Let´s talk about...initiation

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

paulo32	04 Sep 2003
Hello “For me, the Magician starts the journey of initiation” Diana I fact I also believe that the magician is a important card, and is meaning is a initiation. I have been reading somme books about secrets societies and their initiation. Their initiation gives to the neophyte access of somme kind of secret(s). Spiritual secrets ? Maybe, maybe I know the answer and I only want your opinions from all off you. So I would like to know the symbolic meaning in the magician. Bye Paulo

Kiama	04 Sep 2003
I think to me, the Magician definitely represents the initiation, where we are suddenly made aware of a great many things that are outside of us: we suddenly realise that we live in a world that needs exploring and holds many secrets to discover. From a magical point of view, and from a personal view, the Magician can also be seen as the card that reveals to us the power of the will and the power of directed energy. The practice of magic relies mostly (some would say entirely) on the direction of one's will and energy towards the desired goal, and this is what the Magician teaches, to me. He teaches how to direct one's will and energy towards any goal, not always a magical one, since the same process occurs with mundane goals. It is this understanding of how to use one's will and energy to the best effect, that really starts us on a spiritual and worthwhile path, I think. It's just my personal take, so I'm sure others will see it slightly differently, but that's good. Diversity is a beautiful thing. :D Kiama

jmd	04 Sep 2003
In its etymological form, I agree that the Magician, as first card, is the initial step towards mastery - hence takes the first step towards 'initiation' in its other meanings. The final step, similarly, is to have achieved the state depicted by the World. The Magician shows that not only does he need to apply his Will, but also begin by working carefully with the tools he is to use and manipulate - to transform or metamorphosise. Having taken this first step, the individual may proceed to the next step: the formal initiatory chamber of the Papess/High Priestess.

Kiama	05 Sep 2003
I was thinking about this before I fell asleep last night (Ca you tell I'm a Tarotholic?! ;)) and I realised I had missed what to me is a very important initiatory aspect of the Magician. In most decks, notice how he has one arm, holding a wand, pointing to the sky. His other arms points down to the ground. This is a stance that to me suggests drawing spirit to the earth, in other words, in represents spirit's descent into matter, and therefore the spiritual side of each person descending/being awoken into their physical body, and thereby allowing them to start the journey. Kiama

Diana	05 Sep 2003
First of all, I think it may be good to define what is mean by initiation. When I use that term, I don’t necessarily think of initiation into any Secret Society, although I reckon that in all secret societies, there are obviously different initiatory degrees the adepts have to go through. But one doesn't need to wear white robes with silver stars on them, or be clunked on the head with a sword, or prance naked around a tree at midnight, in order to become an initiate. The definition of Initiation that I use is more or less this one: “the expansion or transformation of a person's consciousness. Derived from the Latin " In ire " to go within. An Initiate is one whose consciousness has been transformed so that he now perceives the Inner Essence, the noumena behind the phenomena." (Source: A Dictionary of New Age Terminology). Of course, I dislike the term “Magician” for this card. I use the French term “Le Bateleur” (the Mountebank, if you like). This guy is no Magician. He’s just an ordinary guy who is starting out on the Journey of his life. He’s been given simple but smart tools, and a choice: Stay where you are because ignorance is bliss, or Know Thyself, and this will bring you joy sometimes, but very often pain and sacrifice. He stands at the entrance of the Temple. Once he takes that step, he cannot turn back. But most initiations (secret societies, or rituals in more “primitive” societies”) are pretty scary. And there is never a way to turn back. Is the goal the World? Nope. It's one step further.... to become a Fool..... The Fool is the Initiated in all his glory.

paulo32	05 Sep 2003
Hello Thanks for all for the answers So we have two interesting points already, in this conversation about the Magician. The first one is that the magician is somme one that have contact with the supernatural world, the world who is behind in our common senses, the world of spirits. The magician is somme one who is connect with the supernatural, and the initiation is the first step to enter in that kind of world. Wright ? do you agree on this first step ? 1º This is a stance that to me suggests drawing spirit to the earth, in other words, in represents spirit's descent into matter Kiama The second point is that the initiation is a transformation of the consciousness, but is a natural process ? how that process is made ? just simple like that ? that transformation don´t have rules , methods ? Well the best book that I have read about this subjects is here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0917776054/qid=1062808995/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/002-8284695-1320802 But you can other opinions of course. 2º The definition of Initiation that I use is more or less this one: “the expansion or transformation of a person's consciousness Diana There are missing a 3º point on this question a important point , because the card of magician is a card who talk to us about illusion. So what kind of illusion is ? the initiation is an illusion ? and illusion take us to another further question witch is: Why the initiation are not commom for all the people in the world ? Feel free to answer Paulo bye

Diana	06 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by paulo32 The second point is that the initiation is a transformation of the consciousness, but is a natural process ? how that process is made ? just simple like that ? that transformation don´t have rules , methods ? Paulo: I won't comment on your first point. I'll leave that up to those who consider the Magician to be a......... Magician. I think the initiation can be a natural process, but then it is long and terribly nerve-wracking, as it is a question then of trial and error, three steps forward, two steps back, and sometimes even three or four steps back. Which could take hundreds of lives. But in the end, one gets there, because this is anyway what Man's ultimate goal is. However, I think it can be done in a more reasonable manner if we follow "rules and regulations". And the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot are an excellent guide-book. (There are other guide-books - the Tarot is only one of the ways.) The Bateleur goes through 21 stages. Each arcanum is an inititiation..... To turn the lead into gold....... The Tarot can give us the secret of the Philosopher's Stone. Of that I am pretty certain. -------------- Illusion..... The Bateleur is, at his present stage, in a world of illusion! His tools are scattered on the table (look at the Bateleur of the Tarot of Marseille), they are not in order like they will be when we get to the World card. Georges Colleuil says in one of his books: "The Bateleur is not ignorant - he just suffers from amnesia". Slowly, he will wake up from his dream-world, the world he believes is real, but which is just an illusion, and he will regain the knowledge that was always in intricate part of himself..... He will remove the veils of illusion one by one and the truth will be revealed.

The Let´s talk about...initiation thread was originally posted on 04 Sep 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.