Tree of Life: Kether into Binah – Path 11
Planet: Mercury
Number: 1
Hebrew Letter: “Beth” meaning house
Light: manifestation, polarity, creativity, willpower, communication, energy, self-realization
Shadow: deception, manipulation, untrustworthiness, lack of direction
Key Themes of The Magus Thoth Card
The Magus represents the first aspect of creation, the awareness of the aspects of the self, and the creative motion put forward into living out a dream. He helps give us significance and direction in life, while reminding us about the possibilities of making our dreams come true.
The Fools Lesson from The Magus
The Fool meets The Magus, his first spiritual teacher. The Magus, handling eight items, hands The Fool a cup, a wand, a sword, a disk, and a stylus with a scroll. The Fool learns the importance of using his powers and the dual nature of words. The Magus, the gods’ messenger, warns The Fool that every action has a touch of illusion.
Joe’s Divine Guidance: The Magus in a Tarot Reading
Upright
In the upright position, The Magus is advising you to give your pondering nature some freedom to explore the subject at hand. When this card presents itself upright in a reading, it is asking you to be as open minded as possible through this journey, as it will bring a fresh mind and creative clarity to the issue.
There is no reason to hold yourself back from what’s right in front of you. The Magus is here to remind you that it’s okay to not have all the answers at this moment. Your human urges and intuition is natural and exactly what is needed to aid you in this journey.
Reversed
In the reversed position, The Magus suggests you have not only been holding back but also working against your own creativity and potential. Be aware of the opportunities you’re denying yourself due to sociological ideals and/or lack of self-esteem.
Take the time to ask yourself what you have to lose on this journey. It’s just the beginning, so shedding any ideals that don’t reside with you will benefit you in the long run. Speak your truth.
Mystical Symbolism: Decoding The Magus Thoth Symbols
The Magus is seen juggling eight items, representing his mastery over the material and spiritual realms.
The Censer: This vessel for burning incense symbolizes the element of fire, representing transformation and purification.
The Cup: The cup, a symbol of water, represents emotions, intuition, and the subconscious.
The Dagger: This symbolizes the element of air, representing intellect, communication, and thought.
The Pentacle: Representing the element of earth, the pentacle symbolizes the material world and physical aspects of life.
Orphic Egg: The Orphic Egg represents the spirit or the fifth element. It symbolizes the potential and essence of life, the “nothingness” from which everything is born.
Pen and Scroll: These are the tools of Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing and knowledge. They represent the power of communication and the written word.
Wand of Double Power: This symbolizes the power of Horus, the Egyptian god of the sky. It represents authority, power, and the energy of life.
Caduceus: The Caduceus, a staff entwined by two serpents, is a symbol of balance and duality. It represents the harmonious interaction of opposing forces.
Ape of Thoth: This symbolizes the potential for misunderstanding and confusion in communication. It represents the distortions and illusions that can arise from language.
Path 12 on the Tree of life: Keter-Binah
The Magus, also known as the Magician in some Tarot decks, is associated with the 12th path on the Tree of Life. This path connects Keter, the first sephira, to Binah, the third sephira.
Keter: This sephira is also known as “the Crown.” It represents the pure, divine light of God, the source of all creation. It’s the highest point on the Tree of Life, symbolizing the purest form of consciousness or the divine will.
Binah: This sephira is also known as “Understanding” or “the Great Mother.” It’s associated with the concept of form and understanding. It’s like a prism that takes the pure light from Keter and separates it into the many different aspects of existence, much like a prism separates white light into the colors of the rainbow.
The Magus is the force that takes the divine will from Keter and uses it to shape the forms and ideas in Binah. In simpler terms, imagine the universe as a big art project. Keter is like the original idea or inspiration for the project. Binah is like the artist’s understanding of how to make the project, the plans and sketches. The Magus is like the action of the artist actually creating the project, turning the idea into reality.
The Magus’s Hebrew Letter - Beth
The Magus card in the Thoth Tarot is associated with the Hebrew letter Beth, which is the first letter of the Torah and represents a house or a building. This signifies the Magus’s ability to focus and pay attention, and his role in the adaptation of matter and manifesting.
Astrology Insights: The Magus's Primary Association
The primary astrological correspondence for the Magus is Mercury, the planet of communication and thought. Mercury is associated with the messenger gods, including Hermes. The function of Mercury includes intelligence, transmission of information, intellect, and learning. However, when not functioning well, it can lead to nervousness, hyperactivity, and speediness.