1. The Magician: Mars and Mercury

To the magician the magical act and imaginative act is one and the same. The magician knows with certainty that for a change to occur he must will it to happen and firmly believe that it will happen. Here it may be noted that magic and religion are akin: both require belief that a miracle will occur. The planet Mercury corresponds to the Magician and Mars is assigned to number 1. The energies of both planets must combine in order for the Magician to fulfill his mission in transforming you. Mercury, the primary symbol for the intellect, must conquer the ego if the heart is to rule the mind. The Magician teaches that if you live your life in selfless love and service your personality will merge with the soul. The Magician is the Lord of Magic. He was known to the Atlanteans as Thoth-Hermes, to the Mayas as Quetzalcoatal, the Egyptians as Thoth, to the Greeks as Hermes, messenger of the gods, and in Celtic legend as the enigmatic wizard Merlin, who attains immortality. Biblical writers removed the Book of Enoch from the Old Testament because it was based on the Book of Thoth. Enoch/Thoth describes a magnificent civilization (Atlantis), which misused the keys of higher knowledge and was unable to save them from the last cataclysm. Yet, Biblical Revelations promise that all will be revealed in 2012.

Hermes, the Magician, is holding the caduceus with twin serpents wound about a staff, representing the double helix of DNA, the building blocks of life. It is our cells’ store of coded ‘digital’ information, and each strand of DNA itself provides the pattern for building a new strand. Many scholars now believe that the caduceus is also an embodiment of our DNA. The Magician has discovered the secret codes to life. He can draw upon his inner strength to make a goal a reality for he has at his disposal all the elements and their counterparts: the cup, indicating water and imagination; the sword, indicating air and intellect; the pentacle, earth and the body, and the caduceus/wand, fire and will-power. In his lower aspect Hermes mirrors the trickster in us—thus illustrating that even our best qualities have their shadow side. The Magician represents the powers that you possess to create meaning and purpose in your life. He tells us that this creative power is in and around you and always available. He teaches how things work in the world by understanding the structure underlying its cycles and rhythms.

Challenge: Although you are eloquent, charismatic, clever, witty, inventive and persuasive, beware of dominating those around you. Although these qualities are not generally criticized by society they are different personalities that need to be unified under the guidance of your inner guru. Your pioneering spirit is in reality a way to avoid facing these layers of illusion and can prevent you from discovering that you are not these personas. Pay attention to everyday life. Remember all the power you possess comes from a higher level. Focus on what you want and eliminate those things, which distract you. You have abused power and you have an overpowering ego, which makes you selfish, arrogant, and insensitive. Your inflexibility causes you to row against the tide and sets you up for failure and loneliness. Your lack of willpower confuses your life’s purpose. Do not use the forces of nature for selfish purposes. You are blocking your creative energies. Learn by experimentation – try new things. Your self-confidence is lacking because you’re unsure of yourself but don’t allow yourself to become overconfident because what worked the last time may not work now.