefore, timeless and cannot be destroyed by illusion and materialistic pursuits.

The information stored in the unconscious mind is symbolic. Therefore, we can use the Tarot as a powerful means of communicating with the unconscious, in its own "language." Creative visualization is a technique that utilizes positive imagery to help you attract your desires, or to reinvent yourself. In creative visualization, you focus on a mental picture -- imagining that which you seek, as if it were already so. There is an expression which says, "Change your thoughts, change your destiny." This is the principle underlying the use of creative visualization. Using the Tarot imagery, you can change your destiny by making changes in your energetic patterns. The images of the Tarot are able to bypass the every-day mind and the ego and directly retrieve the principles, which they reflect from deep within. The logical mind, with all its chattering, calculating, rationalizing, justifying, blaming and criticizing is circumvented. As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Further, this mental imaging can work in any area of life.

One important aspect of the Magician is to be able to see one’s potential and visualize the steps needed to manifest that potential. Therefore, this card is an especially good one to use as the foundation of a ritual. Begin by creating a little table or corner somewhere in your home that you can use as a simple altar, similar to one we see in the Magician’s card. Use a special cloth, power objects, (sacred objects that hold a special meaning for you), candles or crystals. Place the Magician card on your altar. The imagery reminds you to draw down the spiritual power from above, applying it to earthly endeavors – "as above, so below." You could also cleanse or purify the area by "smudging" around your altar with a smudge stick or stick of incense. As you wave the smoke around, offer prayers or affirmations for what you seek. State clearly and aloud that your intention is to clear away any blocks or negativity that interfere with accessing and using the Magician’s example of bringing spiritual power into manifestation.

Bottom line: It is okay to use spiritual tools for material manifestation. Sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to feel success and abundance in our material world. We may need to release any guilt we feel about being successful. We can use the Magician’s altar to remind us that spiritual power can be gathered and applied both internally as well as externally.