Mary El Tarot - The Magician

[Milfoil]

Now this one perplexes me:

http://www.mary-el.com/01.html

The background seems very barren and lifeless. Dead, twisted, trees standing like a warning in the shallow water with a pale, washed out sun in the mist behind. A Hooded figure stands both in and on the water holding the energy of the Kaballah? (Forgive me but my kaballah studies stand at 0). Please enlighten me.

[Babalon Jones]

It looks like Metatron's Cube to me. Metatron's cube is a figure of 13 interlocking circles that contains the seed and flower of life designs, and the tree of life, and all of the platonic solids. I can understand why the Magus would have it on the card. I don't quite understand the death-like imagery, though, but I don't yet have the deck or book, I'm just looking at the scan.

[Laura Borealis]

It feels like a winter landscape to me. Leafless trees, a morning fog obscuring the sun. Though the Magician figure is still and upright, there is a sense of it moving swiftly toward us, churning up the waters in its wake. It's very dreamlike. I know Marie dreamed vividly about the cards while painting them, and I'm wondering if some of this imagery was inspired by a dream.

I'll have to read up on the Metatron's Cube -- thank you Babylon Jones.

[Milfoil]

Ah, thank you - metatron cube (will go google). :)

Do you think the magician stands on water or Ice? Is s/he holding all things in potential?(hence the winter scene when life is rather suspended awaiting the life bringing warmth and light of the sun which is glancing over his/her shoulder)

The death-like figure may represent this season of death, an apparent stillness of the bulb or seed in the ground, a time when all things seem dead. His/her energy seems to be one of concealed power, hidden energy and complex transformation. Not the kind of short-lived transformation of the butterfly in the previous card but a complete, profound and necessary death of the ego. Of course, it's not dead really, it cannot be, but the recognition of stillness after such frenetic energy of the Fool makes this energy much more focussed.

The trees in the background, one twists right, the other left. In nature, trees twist to follow the sun so does that mean that the Magician who stands between them is the focus of that energy? I'm not sure, I haven't worked that 'twisted' meaning out yet. :)

[Debra]

He looks like an old hollowed-out tree trunk.

[DaisyDragonfly]

I like the image, very much. It seems to me the figure and its environment represent pure potential: it hasn't even created identity yet, merely existence. Or, identity is beginning to coalesce - there is a figure, an outline, something defined, not merely inchoate energy - but it hasn't done more than collect itself together.

And just as it hasn't yet fully defined itself, nor has it yet fully defined its environment. Self and Non-Self exist, but aren't named. And not until it's named can it be fully realized.

Oh, yes. I like. I like very much. An eerie magician, existing primarily in potential. It's the shadow of a thing, but the most important shadow there is.

[Bat Chicken]

Thanks for that, Babalon Jones. I had a look and the pattern is sacred geometry, the building blocks of matter or the material world?

I remember coming across this in my study of Blake but my brain has lost the key to the files. Too bad Zan isn't floating around here - he read the Bible from cover to cover a couple years back! Metatron definitely has something to do with Kabbalah and the earliest origins of the Israelites from Genesis in the Bible. From what I can quickly gather he is the closest to God. The element of fire is associated with him and it is interesting the card is full of fog and water. Off to my corner with that one....

I agree that the 'emanation' of the magician looks like a tree - the Tree of Life, perhaps is the allusion? (Thought I'd suggest that because Metatron is supposed to have given man the Kabbalah it might be a good allusion, maybe? :) )

Milfoil - thanks for getting this started... Have I said that yet? :)

[Penthasilia]

Hi guys- hope you don't mind someone new jumping in. I love this deck, in all it's hidden symbolism and power, with this card being my favorite.

The Metatron's cube is key to me, in the meaning behind this card. The cube symbolizes life, contained with a powerful sacred geometric shape which incorporates the Fruit/Flower of Life and all 5 known platonic solids.

When I first saw this picture, I was immediately struck by the Norse mythos regarding Ragnarok and Lif and Lifthrasir, the man and woman who are hidden within the tree of life to survive the carnage and create life on earth anew. It is the continued cycle of life, death and regeneration that is the hallmark of many myths concerning creation and post-flood renewal of mankind.

I see the magician as the tree of life, the trunk in which man enters to complete the chrysalis and be renewed in life. The dead background further signifies the death of what has been left behind in order for re-birth/renewal to occur.

A simply fabulous card, with unbelievable power! As I said, my favorite in the whole deck :)

[Bat Chicken]

Hi guys- hope you don't mind someone new jumping in. I love this deck, in all it's hidden symbolism and power, with this card being my favorite.

The Metatron's cube is key to me, in the meaning behind this card. The cube symbolizes life, contained with a powerful sacred geometric shape which incorporates the Fruit/Flower of Life and all 5 known platonic solids.

When I first saw this picture, I was immediately struck by the Norse mythos regarding Ragnarok and Lif and Lifthrasir, the man and woman who are hidden within the tree of life to survive the carnage and create life on earth anew. It is the continued cycle of life, death and regeneration that is the hallmark of many myths concerning creation and post-flood renewal of mankind.

I see the magician as the tree of life, the trunk in which man enters to complete the chrysalis and be renewed in life. The dead background further signifies the death of what has been left behind in order for re-birth/renewal to occur.

A simply fabulous card, with unbelievable power! As I said, my favorite in the whole deck :)
I am so used to FB "Like".... :)

[Penthasilia]

I am so used to FB "Like".... :)

Thanks :)

OK- so I took out the card to reflect more, because that is what I do at 11PM at night :D

We have the re-birth/death imagery in the card- so why the magician??? (This thought came to me when I looked at the sacred geometry tarot and noticed that they used the Metatron's cube for Death.)

Well- I went perusing the book of Enoch again. And the overall story, for those who haven't read it, has an interesting piece regarding how Enoch is taken to the "northern/heavenly lands" and taught by the angels sacred knowledge, more significantly, the ability to use astronomy/astrology and more importantly- HOW to measure celestial movements. It was at this time that he was shown the fiery heavenly structures that would be sent down, and the warning of the flood was given.

Now, depending on how much you buy into the idea of the megalithic yard (a serious theory by both engineers and some archeologists that stone age man DID indeed have a succinct measure to build the structures such as New Grange, etc) which has been shown to provide direct measurements of not only space (both linear and volume) but also time and the use of this measurement to create architecture that would allow for exact measurements of astronomical changes to allow for predicting seasonal patterns (which would be unbelievably powerful for a hard-working community starting to build agriculture).

On top of that, these hallowed areas were able to monitor the changes of Venus, a "star" traditionally seen as being magically/spiritually significant in birthing/fertility rites, as well as death (re-birth/renewal themes again)- you have an ancient sage, "taught" by the lineage of Enoch (and hence Noah) on how to monitor celestial events to provide keen wisdom on agriculture, birth and death rites which all are part of the mysticism of the great priest/magician role.

Layers upon layers, depth upon depth. An unbelievable amount of symbolism in a card that, on first glance, appears stark.

Did I mention how this is my favorite card? :) Just thought I would add in my later thoughts... would love to hear any thoughts/comments.

[RunningWild]

Ah, thank you - metatron cube (will go google).

The trees in the background, one twists right, the other left. In nature, trees twist to follow the sun so does that mean that the Magician who stands between them is the focus of that energy? I'm not sure, I haven't worked that 'twisted' meaning out yet. :)


You may be onto something here. The trees are twisting in the direction of the Magician.

[Bat Chicken]

Penthasila raised some interesting points about the ancients and geometry. Those with that knowledge would have seemed like 'magicians'.

Further to Penthasilla's idea that the life/ death element might seem odd in a Magician card, but it really isn't when we return to the idea that once we enter the manifest world, we are in a dual world as well. This is very much the traditional Magician.

It is my understanding that Enoch, an ancestor of Noah from the first 5 books of the Bible, was 'taken by God' and became Metatron, the angel closest to God. Metatron's cube, the five Platonic solids can be derived from the circular geometry of the Flower of Life, a symbol of creation, as can the Tree of Life pattern.

Once we start dealing in the geometry of the Magician, we are also dealing with the rational and all of the advantages and limits associated with it.

I am beginning to agree that this is an incredibly layered card!

[Requiella]

Maybe these are birch trees? I did a little research* on tree symbolism, and the birch tree symbolizes new beginnings and renewal. Could White have deliberately chosen the birch for the card of the Magician, who begins the Tarot and uses life force to create? Also, the Beithe, or Celtic birch tree, is the first tree of the Ogham, or Celtic tree alphabet--a fitting choice for the Magician, Card 1.

Also, the birch tree is apparently linked to Beltane, beginning of summer, which ushers in the light or "male" half of the Celtic year. This tree would be an obvious choice for the Magician, who embodies the stereotypically male qualities of agency and action--(or male lightness rather than female darkness).

Finally, "the word birch is thought to have derived from the Sanskrit word 'bhurga' meaning a 'tree whose bark is used to write upon" (from treesforlife.org). Wouldn't this be fitting, given that the Magician in a sense makes his mark (i.e., "writes upon" reality) through active direction of his will to create?

*Most of my info on trees comes from http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/mythfolk/birch.html

[Debra]

I don't think so. Birches have straight trunks. Google "birches trunks" for pictures.

It's a nice thought, though :)

[Requiella]

I don't think so. Birches have straight trunks. Google "birches trunks" for pictures.

It's a nice thought, though :)

Ha! I was editing as you were writing, apparently. :) Yeah, I realize that... and you're right in that it doesn't quite fit. Artistic license, maybe? :)

[Requiella]

You may be onto something here. The trees are twisting in the direction of the Magician.

Yes! And this fits with the idea of birch trees as trees to be written on (manipulated). Viewed this way, the twisting of the trees is indicative of the Magician's bending or manipulation of the natural world based on the focused direction of his will power.

[Requiella]

It seems to me the figure and its environment represent pure potential: it hasn't even created identity yet, merely existence. Or, identity is beginning to coalesce - there is a figure, an outline, something defined, not merely inchoate energy - but it hasn't done more than collect itself together.... An eerie magician, existing primarily in potential. It's the shadow of a thing, but the most important shadow there is.

Yeah, this is what I'm seeing. The empty blackness where the figure should be underscores the idea of infinite potential.

[Laura Borealis]

I was thinking sycamore, myself.

http://www.treepicturesonline.com/sycamoretree-98.jpg

What would a sycamore symbolize? In the entry on the Tree of Life (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_life#Ancient_Egypt), Wikipedia says "The Egyptians' Holy Sycamore also stood on the threshold of life and death, connecting the two worlds."

[Bat Chicken]

It is difficult to identify a tree this way, so I suppose there are many possibilities. I wonder if Marie had a particular one in mind?

I agree that the sycamore fig is the strongest possibility for the reasons highlighted by laura_borealis, but I think laura, you added an image of the american sycamore not the ficus that is the one I believe you intended? The one below can be surrounded in water as the trees in the card appear:
http://www.gregvogl.net/photos/?size=large&pic=sycamore-fig

Although less likely, the bald cypress has a similar shape and can live in water as well. I just picked this one because of the shape (this one a a bonsai cypress):
http://bonsaibark.com/2012/02/16/weekly-wire-iron-men-of-naka-bonsai-with-rebar-sleepless-nights/baldcypress/
or this:
http://www.treepicturesonline.com/bald-cypress-tree-1.jpg

[Laura Borealis]

I'm an Amurrican, I was thinking of an Amurrican Sycamore. The ones with the funny bark that peels away and leaves the trunk and branches white. They like their feet wet. I've seen 'em all my life, they're one of my favorite trees.

I've never heard of a sycamore fig that is also a ficus. Is that the one the Egyptians mythed about? (ETA: I looked it up and it is. Learn something new every day.) :)

[Bat Chicken]

I love the bark on the american sycamore too. They are a gorgeous tree! They were a rarity where I am from originally, but they are all over the place where I am living now. I wonder what people think when I walk up to one and start stroking the bark? :laugh:

Hopefully in less than a week shipping notices will give us the chance to see if Marie had a particular tree in mind!

[Eyebright]

I love this card! to me the landscape isn't dead, it's just a blank canvas that the Magician is in the process of creating, fashioning it how he wants.

I also like that the Magicians face is obscured by his hood, that means that anyone could be the magician, we all have at our fingertips the ability to fashion the world around us how we ourselves want it to be, and this by extension applies also to our lives.

Has anyone else commented on how the ripples in the water The Magician have risen out of resemble vulva? It's like he has been birthed into the blank canvas world, from the primordial waters at the beginning of creation. I feel like he exists at the beginning of everything, he's the great creator that created everything around us. And the two trees seem to form a gateway to pass through, that leads you further into the world being created.

[Bat Chicken]

I am really enjoying your insights, Eyebright!

I love this card! to me the landscape isn't dead, it's just a blank canvas that the Magician is in the process of creating, fashioning it how he wants. Yes! Barren, rather than dead...

I also like that the Magicians face is obscured by his hood, that means that anyone could be the magician, we all have at our fingertips the ability to fashion the world around us how we ourselves want it to be, and this by extension applies also to our lives. Very true and this idea is of great use for interpreting this card in a reading.

Has anyone else commented on how the ripples in the water The Magician have risen out of resemble vulva? It's like he has been birthed into the blank canvas world, from the primordial waters at the beginning of creation. I feel like he exists at the beginning of everything, he's the great creator that created everything around us. And the two trees seem to form a gateway to pass through, that leads you further into the world being created.
It does!, doesn't it? This is a wonderful observation and it ties in nicely with the high priestess - her waters are brackish and primordial. This is the Architect. Thanks, EB!

[danaimina]

I hope you do not mind a rockie like me is jumping in after so many good ideas.
I was struck by the drawings of this Tarot, but the magician shoke me in a special way: it has nothing to do with the rest of Magicians out there.

The idea which came to my mind was this one: pure potentiality, raw power, THE chance to become whatever you may WANT to be. I can see a chysalis. All about the card fits the image: the trees from which caterpillars perch to become a pupa; the liquid that softens the old skins which forms the chrysalis and lets the new animal come out: the car represents THE MOMENT in which the being is STARTING to EMERGE. About the barren/dead stuff: the future Butterfly (the Fool????) leaves her old/unuseful/dead skin behind and takes off to a new life. Moreover the colors fit perfectly with the idea: unpretentious colors: everything is plain for it is going to be left behind: the great colors will be shown by the future butterfly to display for all to see: pure magic!!!!

And I can see a lot of WILL (the Willpower to endure such strenuous changes to become a new and better ME), which, for me, is one of the main traits of the Magician.

But another idea comes to my mind: all this idea about transformation, does not fit better with the Death card???