January 5-7, 2014: I. The Magician

[Al-Shariyf]

I
THE MAGUS
(Mercury)

“What Word compares to thine unending universe of Love? O plant
Thee thy Word in the chalice of my heart, & I will bear Thee children
that shall walk the Pathways of the Stars, & shall know the
Father than begot them.”

MEDITATION COLOR: Yellow.

HEBREW LETTER: Beyth, house, including temple or house per se; or something to house or contain something else, or in which to dwell. An architectural construct. Descendants, progeny, blood line (e.g., “House of David”). Literally, preposition “in.” B is a projective sound.

CARD NAME: Magus: Latin magus, from Greek magos, from Old Persian maguš: Indo-European roots magh-, “to be able, have power,” root of may (and dismay), might, machine, mechanic, magick.

ESOTERIC MEANING: The Clear (or Transparent) Consciousness. It is the substance of that phase of Majesty that is called Revelation. It is the source of prophecies that seers behold in visions.

TREE of LIFE: Biynah to Kether. (Links ‘Understanding’ and ‘the Crown’; or Intuition with Unconditional Being, N'shamah with Y'ḥidah; or ‘the Mother’ with ‘the Ancient of Days.’ The transmission of Divine Consciousness into a house of Form, or utterance of the Divine Word to inseminate the field of creation.)

ESOTERIC TITLE: The Magus of Power

TANTRIC & ALCHEMICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Priest: the Logos, or inseminator, of the operation.

DIVINATION: Skill, wisdom, initiative, adroitness, adaptation, elasticity, craft, constructiveness, cunning, deceit, theft. Sometimes means occult wisdom or power; sometimes a quick impulse. May imply messages, business transactions, or the advantage or interference of intellect or learning with the matter at hand.

[Hermitas]

I'm really struck this time by "house" in the sense of bloodline, like "House Atreides" and all that.

It hasn't been edited for sexism here, but the idea keeps returning of a man's house, wife, children, goals. It almost crosses over into the Emperor, but it's not quite there. Not the Emperor yet, but the House.

Like a field generates a bolt of lightening, but the field, not the bolt. Which is confusing a little, because the "1" makes me think of the bolt.

I guess it's all of it together maybe.. process/concept.

[Jim Eshelman]

There's very strong relationship between The Magus (Mercury, the mind) and The Emperor (sovereign intellect). The Magus is very much the wand in the sense that The Priestess is the cup, field, garden, etc. - he the inseminator, she the womb.

In this case, add the fact that The Magus is a stream of mind-stuff streaming from Kether into the field of Biynah - again, very much the inseminator.

[danica]

- images and colors of the card awaken the distinct feeling of eminence
- the body of Magus is a Wand – Caduceus; he creates the weapons, and at the same time uses them; he is the twined-snake himself.
- stars are Houses of/for Energy!
- Magus = the law of motion of an individual star, which is Freedom (which comes from the limitation itself, the defined Form)

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- this very motion that the Magus is creates Structure – it’s the motion of the Fool, gaining Form – thus the Fool becomes Magus; the Fool is Magus, as seen from the Mother’s-side; the difference is only in polarity (so it seems that the Magus creates something, while the Fool goes without aim)
- the scroll catches my attention: “All words are sacred” because words and speech itself = Magic
- I ask a personal question, how to solve a current problem, and the most revealing (and obvious!) answer, in the form of one single word, immediately comes, having the effect on my mind and emotional state as if bright clear light filled the previously dark space

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- the word creates by giving form to thought/idea; it’s the first manifestation-in-form
- what is true for Play (in the sense of Game, Spiel, Ludum) is also true for the Magus; if there were no rules, the Play would not be what it is – the limitations of form&structure make the Magus utterly Free
- he dances; he does not speak – he IS the Word – idea incarnate; from every movement he makes there sprinkles a silver rain, drops that immediately crystallize – becoming multitude of diamonds/jewels; every drop/jewel is a whole World in itself! those worlds are governed by laws inherent to their nature, and Magus is “only” initiator; he seems distant, out of it (the Christian idea of God!)

[mark0987]

Day One

The colour blue and abundance of straight lines brings to mind concepts of pure logic and rational thought- if we were to use an outdated model of the brain, the magus would represent the left side.

The bird diving down at the top of caduceus represents the divine inspiration of the magus, his connection to Kether, he has the ability to carry out his will perfectly. He is a master of his will and juggles happily and proudly knowing he mastered the internal components within himself which the tools represent.

The pale blue light narrows- concentration of the abundant energies of kether to carry out will.

He is mercury- messenger of the gods, messenger of Nuit- he carries out her will, which is his only right.

Day Two

On the disk is an 8-pointed star; suggests and influence of Hod- again relates to logic.

His facial features, stance and general layout of the card screams ideas of movement and action/

Day Three.

The 'Ape of Thoth' (I heard it called this once, but I am unsure of the reference in honesty) is the magus' distractions from his work. It represents the things which wish to impede his will- including the lower portions of the soul, he being the master of his will rises above these things and continues to juggle.

"I am the magician and the exorcist." He is hadit- pure motion, pure will.

[Avshalom Binyamin]

My thoughts the last few days have been spiraling around the birth of language in an individual. My daughter said her first two words in the last few weeks ("papa" and "mama"). The magician card is the Logos.

The birth of language in a person is the birth of division in a person. Language is for separating things. For breaking down between "this, and not that", subject vs. object. My daughter now expresses preferences. Before, she was wide-eyed like the Fool, taking every experience in. Now, she wants to choose.

I see the Magician reaching for the Jackal-headed (Anubis?) wand with his right hand, and pushing the winged egg behind him with his left. The similarity to a toddler rejecting one toy and reaching for another is striking. The rejected toy? The O, the fool, breaking out of the shell of unrealized potential. Giving up the idea of all things being possible, to choose one thing to make it manifest.

[Al-Shariyf]

Day 1 Notes:
background - Nuit, Nothing

An emergence from nothing, a word is spoken in silence, carrying with it, meaning, instruction, bending & shaping the fabric of the space is travels through. The minister playfully detached yet within reach his instruments for manifesting the word & delivering it to that which can be understood, even if only a little

Day 2 notes:
Child of Nuit whose going bends the mother in the thy pleasure

Whose going tears the fabric of time and space, weaving it back in thy favor and thy liking

Starchild, free to roam amongst they brothers and sisters for all is one, nay, all is none...but only if ye know what I know

Gliding through the universe, playfully, gleefully making nature my play thing, for play I do, and I am what I create & my creations are an extension of me.

Light bearer, light giver, light receiver am I

Day 3 notes:
Purple background - the intermingling of the cosmic fire and primal water

Emerging from darkness being enlightened

[Deus Ex Machina]

Just haven't gotten 'round to sharing yet, but taking the time to do so now.

First day! From darkness, comes brilliance. The brilliance assumes shapes and form, in gold, and the four weapons of the Magician are among them. So, it isn't so much about material things taking shape. From the Magician's hand, the cosmic egg takes flight - the wings symbolize that it has been fertilized. I realize all is gold (gold is Light) before it is sullied by contact with things. The Magician gives these things that he has formed as gifts and a part of the gift is the freedom inherent in releasing the gifts, instead of holding onto them. Though he is giving, his left hand is receiving. The Magician's mind is active, but perhaps on a divine level, not material. I wonder what is opening behind him? The moon? A storm? The world? A pearl?

On the second day I realize I am seeing the creation of the world (which world? A higher one!). The papyrus or scroll seems to be either melting as it ascends or forming as it descend, ie. either reverting to its original molten gold (pure Light) or forming out of it. The Magician stands on bones and is exercising his lordly power! He is naked. He is gold himself, ie. a "thing" he creates. Below, the dark creature threatens the created things, threatening to soil them with dirt, burying the gold. Thus the things are "naked" too, until soiled by the world. Thoughts (and emotions) are things too! Sometimes naked and even when soiled, they can be cleansed.

On the third day I was feeling a little distracted and tired at the outset. I noted how there is something theatrical here in the card, as if the symbols/things are for entertainment/education, as gifts in that manner. The night background is the empty mind.

[Mephisto]

My life circumstances are very hectic at the moment, so I will be posting as conditions permit.

01.09.14 9:44-10:44 A.M.

[Cannabis Sativa ingested prior.]

Fragmented meditation: tired, wounded; mentally fatigued; nevertheless, interesting study of the God Mercury, to whom I am so closely related. A trickster God. Deep meditation after general meditation and study of attributes. Reflected on the relationship between Kether & Binah as well as the path of the Fool; at the end the meditation passed to a contemplation of the Supernals.

Remember the Ape of Thoth!

"With the Wand createth He,
With the Cup preserveth He,
With the Dagger destroyeth He,
With the Coin redeemeth He."

Studied the text of the Magus in "The Book of Thoth."


01.09.14 [Time not noted. J.F.]

Rider-Waite: The Magus

"That which is above is like unto that which is below."

Four elemental weapons: transmits the Will of Heaven.

Infinity symbol=8=Hod (Also Mercury)

Fluidic transmission of energy.

Snake belt: the Magus awakens the Kundalini.

Double ended wand.

Tarot Meditation: I. The Magus 01.10.14

11:12-11:40 (Approx.)

Established sphere of light in meditation space (Subaru), sphere of light above head, and proceeded to a meditation on the Magus. At first I allowed my subconscious to interact with the card, noticing such features as the Winged Sphere, which contains figure-eight/DNA strands in the feathers; this correlates to the figure-eight depicted in older decks of the Juggler. I noticed also the two Uraeus (sp?) serpents to either side of the Magus, representing not only His mastery of the Kundalini or Magical Energy, but also His mastery over Time. I noticed also that there is a certain resemblance to the God Janus in these features. I took note of the four Elemental Weapons, and contemplated the incantation, "With the wand createth He, with the cup preserveth He, with the dagger destroyeth He, with the coin redeemeth he." I took note of the tools of the scribe: the stylus and scroll.

The fluidic energy of Mercury (both God and Substance) captured my interest. I contemplated the meaning of Beth (Beyth) and its correspondences. Throughout the meditation there was an insistence on the whirling, continuous motion of the Magus. I took note that the Magus is in possession of the four Elemental Weapons because He has conquered all conditions of Time and Space; thus the path of Mercury links Kether and Binah; it is Supernal and beyond mundane understanding. I took note also that the Magus stands above the ape of Thoth, for He has conquered the mind ("monkey mind" is a common phrase used in Buddhist thought to refer to the tendency of the mind to wander.)

After perhaps fifteen minutes I closed my eyes and pictured the symbol of Mercury in my mind, in gold on a gold disk, as represented on the Trump. I did my best to picture this symbol with great concentration and clarity (mediocre success) and allowed thoughts of a Mercurial nature. After this meditation I opened my eyes, gazed back upon the card, and recorded these notes.

Meditation of the Tarot Trump "The Magus" complete.

[Indigo32]

Haven't posted in a bit, but am continuing with the meditations. Comparing to other postings I just looked at, mine are long. Trying to get into the brief instinctive reaction. But this has taught me a lot, feeling personally intimate with them.

April 15
Magus and his tools are floating about, yellow, reflecting the Sun. But the tools are kept in check by the lines of force around him.
The white of Kether behind him points down his body to his feet and winged sandals. Hermes on a level. Octagram on coin shows this also. The wings almost look like musical notes. He's carried on sound?
Also Hermes as messenger, the arrow goes into the staff over his right hand, and the papyrus comes out at the left.
He reaches for his wand with right hand, letting spirit go with his left. Transmuted and passed through.
The sword, his intellect, points at the ape of Thoth. Keeps the Ape in check.

April 16
All those straight lines create a matrix. Almost no straight lines in The Fool. The dove on the staff behind him is pointing down the staff through him to the base.
There is a horizontal line across where his his toes touch the base, Malkuth? The blue and yellow rod pass through the Magus from above, down into Malkuth.
Another horizontal line above his knees. The monkey is entirely below this. Monkey phallus at line below. The wings of his sandals are below the line. I would like to say the card is divided into 4 worlds. The bottom, Assiah with Malkuth. Bottom of his legs and wings and monkey in Yetzirah. Monkey Nephesh of Yesod? Wings in the astral world. Above the mid line all the elements are at hand. His head is in a crown of sorts, and the white light envelops his upper body.

April 17
The serpents wrapped around the staff and his head seeming to be coming out of his head in his ecstasy.
In the yellow egg form, I try and go into the background, the white, but am held up. His yellow body is attractive. He is exactly where he wants to be. All the forces work with him.
Surrounded by his toys, hovering as he hovers, he only has one toe on the ground.He keeps a toe in. What he stands on, I used to think of as vertical, like a surfboard. Never got that. But now I see the blackness on the bottom as a cut out. To a road though.. Highway lines like in Lost Highway coming out of the distance, and he's riding it on one toe. It doesn't matter how fast he goes, everything remains in place around him.
He blows by the monkey hitchhiker.

[Anael Lucis]

Magus seems to be standing on Shiva Lingam stone (generative power of lord Shiva). In researching Shiva Lingam a bit more online I found this: "There is a mysterious or indescribable power or 'Shakti' in the Linga, to induce concentration of the mind, and help focus one's attention" - which is relative here as the concentration is the mother of all magical activity, without it there is no result - concentration is a key tool of the Magician.

Rays from wings of his sandals make it seem he is in the air – defies gravity and natural law

There seems to be a double indication of eternity - pattern behind his feet forms spacial/visual infinity and V shaped opening behind him reveals vast empty space - sky, emptiness, vastness. Vast clear sky is a metaphor for the clear mind of Enlightenment that is clearly accessible to him, yet he is not immersing into that vastness but – although having access to it, he remains in the realm of form (Binah) which is also evident as he is juggling various representations of the elements of form realm. Also Juggler - Jester - Fool - Trickster - Mercury = there is clearly connection with the Fool here, perhaps a refined/more highly developed aspect of Fool, his next logical step - a maturing and evolution of Fool.

Dynamic lines seem to represent his energy (also will/intention) shooting here and there in all directions – it may appear chaotic at first, yet when inspected it does reveal order – as if controlled/governed and mindfully directed.

Caduceus - Descending dove represented on it indicates it is a divine instrument – or instrument bestowed upon the Magus by the Divine itself.
Vertical staff of caduceus (upper part of caduceus resembling sword handle) extending down below Magician's feet into the Shiva Lingam - reminds me of Sword in the stone – myth featuring Merlin which would be appropriate considering Merlin is a Magician as well. Discussed this with Shariyf and he pointed out I should reflect on the Lighting Flash representation of the Tree where the top of the lighting flash is the sword handle: I’ve observed that this is also relevant as Binah represents form, and stone is none-other-than form. "Sword" which is a divine light of creation, pours down or is cast into form - path Beth connecting Kether to Binah.

Furthermore Shariyf mentioned to me the word for "stone" in Hebrew is “Eben” consisting of words Ab – Father and Ben – son which might connect to my speculation that there is some sort of connection between Magus and HGA, which follows:
Mercury is the messenger of the Sun. In the card Magus/Mercury is of gold color which I see as reflecting the light of the Sun. The Sun is in Tiphereth - the realm of Holy Guarding Angel - hence I can't help but see a connection between Magus/Mercury and HGA.
We all know HGA is the Son to Kether - the Father. It is interesting that "Eben" - combination of words Father and Son create the word "Stone". Using connections I indicated above between Mercury and stone (form) etc - i see there might be some sort of relationship between the three, but I don't see it clearly yet. So I'll leave it on the back burner for now.

Baboon/Ape – swiftness, dexterity, precision of movement – moving skillfully through existence, knowing his terrain like the back of his pocket (like the monkey knows his jungle). Ape immediately reminded me of Thoth, and of course with the presence of crop and scroll that attribution is confirmed further, not to mention that the roles and qualities of Thoth and Mercury are so similar, if not the same.

Floating scroll on upper right (association with a messenger) and arrow (swift traveler, precise in his movement – perhaps meaning his intention is very clear). The arrow object might also represent a writing instrument – adding to the idea of the messenger/scribe, etc.

Two snakes over Magician's head forming number 8 (Hod), which can also be sign of infinity if flipped horizontally (echoing infinity associations I mentioned at the beginning)

On top of his head there is something that resembles a knot - a knot on top of the head is also one of the physical signs of the Buddha

Right hand open (active side – solar - male - fiery), left hand closed (receptive side – lunar - female - watery).

Looking toward his upper right – in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) this corresponds to visual constructing of images in the mind – visualizing something brings it into being on the astral level – aspect of a creative genius (I know this is stretching it, but it fits therefore it adds a nice interpretation)

Expression on face – mischief, utter fun and gladness, and obviously care-free. Posture – resembles that of a Greek statue, but a curious posture – reminds me a bit of Pan in a way; there is slight femininity to it.

Baboon's head also resembles face of an owl (wisdom) which is further emphasized by the fact that right side of body underneath the head seems to have a texture resembling feathers (wing of the owl?) - it's obvious especially when compared to the rest of the body which doesn't have such texture - it makes me think it was done intentionally indeed to indicate the owl – reinforcing the wisdom quality; oddly what is supposed to be the right hand of the baboon is actually a left – he has 2 left hands judging by the position of the thumbs – receptivity and intuition as tools of wisdom? Again this is all taking place on Magician's left side (receptive, feminine side), and contrast this with the symbol of intellect on his right (8 pointed star - Hod)

Beth – House – being at home in one's enlightened/empowered sense of self - which is where Magician rests

Lots of flashing colors; presence of lighting – “strike of genius” – “flash of insight” (Jungian method where figure of speech can be translated in a literal sense to reveal one's inner experience)

[Al-Shariyf]

Awesome post Anael!

[Anael Lucis]

Thanks for taking time to get back to me about my questions about this card Shariyf.
Aaand thanks for initiating this project on Heruraha, it really helps to have people's input easily accessible and to do it in a joint collaborative manner - that really adds some extra motivation.
And thank you Jim for creating Liber Theta - what an AMAZING project this is. I can't believe how much and how quickly I am learning about each card!

93s everyone