Divinatory meaning: New skills and potentials available, opportunities and adventures unfolding.
THE MACKCIAN
The Magician corresponds to the god Hermes, who, in myth, was the half-brother of Dionysus, the Fool. Hermes was a tricky yet charming character, renowned for his mischievous pranks yet beloved by the gods for his help in all manner of delicate situations. He was the messenger who communicated between earth and the heavens, between gods and men. On an inner level he acts as a guide between the conscious daylight world and the dark hidden unconscious recesses of the psyche. He brings to light knowledge which is unknown to our conscious minds. He may appear as a flash of intuition which often defies logic and yet is unerringly accurate. We often find ourselves acting against our instincts and doing what is rationally acceptable, usually with unsatisfactory results. If we have the courage to listen to the dictates of the Magician within us, the benefits can be richly rewarding.
When we are in tune with the Magician within, life does not seem quite so perilous. The strange intuition of the Magician is reflected in Hermes' skill in divination. This skill awarded him mastery of the four elements: Water, Fire, Ai and Earth, symbolised in the Minor Arcana suits as Cup,Wand, Sword and Pentacle. The Magician stands for the inner guide who firmly yet kindly prompts us to develop and fulfll our potential. He offers us opportunities in the area of feelings (the Cups), creative imagination (the Wands), intellect (the Swords) and of the material world (the Pentacles). The four symbols laid out before him represen1 the tools he offers us to aid in exploring these four realms of experience.
As you prepare to colour in his image, try to capture in your colours his quick- silver mercurial qualities. Try in this way to contact the part in you that the Magician represents. Find a key colour which sums up his essence for you. As you concentrate on colouring in the Cup, Wand, Sword and Pentacle think about what meaning these objects have for you. Let yourself dwell upon the qualities and character of Hermes, the Magician. Is he a helpful figure? Can you trust your own intuitions or are you afraid to let yourself surrender to the irrational? Give some thought to the intuitive powers reflected by the Magician, the 'sixth sense', the part in you which 'knows' on a deep level that which your conscious mind can barely glimpse.
To start your guided fantasy exercise imagine yourself to be at a dusty crossroads. There are four paths to choose from and four objects laid out before the figure of the Magician. It is hot and the landscape is barren. The Magician adds & splash of colour to the scene in his scarlet cloak and pure white tunic. Which of the objects laid out would you most like to pick up? Which appeals the least? Starl your conversation with the Magician, carefully recording it after you have completed the exercise in fantasy.