The Magician, The Magus, or The Juggler (I) is the first trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks.

Iconography

A youthful figure in the robe of a magician, having the countenance of divine Apollo, with smile of confidence and shining eyes. Above his head is the mysterious sign of the Holy Spirit, the sign of life, like an endless cord, forming the figure 8 in a horizontal position {infinity symbol}. About his waist is a serpent-cincture, the serpent appearing to devour its own tail (ouroboros). This is familiar to most as a conventional symbol of eternity, but here it indicates more especially the eternity of attainment in the spirit. In the Magician's right hand is a wand raised towards heaven, while the left hand is pointing to the earth.

This dual sign is known in very high grades of the Instituted Mysteries; it shows the descent of grace, virtue and light, drawn from things above and derived to things below. The suggestion throughout is therefore the possession and communication of the Powers and Gifts of the Spirit. On the table in front of the Magician are the symbols of the four Tarot suits, signifying the elements of natural life, which lie like counters before the adept, and he adapts them as he wills. Beneath are roses and lilies, the flos campi and lilium convallium, changed into garden flowers, to show the culture of aspiration.

Interpretation

According to Arthur Edward Waite, this card signifies the divine motive in man. It is also the unity of the individual being on all planes, and in a very high sense it is thought. With further reference to the “sign of life”, i.e. the infinity symbol and its connection with the number 8, it may be remembered that Christian Gnosticism speaks of rebirth in Christ as a change “unto the Ogdoad.” The mystic number is termed Jerusalem above, the Land flowing with Milk and Honey, the Holy Spirit and the Land of the Lord. According to Martinism, 8 is the number of Christ.

In other traditions this card can refer to scholarly knowledge. The Fool (card 0) has learned something about the workings of the world and now sees himself as powerful. Perhaps the reputation of the Magician is derived from the Fool misunderstanding what is happening while the High Priestess (the next card) is looking back, thinking that the Magician is missing the point of spiritual knowledge.

Reading

When the Magician appears in a spread, it points to the talents, capabilities and resources at the querent's disposal. Depending on the card's placement in relation to other cards, the message is to tap into one's full potential rather than holding back, especially when there is a need to transform something. This card is a signal to act and act now, provided you understand exactly what you want and are committed to getting it.T here are choices and directions to take. Guidance can arrive through one's own intuition or in the form of someone who brings about change or transformation. Communication by writing and speaking will allow you to influence others. These are your tools as a Magician.
Reversed, the Magician can mean greed, deceit, using one's skill and ability for negative ends. Trickery and cunning, manipulation, untrustworthiness, mental confusion. He may be a beneficent guide, but he does not necessarily have our best interests in mind. He may also represent the querent’s ego or self awareness. He can also represent the intoxication of power, both good and bad.

Associations

When The Magician card is accompanied in a reading by The Sun, your drive to accomplish a big goal is given a great amount of energy, but selfish tendencies and self-absorption may emerge. When The Moon card is in the same reading as The Magician, your emotional desire to get what you want blinds you to everything that you already have. You could lose it all to gain one specific goal, be it a lover or a career promotion, no matter; it will come at a great cost.

The Fool is a card that complements The Magician wonderfully. Your talents come in handy when you are least concerned with getting ahead. The lack of desire creates a trust in friends and strangers alike and soon many people are helping you accomplish goals you never imagined pursuing. Temperance is a great card to have with The Magician, as you will selflessly work to help others reach their goals. The only problem might be that such a zest to help others leaves you not helping yourself despite an abundance of talent and connections.

The Three of Wands is another favourable card to have in your Tarot reading along with The Magician. This is the card of possibilities occurring in your favour out in the universe. The Magician has a wand on the table before him and holds a small wand in his hand to cast his spell.

Opposing cards

High Priestess – nonaction, intuition, accessing the unconscious
Hanged Man – suspending action, not doing
Seven of Cups – lacking focus and commitment
Four of Swords – resting quietly, storing energy
Eight of Swords – confused and uncertain, powerless

Reinforcing cards

Chariot – focusing, concentrating, being forceful
Two of Wands – personal power, wielding a strong force
Eight of Wands – quick action, making your move
Eight of Pentacles – focus and concentration

Alternative decks

The Vikings Tarot depicts Tyr as the Magician; he is lifting his arm that was severed by the Fenris wolf.
The Osho Tarot calls this card Existence and depicts it as a naked figure viewed from the back sitting on the lotus of perfection, gazing at the beauty of the stars.

In the Shining Woman Tarot, the magician is a shaman.
In the X/1999 Tarot, made by CLAMP, The Magician is Kamui Shirou (the main character of the story).
In the Trinity Blood tarot deck, Isaak Fernand Von Kampf?r is depicted as the Magician card.
In the upcoming Anne Rice Tarot deck, the Magician card depicts Lestat.
In the Goddess Tarot by Kris Waldherr, the Magician is portrayed as the Egyptian goddess, Isis.
In the Shakespeare Tarot, the Magician is depicted by Prospero.
In the Mythic Tarot deck, the Magician is depicted by Hermes

Quote

I Saw the Man.
His figure reached from earth to heaven and was clad in a purple mantle. He stood deep in foliage and flowers and his head, on which was the head-band of an initiate, seemed to disappear mysteriously in infinity.
Before him on a cube-shaped altar were four symbols of magic–the sceptre, the cup, the sword and the pentacle.
His right hand pointed to heaven, his left to earth. Under his mantle he wore a white tunic girded with a serpent swallowing its tail.
His face was luminous and serene, and, when his eyes met mine, I felt that he saw most intimate recesses of my soul. I saw myself reflected in him as in a mirror and in his eyes I seemed to look upon myself.
And I heard a voice saying:
–“Look, this is the Great Magician!
With his hands he unites heaven and earth, and the four elements that form the world are controlled by him.
p. 22
The four symbols before him are the four letters of the name of God, the signs of the four elements, fire, water, air, earth.”
I trembled before the depth of the mysteries A touched… The words I heard seemed to be littered by the Great Magician himself, and it was as though he spoke in me.
I was in deep trepidation and at moment I felt there was nothing, before me except the blue sky; but within me a window opened through which I could see unearthly things. and hear unearthly words. The Symbolism of the Tarot by P D. Ouspensky (1913)