"...People Tend To Leave The Circus Broke, But Happy."

My partner has warned me against posting about anything too topical, concerned that the cards will lose relevance more rapidly. I considered that, but since I'm planning on continuing this project indefinitely, I figure there will always be a shiny new subject to replace the old, worn-out one. It's possible, however, that none will shine brighter than Bruno (née Sacha Baron Cohen), the gay Austrian fashion icon whose movie enjoyed its London premiere this week:

Bruno isn't the star of this post, he's merely a reminder about the true nature of the Magician. You see, starting in the 19th century, occultists transformed this card into a self-portrait of the ceremonial magician, or "magus". He was assigned the tools of ritual magic and imbued with an air of divine wisdom (most specifically, that of the god Hermes). In other words, people who thought themselves to be sorcerors ultimately succeeded in turning this character into a sorceror.

That concept of the card has its own sort of lyrical beauty, so I can't bring myself to hate all over it. But if you look at the earlier Magician cards, it's obvious that he was nothing but a common hustler, an entertainer. Instead of magical weapons, he's wielding dice and other games of chance. In fact, his French name, "Le Bateleur", doesn't mean "magician" at all -- it refers to jugglers, tight-rope walkers, and other street performers. So if he's any sort of magician, he's the kind who you might hire for a child's birthday party: less Eliphas Levi and more GOB Bluth.

I find this original concept of him to be far more effective in readings, because everyone can recognize and relate to the trickster archetype. Nimble and dextrous, cunning and sharp, confident and daring -- these are the magician's true underlying qualities. He may be low in rank, but his natural gifts guarantee that he will not be easily suppressed. You can't live by your wits forever, but will certainly be times in your life when you need to be able to do exactly that. The card hints at an ephemeral victory -- people tend to leave the circus broke, but happy. Remember that when you start putting on your own show.

Sacha Baron Cohen's schtick puts him on this sort of tight-rope all the time. His comedy outrages people and results in tons of lawsuits (Bruno has already begun racking them up). Some people just want to laugh at him, other people want to debate the meaning of his work, and still others really just have no idea what to think. The kind of reality-warping he's getting away with on a large scale is something each of us can get away with on a small scale. Consider that as a viable approach to challenges both foreseen and unforeseen. Hermes would approve...

Previously On Arcanalogue: The Magician