The Magician

Tarot de Marseille · I · Air

Essence: Initiative, skill, cunning, a first step with the resources you already have, an apprentice with tools, dexterity with hands or words

Traditional reading: A young man; work, cunning, strength of character and will, skilled with his hands and in business; reversed: a weak, indecisive, petty, dishonest man, delay through indecision

General meaning

Upright

beginninginitiativeskillresources at handcunningwill

↕ Reversed: A beginning that doesn't take off, unused resources, tricks, promising more than is delivered, manipulation, empty talk

By topic

Love: the start of somethinga youngseductive person with the gift of the gabwinning someone over with wordsgame of seductiontaking the initiative
Friendship: witty friend with the gift of the gab who suggests plansa friendship beginningskilful help
Family: youngsharp soninitiative at homelearningthe family's handy personfirst steps
Career: first professional stepentrepreneurial skillshowing what you're worthapprentice with a futurean opportunity seized
Work: new projectfirst jobentrepreneurial skillnegotiatingmanual dexterity
Studies: learning on the gostarting a coursebright apprenticedexteritywill to learn
Money: resources starting to moveyour own initiativesmall businessesincome from skillbuying and selling
Pets: cleveralert animalteaching it tricksearly trainingcurious puppyplay
Health: beginner's energywanting to start new habitsphysical dexterityalert mindstarting a treatment
Choices: take the first step with what you already havetake the initiativedon't wait to know everythinguse your resourcesdecide skilfully
Creative projects: starting with what you havefirst sketchtools readyinitiativebeginning without waiting for the perfect moment
Creativity: having the tools and the desireall that's left is to jump intechniqueexperimenting with materialsfirst spark

The keywords for each topic describe the card upright; the reversed meaning has its own line.

✨ 3 tips for combining it

With Coins, it's starting a business with what you have. Example: The Magician + Ace of Coins is a small business getting started.
With Cups, it's seduction through words. Example: The Magician + Two of Cups is someone with the gift of the gab winning you over.
With blocking cards, the beginning doesn't take off. Example: The Magician + The Hanged Man is having the tools and not daring to use them.

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Images: Tarot de Marseille, public domain (Wikimedia Commons).