The magician: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘KEY I: Magician’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
Upright Magician Meanings
Keywords
White magic, Divine Willpower, Skill, Imagination, Self-mastery, Language, Reality.
Generally
The Magician relates to a time of action, where willpower and skill can create tangible results. Launching a new project, mastering a new skill, a successful presentation, having all the resources you need. The Magician is an initiate of the Minor Arcana.
In a Love Or Relationship Context
This card signifies proactive courtship and the conscious creation of a relationship. Finally asking someone out, clearly communicating your desire for commitment, winning someone's affection with your charm. Similar to The Lovers.
In a Money/Career Context
This card points to professional skill and successful manifestation. A successful business launch, nailing a job interview, a promotion to a leadership role, starting a skilled apprenticeship.
In a Spiritual Context
This card is about the practical application of one's spiritual path. Aligning your actions with Divine Will, "walking the talk," using focused will to create positive change for the good of all. Similar to The Chariot.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
The active, skilful energy of The Magician advises you to take action now and use the tools you have.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
The outcome is one of successful manifestation. Your focused will and skill will bring about your imagined or dream result (the 10 of Cups).
As Obstaces
The obstacle is a misapplication of skill. Progress is blocked by a manipulative person, a focus on trickery over substance, or intellectual arrogance.
As Hidden Energy
Untapped potential. Blessings (especially blessings in disguise). Covert strategy. Magical protection.
As Resources/Alliances
Expertise. Talent. Balanced training regimen.
“A year or two ago now, I did a tarot reading on the Tommy Fury vs Jake Paul fight. Tommy was said to win and was represented by the Magician card, whereas Jake was King of Wands. Interpretation: Tommy’s skillset was more well-rounded. This may seem obvious to you since he has professional boxers in his family. But do not things for granted when seeking knowledge. Like a scientist, it is wise to test your assumptions, just in case they are wrong.”
'The Magician' Reversed
Keywords
Manipulation, Trickery, Wasted Talent, Deception, Inaction
Generally
Reversed, The Magician can point to a blockage or misuse of power. Wasted talent, creative blocks, deception, inaction due to a lack of confidence. Very much like the Ace of Wands reversed.
In a Love Or Relationship Context
This card often signifies manipulation or dishonesty. A partner making false promises, a smooth-talking player with no real intent, a relationship built on a deceptive facade.
In a Money/Career Context
This can mean scams or a lack of skill. Falling for a "get rich quick" scheme, a fraudulent business deal, failing a job interview due to a lack of preparation, qualifications or charisma. Like the 5 of Pentacles.
In an Intellectual Context
This points to intellectual dishonesty. Plagiarism, using complex jargon to confuse people, sophistry (using clever but false arguments), spreading misinformation. Like the Ace of Swords reversed.
In a Spiritual Context
This can mean using spiritual practices for manipulative or egotistical ends. A disconnect between one's stated beliefs and one's actions, using spiritual language to deceive others. Like The Hierophant reversed.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
A warning against deception or inaction. It is time to question an offer that seems too good to be true, or to stop procrastinating and develop the skills you need.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
The outcome is defined by failure through inaction or deceit. A project will fail due to a lack of skill, or you will be the victim of a scam.
As Obstacles
The obstacle is deception or a lack of ability. A con artist, a lack of self-confidence, or your own wasted potential is blocking your progress.
As Hidden Energy
The manipulative energy of The Magician is a hidden threat. A person's desire to deceive is not obvious, or your own lack of skill is unconsciously sabotaging you.
As Resources/Alliances
Help comes from exposing a lie. Seeing through a deception or admitting your own lack of skill is the path forward (like the 7 of Swords reversed).
The Magician in Combination
The Magician's power of manifestation is often focused or challenged by the cards around it. A skilful action can be guided by hidden knowledge when paired with The High Priestess, or given structure and authority when appearing with The Emperor.
→ See our complete guide to The Magician Tarot Card Combinations here.
Additional Notes on The RWS 'Magician'
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings of The Magician
"Skill, diplomacy, address, subtlety; sickness, pain, loss, disaster, snares of enemies; self-confidence, will; the Querent, if male. Reversed: Physician, Magus, mental disease, disgrace, disquiet." (Pictoral Key To The Tarot, 1911)
Waite’s divinatory Major Arcana meanings can be quite dramatic, although they were given in reticence to appease a portion of his readers.
Magical Weapons Meaning (Wand, Cup, Pentacle, Sword)
They represent self-mastery in the occult sense of mastery over the four elements manifest in man’s lower nature (the body and brain), ruled by the 5th element of Spirit/Quintessence (symbolized as the table). Thus, the Magician can command his will and passion (Fire), navigate his emotions (Water), structure his intellect (Air), and takes care of his physical needs (Earth). But most importantly, this self-mastery is the first and most difficult step to initiation and it is what gives him the power to shape reality in accordance with Divine (not human) Will.
A Card of Occult Magic
Yes. Waite drew inspiration for his depiction of The Magician card from Eliphas Levi, a fellow initiate of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Levi believed that the Tarot de Marseille was a deck made by initiates. In this deck, the Magician is a street illusionist (stage magician) and Levi would consider this an esoteric allusion only understood by initiates. Waite however made this idea more explicit by drawing what is more obviously a Hermetic magician. He changed the juggler table to the theurgist’s ritual table, the stage magician’s props to magical tokens and the rest of the scenery to aspects of ritual magic (theurgy) more generally.
The Mediator of Divine Will
Many modern interpretations reduce The Magician to a simple icon of personal power or a motivational cheerleader. From the perspective of Western Esotericism, this disregards important philosophical issues like fate vs free will (depicted in the Wheel of Fortune) and karma/cause & effect (symbolized in the RWS Justice card). The Magician is not the source of power, but its conscious mediator of it. His function is a theurgic one: to consciously direct spiritual forces from the higher planes into the material world, using his consciously trained will. Will trained towards what? Attunement with the Divine Will. In doing this, he lives out his souls’ purpose for incarnating. His path is not necessarily one of conducive material circumstances. That depends on his karma. But it is the right one for his soul, and to the initiate of white magic, this is the most important thing. This is not to say that the white magician neglects his physical circumstances; mastering mundane life is very important in Western Esotericism. Just that, on the whole, he will not use occult means to improve his material circumstances. It is not an absolute rule; it is a rule of thumb to keep him on the Right Hand Path. “Mundane things by mundane means”.
