1 – The Magus
The Magus, the first numbered card in the Major Arcana, represents the first deliberate step on the tarot’s journey. There is a lot of variety in traditional versions of this card. It is sometimes called The Magician (le Bateleur) or is represented by a juggler. I wasn’t entirely comfortable with either of these depictions because they seemed too superficial. Their emphasis was on skilled performance and the deceptiveness of sleight of hand. To me, the Magus is about capability and self-mastery rather than performance.
I chose a traditional interpretation in which the Magus stands before a table that holds a wand, a cup, a sword, and a coin. These serve as an introduction to the tarot symbols, which are also symbols of creativity, emotion, intellect, and the material world. I felt the wand had more meaning when held rather than on the table, as it is an active gesture in keeping with the card’s meaning.
The raised-hand gesture is often interpreted as “as above, so below,” but in practical terms it represents the shift from idea to execution. It is a statement that thought and action are connected, and that the connection must be intentional and controlled. The card is about focus, discipline, and the confidence to take a stand in life.
The wand is intentionally rustic, more of a found object than a traditional crafted tool. Rather than suggesting supernatural power, it represents the Magus’s willingness to choose his own path. Like the objects on the table, its significance comes not from the wand itself, but from the purpose its owner gives it and his belief that it focuses the power of his mind.
For the card’s snake symbolism, I used an ouroboros design on the belt buckle, enhanced with an infinity symbol, which is often used on this card. To me, the Magus represents a connection between the concrete and the intangible, an understanding that existence is continuous, cyclical, and interconnected. The ouroboros is also the main design element in my interpretation of the World, the final card in the Major Arcana. I wanted to stress the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of the cards in the Major Arcana. They represent a never-ending journey of self-reflection and understanding.
The card’s setting derives from photographs I took in Sorrento, Italy. The tiled floor and the backdrop of orange trees felt fitting, since I conceived the Magus as a street performer whose skills are exercised in public, in the everyday world rather than on a formal stage. An outdoor setting suited that interpretation, while paying homage to the tarot’s Italian origin.
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