The Magician is the 1st Trump in the Major Arcana representing yang energy and the masculine power. The Magician is also represented by the planet Mercury - ruling communication, wisdom, will, and action in all forms and phases. The Magician is often symbolic of having strength of will to create your own life; to make the magic real for you. This card symbolizes the ability to communicate and control your environment, to focus your energy and concentrate. The Magician is about making your will into reality, manifesting your hopes and dreams into your life. 

The Artist's Inner Vision Magician shows a shaman-like figure seated in a cave.  Antlers adorn his head.  He sits before a lighted candle trying to commune with the spirits.  His tools are laid in before him and rising from the smoke of the sage smudge we see a spirit that looks like an owl.  The creator of this card offers the following meaning:  "It is a time for change and opportunity where one must look within to find the necessary strength, energy and initiative to best approach a new venture.  The Magician has a great many of the positive attributes needed to meet this challenge, as do we all, often only finding out how much we have until we are in a time of need.  He rises to conquer the new and meets it in whatever way he must to achieve his goals."

The Fairy Tale Magician shows a young boy, Wu, who is gifted with a dragon scale after he provides shelter to a thunder dragon spirit.  He blessed by the dragon and eventually comes to the emperor's attention.  When he goes to the emperor's palace he quickly becomes the palace magician and manages to use his powers to keep the kingdom safe.

So let's see how this impacts me today.  One of the recurring messages I've been receiving from the Tarot lately is that I need to trust in myself and take control of my life.  I think the reversed nature of this card is reminding me that before I can control anything in the external world, I need to learn how to control myself.  I don't mean that in a physical sense, although that's not a bad idea either.  I need to focus my energies and concentrate on my personal goals and desires.  I have a tendency to be easily distracted sometimes.  I become so focused on extraneous things - books, dolls, even collecting decks that I lose sight of the more important things.  I let myself get sidetracked instead of keeping my eyes on the prize as it were.  I know where I want to go in life but I'm not always willing to take the time to plan the journey.  I have the tools but I don't always use them to my best advantage.

This begs the question why?  Why do I sabotage myself like that?  I'm not really sure but one of the things that has occurred to me is that I'm afraid if I achieve my goals, if I make my dreams come true, will I find them everything I'd hoped?  Will I really feel fulfilled?  I think I've heard this described as fear of success.  What is left to strive for once we've reached our goal?  The reality is that I'll find another goal.  I think it's human nature to need to struggle to achieve success.  We don't appreciate things that come to easily to us.  So, having said that, then I need to get my act together and create an action plan.  I may need to tweak and modify it but at least taking that first step will shift my mind into gear and I'll know that I'm serious.