The Magician
The Magician - As represented by the mysterious Raven
If you picked the lock to enter the cabin, then congratulations, you are what is known as the Magician. As represented by the mysterious Raven, Magicians are powerful people driven by a desire for knowledge. While the Magician’s vision is vast and can see the big picture on making a difference, be sure that your goals aren’t alienating others or yourself. Be sure to turn inward and ask yourself whether your actions to achieve are undermining your values.
Think of the great Magicians of literature and other media. At their most developed form, they are the thoughtful mentors and gurus for those who are willing to listen. But the Magicians at their most adolescent development are often far too externally focused, resulting in failure. This external focus can turn into a fear of what others think and cause you to be too insecure to accomplish what you’re capable of doing. Do not fear your weaknesses; embrace them, learn from them. Remember what Mariana learns about balance. You may often feel a great drive to achieve or to work hard to improve your quality of life—but you must learn to embrace and enjoy where you are now too. The gift of the Magician is that drive for progression, but don’t sacrifice your present contentment for the promise of future happiness.
Our world is evolving into one that favors the Magician. Where great knowledge, great ingenuity, and great cunning seem to be the only roads to success, the Magician has it within them to accomplish incredible things.
There are many paths the Magician can take as it is one of the most versatile of the archetypes. But the path to knowledge and power can be perilous. Think of how you chose this path, utilizing tools found within the clock to pick the lock into the cabin. Your ingenuity was rewarded this time, but don’t sacrifice your relationships in the pursuit of knowledge and power.
Each archetype must find balance, but this is especially important of the Magician. Think of Mr. Steel who relished in his solitude at the expense of his friendships. Think of Luke Skywalker, who cut himself off from his power and abandoned his loved ones after a great failure. The mind of a magician can be a sanctuary, but it can also be a prison for the unbalanced Magician.
The balanced Magician looks different depending on your values and motivations, but it is a good idea to look externally for validation on your ideas and plans when you find yourself in too much isolation. Recall how you came to be labelled the Magician - picking the lock using pieces of someone else’s project. This curiosity and innovation defines you, but the excitement with which you proceeded at the possible expense of another is something to consider. By bouncing your ideas off others, not only will it help you develop your ideas, but it will help ensure you don’t get stuck in the trap of your own mind and forget to think of how your actions impact others.
REMEMBER – The great Magicians of the world have been gurus, astronauts, explorers, and inventors. It is the Magician who brings the world into new epochs and drives innovation. But it is also Magicians who drive inequality and use power for evil. They have been known as tricksters too. The trickster is not always evil, in fact, the trickster energy can be used for undermining great evil. Adhere to your values and you will go far.
Other Notable Magicians in Fiction: Gandalf (the Lord of the Rings), Tony Stark (Marvel’s Iron Man), Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Hermione Granger (Harry Potter), Nate (Ted Lasso), Loki (Marvel’s Thor).
To continue to the second part of the ritual . . .