The Magician: Spiritual Alchemist

After stepping off the cliff, the first archetype the Fool encounters is the Magician. The Magician indicates that we have activated the journey toward self-actualization, whether or not we are conscious of this activation. 

Through this archetype, we learn that we are co-creating our life experiences in collaboration with the elements of the universe (earth, air, water, fire). This process of co-creation is referred to as manifestation. The Magician reminds us that we are conduits between the celestial and earthly realms and urges us to create the life we desire through the alchemical process (spiritual alchemy.) 

Manifestation is an enticing spiritual teaching. It calls forth all of our material wants and desires and infers that these possessions are simply a few positive thoughts away. As such, many walk away from the Magician thinking that they can simply set an intention toward receiving a large sum of cash, a car, or a relationship, for example, and obtain those items. However, the Magician is also known as a trickster. He provides us with this provocative teaching and leaves us to uncover the subtle caveats on our own. 

Anyone who has been enticed by the “law of attraction” memes and marketing can attest that manifestation is not as simple as it sounds. It requires more than vision boarding and journaling. A famous quote says, “we don’t attract what we want; we attract who we are.” Manifestation requires embodiment. It requires alignment. Sometimes it requires sacrifice. True manifestation requires us to move beyond the ego’s wants and desires and become in tune with the heart’s desires instead. 

The Magician introduces us to this teaching, but the remaining archetypes we encounter on this journey through the major arcana will teach us the specifics.