.png)
Reading:
Key Interpretations of the Upright Card
Personal Growth | Love & Relationships | Career & Finances |
New beginnings, gifts to put into practice, directions to take, unexpressed abilities, multipotentiality | New beginnings, inspiration, proactivity, creating opportunities, manipulation, deception | New beginnings, using one's abilities, opportunities, determination, lack of planning, deception |
Key Interpretations of the Reversed Card or in a Blocked Position
Personal Growth | Love & Relationships | Career & Finances |
Lack of willpower, lack of creativity, apathy | Feeling of having no options, illusions, strained relationship, relationship moving by inertia | Wasted talent, inability to seize opportunities, waste of time and energy |
Introduction - The Magician in the Tarot and its meaning
The Magician, or The Juggler, is the first card of the Tarot. He is depicted alongside the four elements, which he is learning to master. This card embodies creative energy and presents new opportunities to seize. It is the card of “everything is possible,” representing potential and communication.
Archetypally, however, the figure of The Juggler is ambiguous—a trickster who sometimes comes to aid, like Prometheus bringing fire, but at other times deceives and manipulates. He is also linked to Mercury, communication, and alchemy.
Skill and deception go hand in hand with this card. The original name of this card in French is Le Bateleur which recalls the traditional figure that once filled medieval squares and markets, a controversial character. His sleight of hand was often admired, yet he was frequently condemned by the Church and authorities, driven by superstition and fear of the occult. The Juggler could be seen as both a deceiver and someone accused of consorting with the devil for his tricks.
Another word with which this card was originally known, is the Italian term "Bagatto", which appears to derive from bagatella. According to Vitali, "Three main strands can be distinguished in the meaning of bagatella: the first referring to ‘something trivial or of little value’; the second to ‘a sleight-of-hand trick or skill, with the cup-and-ball game being the most famous at the time’; and the third to ‘a fraudulent act, a scam.’”
These nuances are less pronounced in the Rider-Waite and derivative decks, where this card is named The Magician, suggesting true magical ability rather than a talent that is dubious or even deceptive.
Numerologically, The Juggler/Magician is card number 1. The number one signifies beginnings—the generative force from which everything originates, individuality, and personal power. Numerologically, this card is connected to Strength (or Justice in the Rider-Waite system), sharing its energy; to The World, sharing its sense of potential; and to the Aces of the Minor Arcana.
Symbols
In both versions, he is depicted working with the four elements: Wands/Fire, Swords/Air, Cups/Water, and Pentacles/Earth.
These four suits/elements can also be associated with the four fundamental psychic functions: thought (Swords), feeling (Cups), intuition (Pentacles), and sensation (Wands).
In the Marseille Deck:
In the Marseille Tarot, there is almost always a reference to the number 7, sometimes appearing in the sum of the dice on the table, other times in the number of small coins.
The presence of six fingers is another subtle nod to luck.
The entire scene is rather intriguing—have you ever noticed that the table has only three legs?
Plants and flowers often sprout from the ground, symbolizing the creative force embodied by this card.
Colours
Pink: Symbolizes flesh and the fleeting nature of earthly life, reflecting the transience and fragility of human experiences.
Yellow: Represents clarity, awareness, and the Juggler’s cunning. It suggests the sharp and conscious mind needed to manipulate the energies of life.
Green: Symbolizes the strength and eternity of nature. It is linked to regeneration, growth, and vitality, reflecting the Juggler’s adaptability and ability to thrive in the natural world.
Red: Represents action, life, and passion. It signifies vital energy and the impulse toward new actions and initiatives.
Blue: Symbolizes wisdom and inner knowledge. It suggests a deep understanding of hidden truths and the ability to perceive beyond the visible.
In the Rider-Waite Deck:
In this version, we see a more serious Magician, one who appears less like a “charlatan” compared to the Juggler of the Marseille deck—starting with his very name (The Magician, as opposed to The Juggler).
His raised arm is opposite to the traditional depiction, and together with his lowered left arm, it symbolizes the connection between the spiritual and the material realms.
The infinity symbol above his head represents limitless creative potential, a theme echoed in the ouroboros belt he wears.
The red and white flowers symbolize both humanity and passion alongside pure spirituality—once again reinforcing the link between two worlds.
Colours
Yellow: Symbolizes clarity, awareness, and the Magician’s sharp intellect. It represents an awakened and conscious mind, essential for manipulating energy and manifesting one's will.
Red: Represents action, life, and passion. It signifies vital energy and the drive toward new actions and initiatives.
White: Symbolizes the Magician’s purity and innocence. It represents freshness and clarity of intent in his approach to magic and the manifestation of his desires.
Positive and Negative Qualities:
Positive: Intelligence, skill, good communication, potential, inspiration, living in the present moment, initiative, creativity, resourcefulness, determination, self-confidence, adaptability.
Negative: Manipulation, deception, wasted talents, inability to plan, superficiality, opportunism, arrogance, dishonesty, overconfidence, lack of responsibility.
Prompts:
Where are you focusing your energy? Are your goals clear?
Are you communicating effectively with others? What are you showing them?
Advice:The first Arcana is the card of potential, new beginnings, and the belief that everything is possible. But with great power comes great responsibility, and the danger of this card lies in feeling overwhelmed or paralyzed by the endless possibilities ahead. Don't waste this energy, this is the right moment to make changes in any area of your life that no longer fulfills you. |
So, what does it mean?
The Arcana of the Juggler or the Magician invites us to recognize the potential within us and use it to manifest our deepest desires. It is a symbol of creative power and awareness of our destiny, reminding us that we are the true architects of our reality. The Magician in the Tarot meaning revolves around transformation, mastery, and the ability to shape our own path.
With clear willpower and determination, we can channel our abilities toward defined goals and turn our intentions into concrete actions. When willpower is strong and focused, anything is possible.
The Magician understands how to control and integrate the various aspects of the elements; his ambiguity lies in his ability to become anything.
Comments