The Chinese do not engage in the artificial divisions of magic that we in the West are so fond of. A Chinese Magician engages in feats of legerdemain to entertain, is a soothsayer, a healer, and a sorcerer of no-small repute.

More than two thousand years ago the compass was conceived and fabricated by a Chinese Magician, Luan Te. The famous twentieth-first century Chinese Magician, Chung Ling Soo, was really an American named William E. Robinson. And the equally as famous Chinese Wizard Chun Chin Fu, was an Italian. This tells us something about the esteem in which the Chinese are held for their acts of wizardry, whether of the stage or of ceremony.

The Magician on the card is unnamed, however he is obviously a brilliant pyrotechnist. His control is undoubtedly well practiced and encompassing, for not only is he surrounded by fire, he is breathing it as well. The LWB tells us that the bowl in his left hand contains boiling water. It appears to me to be smoldering incense. Incense would make sense on two levels, incense is healing, protective and an act of honour and it blends seamlessly into the other fire symbols. Fire, as one of the ancient elements represents determination, inspiration, will, desire on a spiritual level. Flames are symbols of the emotional state of vigor and animation also know as spirit!

The flaming sword The Magician holds serves symbolically to connect him with the heavens, as does the incense: a circle, complete in symbology. The Earth under his Earth-coloured shoes, repeated on the sheltering screen behind him, translated into the green, the symbolic colour of growth and fertility, of his magnificent robe. The blue edging symbolizing clarity and spirituality, the colour of the design passion, will, desire, and as a further strengthening of the message of this card, orange is the colour that stands as symbol for flame: the masculinity of the figure reinforced by the symbology of masculinity found in his right hand being held aloft, his face being turned to the right and his gaze directed to the right. The open bowl represents the human heart; the blue of the bowl speaks to the spiritually seeking heart. The golden colour of his under-gown's hem directs us to his majesty; the white of the collar tells us that he may just be a reflection, not the Magician, at all.

The _main magic_ of the tarot Magician is that he (US) can DO just by thinking of it, choosing to do it, and then doing it.

The lesson of the Magician card is Will through the intellect. The icon on the card is literally surrounded by the symbol for will, determination, inspiration; he is breathing it as well. There is little that this Magician, and by extension we, cannot accomplish if we are determined to do so and expend the will to do so.

The message I see coming through this card "Pay attention: magic surrounds you if you can but see."

__________________________________________________