Make Your Own Recipe

From the Neuzeit Tarot, the Magician; from Rory's Story Dice, Scales:

The first time you make something, follow the recipe, then figure out how to tailor it to your own tastes. ―Ruth Reichl

When I pulled this tarot in the dim light of morning, I could have sworn it was a club DJ mixing some music. But the Magician is similar, in that he uses his tools and resources to create something. Like the DJ, he might manifest what is expected, following directions that are given. But when he realizes that he has a gift - though perhaps not like others - he can expand how things are mixed and made. As the Scales show, just doing things to please others can create imbalances. In the words of Carl Jung, "The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases."

Narrow Focus

From the Tarot de St. Croix, the Magician; from the Archetype Cards, Detective:

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus. – Alexander Graham Bell

The companion booklet notes that the number of the Magician is the root number of the Sun and Wheel of Fortune. It is a hint that although we may have the resources to produce what we want, we also need a laser-like focus to get things to go the right way. Feeling like we have too much to do might cause us to try to multitask. Or, if our mind is on something more entertaining that we'd like to be doing, we might not be fully concentrated on the task at hand. Detective suggests that if things didn't turn out as expected, we might look carefully to see why. It might be that we left out something important, that our timing wasn't right, or that we simply need another pair of hands to help.

What We Create

From the Deirdre of the Sorrows Tarot, the Magician; from the Victorian Flowers Oracle, the Flower Ball:

Our most precious resource now is wonder. What we wonder ignites our imagination, unleashes our empathy, fuels our ferocity. ― Amy Irvine

This Magician shows us our card hand - the resources we have available to create a life of contentment. We must use them judiciously, carefully crafting our vision. The Flower Ball, a card of happiness, suggests that what we develop should be based in joy rather than out of anger, arrogance or fear. We don't want to end up with something that makes our life a living hell. As Amit Ray wrote, "If you are driven by fear, anger or pride, nature will force you to compete. If you are guided by courage, awareness, tranquility and peace, nature will serve you."

Instant Gratification

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Magician; from the Dreaming in Color Deck, Aggression:

Every notable historical era will have its own Faust. ―Søren Kierkegaard

This Magician is based on the legendary Johann Georg Faust, a failed alchemist and magician. Seduced by fame, knowledge and power, Faust was said to have sold his soul to the devil in return for the instant gratification of his desires. As the UNCF slogan advocates, "a mind is a terrible thing to waste," yet we need to be careful of what we allow to fill it. Our life is shaped by the mind; it will become the chariot that drives our words and actions. Aggression - hostile behavior or attitudes - is often the result of those who feel entitled to instant gratification and have been thwarted. It tends to set up Faustian binds, when someone in power offers easy solutions to complex problems (usually empty promises). 

Whatever an enemy may do to an enemy,

Or haters, one to another,

Far worse is the harm

From one's wrongly directed mind. 

—Dhammapada

Taking Time to Practice

From the Songs for the Journey Home Tarot, the Magician; from the Magic Neko Deck, Kendama:

Sometimes, magic is just someone spending more time on something than anyone else might reasonably expect. ―Teller

The work of a Magician has no end point; it is a willingness to apply one's intention and effort in the world on a daily basis.  This particular magus seems to be a student of the Earth, learning from and working with nature. He knows that growing a tree or flower is a special kind of magic, and creating a way to use resources sustainably is just as astonishingly wonderful. The Five of Diamonds shows a kendama ("sword and ball"), a Japanese toy that is a version of the cup-and-ball game. It requires a lot of practice and good eye and hand coordination to handle it skillfully. It's message is something the Magician understands well: the more you practice with focus, the better you get.

You Have the Tools

From the Restored Order Tarot, the Magician; from the Oracle of Kabbalah, Tet:

There are times where you have all the tools you need and all there is to do is to do it.

― Nnedi Okorafor

The Magician points upwards (inspiration and imagination) and downwards (the physical manifestation). Although his mind is full of ideas, his body is the conduit and agent of creation. Those tools on his table are the resources he needs; when combined with effort, he has the ability to bring an abstract idea to fruition. The Hebrew letter Tet is associated with the number nine, a symbol of goodness. Its shape suggests a pot or a bowl with an inverted rim. Tet's message is even when life is difficult, there is still hidden good. Our creations and projects don't always turn out as expected. We might want to keep in mind these words of an anonymous writer: "It is when our plans go 'wrong' that wonderful, unforeseen things are allowed to occur." 

Noise Begat Rhythm

From the Gaian Tarot, the Magician; from the Goddess Oracle, Rhiannon:

In the beginning was noise, and noise begat rhythm, and rhythm begat everything else. 

—Mickey Hart

Years ago I went to a seminar at an Episcopal church that was about connecting to Spirit through sound. It included a drum circle, with about 60 people of all ages, races and lifestyles. We had all types of percussive instruments, from claves and shakers to djembes and bodhrans. When the leader began the beat, it sounded like cacophony, but gradually a wave formed of amazing music that was conscious-altering and transforming. I think we all had moved from "Do I sound good?" to "Let's make something wonderful together." What motivates us determines what we create. Rhiannon, a figure in Welsh mythology, was duped when her infant son disappeared and she woke with blood smeared on her face. Others convinced her of her guilt and she was made to be a beast of burden; later her son would be returned, proving her innocence. The companion book suggests we replace our self doubt with self questioning, preventing doubt from disconnecting us to our sacred self (as opposed to the ego led self).

Legacy Burdens

From the Hezicos Tarot, the Magician; from the Way of the Horse Oracle, The Horse Ancestors:

Are you holding on to something that does not belong to you?

~Fai Monaghan

With a large yellow citrine in his hands (a symbol of energy and creativity), this Magician appears to have a laser-like focus. He's collected the resources he needs - including a not-so-helpful cat - so that he bring his ideas into action. Yet the Horse Ancestors card suggests he pause and consider whether what he is about to create will be beneficial to his well-being or if he is unintentionally following ancestral instructions. Legacy burdens are extreme beliefs and feelings inherited from our forebears that create fear and shame if not honored. Examples of these spoken or unspoken rules might be to avoid showing affection, be perfect, don't speak out, or don't deviate from the norm. Instead of manifesting them, we can ask if this belongs to someone else, that was perhaps useful to them at one time, but is no longer valid or appropriate now.

Magical Things

From the Victorian Fairy Tarot, the Conjurer (Magician); from the Haindl Rune Cards, Elhaz/Algiz:

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

~Eden Phillpotts

What does it take to materialize a desire? In the words of Stedman Graham, "To get where we want to go in life, we have to keep at it. We have to create a vision, make choices based on what moves us most swiftly toward our goals, and go after them with determination and single-mindedness." Props  and tools - journals, affirmations, vision boards, etc. - can remind us of our intention, but we must make a persistent effort in that direction. Algiz, whose shape resembles antlers, is the rune of the elk. It suggests protection and shielding. A caution against a lack of preparation, it instead points to  formulating a plan, adding to our knowledge, staying flexible, and listening to our intuition. Above all, we avoid provoking others by taking advantage of them in the pursuit of our goal.

Differences vs. Similarities

This week I'll be working with the Sasuraibito Tarot, self-published by Stasia Burrington. I'll also be using Soul Cards 1 & 2, created by Deborah Koff-Chapin and published through her company, Center for Touch Drawing. The Soul Cards have no titles, so the ones given here are my own. Today's draws are the Magician and Alien:

This Magician's hands are flying so fast, he appears to have multiple arms. He takes a ball and hides it under one of the cups then takes a bet on who might find it. Known as a shell game, confidence tricksters use sleight of hand to move and hide the ball during play. The Soul Card, Alien, shows a part-human and part-beast who appears sad and lonely. I think we all have portions of our lives when we feel like a stranger in a strange land. We may try to assimilate through the Magician's method - using pretense to try and fit in. Or, we may simply exist on the fringe, a wallflower, thinking we are too weird to belong anywhere. Either way, it is our narrow focus on all the ways we are different that often causes our suffering. We might do well to take Sophie Trudeau's words to heart: "The differences that separate human beings are nothing compared to the similarities that bond us together."

As Above, So Below

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Magician; from the Green Wheel Oracle, the Traveler's Moon:

The Magician always makes me think of the phrase "as above, so below" (from the hermetic Emerald Tablet). My personal use of this expression is that 'above' refers to my mind and 'below' to my day-to-day encounters. What I consistently focus on will color my perspective of the world and how I relate to it. The plant for this card - the sunflower - is known for its face following the sun as it grows. But once it matures, its head heavy with seed, it will stop moving and face eastward. What happens when our mind becomes rigid and unmoving, holding tightly to cherished opinions and ideas? The Traveler's Moon suggests movement and seeking. Can I allow my mind to stay open without relinquishing what I value? 

The more open-minded you are, the more you see the world as it actually is. The more closed-minded, the more you see the world as you want it to be.

—Adeo Ressi

Laps in Hell

From the Fey Tarot, the Magician; from the I Misteri della Sibilla, Older Woman (Two of Spades):

A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.

~Marcus Aurelius

The Magician is often associated with keywords like 'will' or 'volition,' meaning the power to choose or determine. Our life is shaped by our mind in that our thoughts create our experiences. What we focus on will paint the color and texture of our perspective of the world. It doesn't mean that meditating on an apple will cause one to appear, but doing so consistently might convince us to buy a bag then next time we're at the grocery store. We need to be aware of our thoughts, or we might end up like the Sibilla's Older Woman, staring forlornly out the window and wishing life were different. As Rick Hanson wrote, "Staying with a negative experience past the point that’s useful is like running laps in Hell: You dig the track a little deeper in your brain each time you go around it."

Rich Seedbed

This week I'll be using the Brady Tarot, created and self-published by Emi Brady with a companion booklet by Rachel Pollack. Along with it, I'll be drawing from the Wisdom of the Forest, a deck created and self-published by Jessica Purser. Today's draws are the Magician and Grow:

The Magician utilizes a combination of intellect, intention and the resources at hand to manifest what he desires. Our first attempt at something might fail dramatically, yet a second attempt might move us closer to our goal. The Grow card suggests that we learn from each experience, whether good or bad, rather than rigidly repeat our mistakes. (Crows never forget places, faces, or what happened with either.) Perhaps we don't have all the knowledge we need or we're not using our resources correctly. But if our mind and plan are flexible, we have a better chance of figuring things out. As Krishnan Venkatesh wrote, "Mistakes and failures make up the rich seedbed of self-reflection and improvement."

Creative Expresssion

From the New Era Elements Tarot, the Magus; from the Tao Oracle, Hexagram 19:

He's dressed for success, has lots of facts, figures and pamphlets, and is well like on social media. But is he just a spin doctor in a nice suit, or does he have integrity in his work? Pieper's Magus is a reminder that we all have resources that we use to create and craft a life. But do we act only for our own benefit without a thought of how it affects anyone or anything else? Are we doing what's 'right' only when someone is watching? Our motives will bear fruit later; repeated thoughts and actions will become habitual. Yet Approach - Hexagram 19 - shows an opportunity for positive change, for growing and expanding in wholesome, constructive ways. It just requires checking our intentions before moving forward to see if we're living from an old pattern or doing something new and beneficial.

It is as though we are all artists, but instead of canvas and paint, or marble or music, as our medium, our very bodies, minds, and life experience are the materials of our creative expression.

—Joseph Goldstein

Scrapbooking

From Tarot by Caro, the Magician; from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 46:

We are made of the same stuff as the stars, so when we study astronomy we are in a way only investigating our remote ancestry and our place in the universe of star stuff.

~Harlow Shapley

Using desire, single-mindedness, and the resources at hand, the Magician incarnates his vision. But the stars he is made of is a warning of interconnection, that all we say and do affects other people and things. Though on a very small scale, those effects can ripple outward. Since everything leans on something else, what we add or take away can either be of benefit or detrimental. Hexagram 46 is often called 'Pushing Upward' as in something that grows from the earth. Even if we aren't aware of the consequences of our words or actions, they will produce something - either briers or edible fruit. Time has a way of producing a scrapbook for us to peruse. On the plus side, we can always add different pages if we don't like what we've seen.

Dust Them Off

From the Gaian Tarot, the Magician; from the Goddess Oracle, Sophia:

This Magician would never let his djembe collect dust; it is a tool he uses to create the music that fills him with joy. Yet it is easy to forget the tools and resources we have (especially if we're busy comparing ourselves to others). We have our passion, our relationships, our mind, and material possessions (including our body) to work with. Why not make something joyful with them? Sophia is the personification of holy wisdom. She is more than common sense and strategic planning; she understands what is beneficial. As Ajahn Brahm described, "wisdom is warm and full of humor." Manifesting our own joy need not subtract from another's.

Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious.

― Zhuangzi

The Forerunner

This week I'll be using the Middle Way Arcana, a major arcana deck based on the ideas of Buddhism. This deck was one I created for personal use with scissors and a glue stick. I'll also be drawing from the Vertical Oracle, created by Antero Alli with Sylvie Pickering and published by Vertical Pool. Today's cards are the Magician and Resistance:

Mind is the forerunner of all actions. 

~Dhammapada 1:1

The Buddha understood how our thoughts shaped our world, at least how we perceive it. Thoughts that are habitual begin to create ruts in the mind, making it easy to repeat and rely on them. We often have no idea what goes on between our ears, we just respond without question to whatever we think. Yet thoughts are at the root of our happiness and our suffering. Just because we think it doesn't make it real; we've just assumed it is so. Then we act on what we think, confirming our false expectations, regardless of whether there's any truth in it. Resistance suggests trying to stop something - if it's our thoughts, good luck with that. But what we can resist is the urge to view them as fact and the urge to take action based on that belief. We can ask ourselves if we are truly content or if we feel miserable most of the time. If it's the latter, we can begin to become aware of our thoughts and question them. Awareness drains their energy and gives us the opportunity to shape our world in new ways.

A belief is not merely the idea the mind possesses; it is an idea that possesses the mind. 

~Japanese proverb

Means and End

From the Mary-El Tarot, the Magician; from the OH Cards, Play Cards/Should:

If you want something hard enough and you're willing to work for it, I think you can get it.

 ~Billy Magnussen

White writes that the Magician represents maintaining a clear vision of what is wanted until it is manifested. Thought shapes what is manifested, but to actually bring something tangible into the world, we are going to have to use our resources, not just think about them. Physical energy is just as important as mental energy. The Play Cards and Should combo makes me think of the saying "If you play your cards right," suggesting that if we do things a certain way we'll be successful. But what if that particular way runs counter to our values and principles? Perhaps that's just what we're to manifest - a way of getting to the end point ethically without having to justify the wrong done to get there.

Self-Will Run Riot

This week I'll be using the Daniloff Tarot, created and self-published by Alexander Daniloff. I'll also be using a set of Kuan Yin Sticks with the corresponding verses from Stephen Karcher's book The Kuan Yin Oracle as well as from www.kuanshihyin.net. Today's draws are the Magician and Verse 3:

Kuan Yin Painting by Tilly Campbell-Allen

          With the mask hiding half his face, this Magician sends up an immediate red flag. He has accumulated knowledge that he's turned into some amazing skills, but he gives off a vibe that he's hiding some criminal motives behind his cloak and table cloth. It always amazes me how people with such talent choose to use their gifts in nefarious ways (the recent corporation hackers are a good example). Recovery folks use the phrase "self-will run riot" to describe those who use their volition in self-centered and selfish ways without regard to those they hurt in the process. The Kuan Yin verse describes a swallow that returns to her nest during a storm only to find that it has fallen apart. The only solution is to begin again, having learned something from the experience. When I'm on the receiving end of the 'con wand,' revenge and hatred will only keep me in a whirlpool that doesn't allow any forward progress. Instead I can take the swallow's example, focusing on what's important; I can rebuild, being more discerning instead of an easy mark.

Sometimes we want to believe something so badly that we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of.

― Aaron B. Powell

Wise Investments

From the Prairie Tarot, the Magician; from the Medicine Cards, Frog:

A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.

― Saul Bellow

          In the tarot, there are generally two types of Magicians portrayed: the sleight-of-hand illusionist or a man with his resources on the table who uses them and his mind to manifest his goals. This fellow is obviously a street magician whose purpose is to amaze and entertain. In the real world, he shows up to try to sell us fool's gold - the online degree from a shady college, the pills that melt our fat away, or the oil-anointed candle guaranteed to help us find our true love. Yet Frog appears, croaking to call in the cleansing rain to wash away the illusion of finding an easier, quicker way to our objectives. In the words of Jesse Owens, "We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort."