Me & the magician, contrarian tarotians

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Jun 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Red Emma	24 Jun 2003
In the thread, "The magician as husband material," I felt the prevailing concept of the magician was actually Magican Reversed ... a serious distortian of authentic Magician energy. The Magician Reversed would be someone with all the basic magician qualities, but who chooses to use them in a selfish and self aggrandizing manner. One who cares only for him/herself, and let the devil take the hindmost. A classic con-man/woman. So I did a bit of serious research, and here's what my favorite authors have to say about the old Magic Man (or woman) Himself. Joan Bunning, "Learning the Tarot:" The magician is the archetype of the active, masculine principle -- the ultimate achiever. He symbolizes the power to tap Universal Forces and use them for creative purposes. "Sacred Circle Tarot" calls the Magician, Shaman and describes his quest as "... transformation of himself by virtue of a constantly expanding state of consciousness, an awareness of the sub-workings of the Universe. "He has committed himself to a continuous journey of discovery. He seeks not to walk the path, but to become the path." He knows "...that everything possesses spirit ... he recognizes and works with this spirit ... (and) mediates between the world of the spirits and the world of humankind." And, of course, Motherpeace which started me on the Tarot-path -- who also calls the Magician a Shaman ... "who channels healing heat, the fire of the universe coming through the human being. Like any modern shaman, the Magician is a mediator between two worlds -- the inner spiritual heaven and the outer, physical earth." About the original question, No, I don't think the magician (shaman) would be good spouse material...too busy in her medical practise, in the legislatures of the world (as a statesman as opposed to a politician, etc.) And when he comes home from work, there's too little energy left for the mundane household things of the traditional life. But an occasional weekend would be magic, in its purest form. (heh,heh,heh) Goddess bless the shamans of the world, and us, too.

isthmus nekoi	24 Jun 2003
The Magician is quicksilver - transformative, dangerous, slippery. In his full power, I agree, the Magician is more than just a mere trickster, or juggler. The Magician is the psychopompus, the conduit that can hold the tension b/w the conscious and unconscious world. The energy doesn't take form easily in the real world, I find which is maybe why the car salesman image prevails.

Indigo_lady	24 Jun 2003
Thanks for coming to the rescue of my man...

Red Emma	28 Jun 2003
[quote]Originally posted by isthmus nekoi The Magician is the psychopompus, " Psychopompus? Sorry to be so dense, but neither my dictionary nor I know the word. Can you give me a clue? Goddess Bless, Red Emma

Baby Owl	28 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Red Emma About the original question, No, I don't think the magician (shaman) would be good spouse material...too busy in her medical practise, in the legislatures of the world (as a statesman as opposed to a politician, etc.) And when he comes home from work, there's too little energy left for the mundane household things of the traditional life. I think someone else brought this up, but it seems like it would depend on what one wanted in a spouse. I am not sure there is one definition of "good spouse." The Magician might make enough money to hire someone to do the mundane household things, and his spouse might enjoy leading her own life most of the time, too. (Switch "his" and "her" as desired.) Baby Owl

DarkElectric	28 Jun 2003
Hey, the Magician is my kinda guy. Somewhere out there, I'll find him, I just know it. Time is on my side ;)

Minos	29 Jun 2003
[quote]Originally posted by Red Emma Quote: A psychopomp, like Chthonian Hermes or Egyptian Thoth (or the Etruscan Charun) leads souls to the Other World. In Greek: psuche = 'soul' pompein = 'to lead in a procession'

Alobar	29 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Minos A psychopomp, like Chthonian Hermes or Egyptian Thoth (or the Etruscan Charun) leads souls to the Other World. or Hekate! traditionally, the psychopomp was the only one who could cross the Styx and still return. Hermes generally took that role in leading the dead to the Underworld. in the Eleusian Mysteries however, it was Hekate (in Her role as Propylaia) who would 'guide' Persephone back each spring. i've never considered the Magician in this light... and interesting concept. i've certainly seen Death as filling this role, that of transformation.

Minos	29 Jun 2003
<> Yep. Or Eros. Just about any god who carried a torch, for that matter. < in the Eleusian Mysteries however, it was Hekate (in Her role as Propylaia) who would 'guide' Persephone back each spring. >> Hm. I'll have to look that up. Lots of good stuff though, on Hecate as world-soul, in the Chaldean Oracles. <> Death I've always seen to be more blind. He looses souls, but where they go is none of his concern. The Hanged man is much more self-conscious. His soul goes down into the abyss because he wants it there. His head goes down to the Serpent's lair because he has something to teach the Serpent. But Death? Doesn't care. IMHO anyway.

Alobar	29 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Minos Hm. I'll have to look that up. Lots of good stuff though, on Hecate as world-soul, in the Chaldean Oracles. yeah, but that's a much later view of Hekate, through the more Cthonic Roman view. Hekate as Soteira, or 'Savior'. i prefer the earlier Homeric version, long before She was ever seen as 'Crone'. in this aspect, She was usually depicted as a Portal Goddess, or protector of the passageways. Her 'Phosphoric' role as torch-bearer. it seems to me that by the Chaldean interpretation, She was already approaching Shakespeare's "MacBeth' image, one which i really can't stand!

Celtic_Dragon	29 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Red Emma In the thread, "The magician as husband material," I felt the prevailing concept of the magician was actually Magican Reversed ... a serious distortian of authentic Magician energy. The Magician Reversed would be someone with all the basic magician qualities, but who chooses to use them in a selfish and self aggrandizing manner. One who cares only for him/herself, and let the devil take the hindmost. I completely agree with you. As I said in the other thread.... Quote: originally posted in "The magician as husband material" I honestly don't know how a magician can be all that bad. I was raised by one and I'm about to marry another And I'm very happy with both. Neither one fits the used car sales man cliche and are very good with communication. (as a magician should) In fact my father was always straight forward with me.

The Me & the magician, contrarian tarotians thread was originally posted on 24 Jun 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.