I’ve started a healing journey through the Tarot deck. I was reflecting on The Magician, one of the major Archetypes in the deck. While feeling into the card, I asked: What are you here to teach me? What are you bringing up from within? What are you wanting me to see? What came out was quite interesting; I’d already spoken to The Fool, who was all about new beginnings and needing to make sure I take note of the little details before I come a cropper off the edge of the cliff, taking my sense of pride for doing the right thing with me. You know, reading emails fully and taking note of appointment times are a couple of things I’ve overlooked lately. The Magician reinforced the need for planning and being focused on the task at hand. I have everything I need to create what I desire: the passion, the elements, and the understanding of the cycles at work behind my intention. The Magician is here to bring light into the situation and ground it in reality. From this insightful feel into the energies of The Magician, he is not just a sleight-of-hand magic man. Looking past the facade and the robes. The Magician is here to teach us more about energetic balance, intention, faith, patience, trusting the cycles of life, and, most of all, our own sovereignty. We all have the Magician within us; we can create magic. What are you going to do with the magic when you find it? Guide others in their search for meaning? Or plug some holes so you can be a living testament to the healing power of Tarot? What are your thoughts on the Magician card? From the archive of Robert Ripley: “Believe it or Not”

It may not feel like it sometimes, but we came here with everything we need. The Magician is a testament to that fact. In front of him is everything he needs to magnificently manifest what he needs, to be able to move forward in his life. To build and grow his domain. He grew his energetic wisdom from traversing the Minor Arcana, going through the ups and downs as we all do. His healing legacy is to know ourselves, and understanding the energetic currents that rule our lives. He brings planning, confidence, and focused intention. Where can the energy of the Magician influence your life?

Research has been exploring the effects of mindfulness and well-being through Tarot and has found its ability to stimulate insight, intuition, and imagination. This allows for processing emotions, which leads to personal growth. I've also listened to a few podcasts with psychoanalysts who use Tarot in their sessions with clients as a way of exploring the subconscious and bringing things into awareness. I find this really interesting, particularly when we look at Tarot as a tool for reflection rather than simply prediction. From my personal perspective, Tarot was my saving grace during my healing journey. I learnt it a second time, and it spoke to me in a totally different way. It basically spoke the language that I could understand at that time, and it continues to lead me forward within that context. I believe that Tarot meets you where you are; It doesn't necessarily ask you to interpret it only from somebody else's perspective or keep it confined within its traditional meanings. Like anything connected to energy, I believe it needs to move, breathe, and change. It adapts to the moment it's in, and to the person who is experiencing it. I'm certainly not knocking the traditional way of reading Tarot. In fact, I think it's important. We need a good, solid foundation to begin with — to learn the language, understand the symbolism and develop our skills. Once we have that foundation, perhaps that's when we can begin to develop our own relationship with the cards and work our own magic from there. For me, that's where Tarot becomes truly alive.

Engaging with the Major Arcana or even the Minor Arcana through various activities can be an enriching experience, whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner. One thing I like to do is shuffle the deck and pull a daily card; Majors tell you about external energy approaching you, and Minors tell you about your internal landscape and how you're feeling. You can meditate on the card first, sit comfortably and hold the card where you can see it, and allow it to tell you the story. Or you can look at the card, focusing on the colours, imagery and symbols you see. Determining what your day's going to be like. Consider both sides of the meaning of the card, that way, should the day not be as positive as you expected, you will be prepared for whatever shows up. Journalling is great at hitting the high marks of your higher self and reaching into your subconscious mind to pull out gems. However you engage with your deck, have fun and enjoy the process. It's about creating a relationship with your deck, which in turn creates a relationship with yourself. With Tarot, you begin to understand the meaning of "know thyself"

Coming to the end of a cycle isn't always a teary farewell; sometimes it can be a feeling of relief that comes over the body due to the awareness of the closure. A new self arises that is ready to take on the next part of the journey. One that is full of wonder and the ability to create new pathways towards the future. In Tarot, that would be The Fool. Due to our multidimensional selves, we can be filled with a repertoire of different abilities and personalities, ones that can help give us that leg up when we need it. Ones that understand our lows and know what comforts us. We are quite amazing humans when you look at it; but unfortunately, at this point in the human time scape, there are not many humans who exhibit that amazing talent. Evident from what we see in the media. That shouldn't stop us from shining the brightest and filling the world full of love just by being who we are, love in form.