The Magician
Upright
Manifestation, resourcefulness, inspired action, willpower — using the tools already at hand.
Reversed
Manipulation, poor planning, untapped potential, trickery.
What the Golden Dawn actually taught
Book T’s own phrase is “skill, wisdom, adaptation, craft, cunning.” The word cunning sits closer to Waite’s reversed meaning than his upright one — the Order’s Magician always carried a shadow of cleverness-as-trickery that Waite mostly moved to the reversed position.
Imagery & symbolism
A figure stands before a table bearing the four suit emblems, one arm raised toward the sky, one pointing to the earth — a channel between what is possible and what is made real. A lemniscate hovers above his head, infinity worn like a crown.
Numerology
1 — unity, individuality, and the raw will that begins things. Base number.
Also associated with
manifestation, willpower, resourcefulness, skill, focus
Crystals of Mercury
3 crystals share Mercury with this card, in The Cauldron. See The Cauldron