The Magician: Merkstave

Here is my interpretation of The Magician Reversed.

The main premise of this image is based on three figures: one historical (but has been fictionalised) character, Savonarola, one mythical character, Circe and one fictional character, Pinocchio.  There are many differing accounts and versions of these characters, depending on which storyteller is telling the story.
This is my story of these three.

The Magician Reversed would be someone who is a practitioner or master of the arts but instead of using them to serve a good purpose they are ultimately corrupted by them. They use them for selfish ends.
Some would say that Aleister Crowley is the perfect example of this. A man who had great knowledge but did wicked things. The reason I did not use Crowley is that his example is a lot more complicated than that. Things are not so black and white with his story.

This person, I am representing, is not innately evil, as is always portrayed in film and literature but still gets a bad rap due to some narcissistic tendencies. Someone who is capable of or has intentions of great good can still make dreadful decisions and act poorly.
Sometimes even act in a way that is abhorrent to others but is justified in context. A good example of this is Vlad Tepes, a man who on the outside was seen as a blood thirsty tyrant but to his people he was a hero.
This is a perfect case of one performing great atrocities in the name of good will, in extreme circumstances.

This type of behaviour is most commonly found when dealing with extremist religious practitioners. The end justifies the means. My belief over all others etc.
This is why for this image; I depicted the magus as a caricature of Savonarola.

girolamo savonarola

 

Savonarola:

Savonarola was a man who quite rightly stood up in protest of the corruption of the catholic church in his era (1452-1498). However, as he started to gain traction his methods and views became more extreme and equally as corrupted as the foe he was fighting. The more power he obtained, the crueller his methods and doctrine became. This resulted in the persecution of poor innocents as well as his original target, the corrupt.  Although his legacy lives on and inspired others to do good and equally bad things, would it not have been more beneficial (especially as a good Christian) to carry out his path with mercy?
A perfect recent adaptation of this is in Game of Thrones with the character of the Red Sparrow. I’m certain this was inspired by Savonarola. Both these characters are charismatic and can manipulate and convince people to do their will. In both cases they use young boys/men who are week minded, take their pain or insecurities and exploit them for all they are worth.

Another recent example of ‘the end justifies the means’ in film can be seen in The Hunger Games. By the end of the trilogy Katniss realises both sides are as equally prone to corruption as the other. The Magician could be President Snow but equally the leader of the opposition President Alma Coin. Both ‘will do whatever it takes’ to realise their ambitions.
So, the key questions here are:
How far are you willing to go to get what you want?
Are you prepared to manipulate others? Are you already doing so?
Are you fixated on making sacrifices on behalf of others but perhaps misunderstand what it is they need, potentially driving them away?
Is ‘whatever it takes’ beneficial to all or just yourself?
Most importantly, are those actions or any to follow going to hurt somebody? Or maybe, when I try to help, does this tend to backfire? If so, why?

One example is the business man who spends all his time chasing money to ‘give his family the better life’ but ultimately loses his family because he is never there. Emotionally or otherwise.
Another example is someone protesting the rights of a minority group but accidentally offending them and in turn being subjected to their scorn.

Sometimes when we are trying to help, we can be so set on our opinion of what things should be, we forget that this may not be the case for the person we are attempting to help. We can become overbearing and intimidating and left feeling like the person is ungrateful when they outright reject us. Of course, we may not have stopped to think that maybe the way we were trying to help wasn’t helping the person.
Savonarola ultimately got burned for this mistake. Do you find yourself getting burned socially or by those close to you?

This type of magus is very charismatic; they will easily inspire or gain trust. This Magus uses emotion to gain the upper hand. Someone with a position of trust. It can be so easy for these people to mislead intentionally or unintentionally. Look at the Brian Wilson story for example (check out a film called Love & Mercy.) Typical stereotypes are political leaders, religious extremists, priests and councillors that take advantage of their positions. How easy is it to get caught up in something, inspire or advise someone and have that person do something that results in a negative experience? Another way of looking at this is the older sibling accidentally inspiring the younger to do something wrong… seems like fun at the time but it can result in months, if not a lifetime, of aftermath.
Have you inspired or been on the tail end of this?

Here we can see The Magus brainwashing the mind of our malleable Fool, opening the third eye to see the truth. The truth however is seen through teary eyes, it is a truth but interpreted in a painful way. Are we being honest to be helpful or just being cruel?
As a role model, we can get so caught up in what we are trying to achieve, we can affect those around us. The easiest example of this is our effect on our own children. Sometimes instead of learning the positive aspects of what you the parent are trying to achieve, because of how you go about things, you leave a trauma scar instead.
It is so easy to unwittingly ruin someone; your words are like magic. They can cast a spell on someone whether you mean it or not. Most kids don’t realise their bullying can result in someone taking their own life permanently or effect their target for a lifetime with depression or anxiety.
Someone can, with one drop of poison, corrode away over time and alter their life path severely, just from some misplaced words or advice.
As a role model, we must remember how important it is to not abuse that power by mistreating others or manipulating for our own ends. To make ourselves feel better at others expense. To misuse others like they are tools or toys at our fingertips.
Perfect examples of this are Charles Manson, street gangs or gang recruiters. People that troll others on the internet are having fun, not realising someone may give up on their dreams entirely, give up on themselves or worse. A teacher’s grumpy day can destroy a student’s confidence forever.
Parents creating racist, intolerant, sexist, judgmental children; destroying their children with their own bigotry or intolerance.

Just as an example of how words can affect people there is an experiment by Dr Masaru
https://youtu.be/au4qx_l8KEU

Being a role model is hard.
One of my favourite Magician cards is from the Haindl. This Magician is wise but sorrowful as he knows the struggle of the Magician is recognising that you have power, but you also have the temptation to misuse it. Power in any form is a struggle. The key to a good Magician is coping with the struggle and having the strength to master it.
Influence is a powerful tool and is always with you. Whether you realise it or not, you hold influence over someone.
An example of this of my own is my son’s birthday. I took him out for a day-trip, he bought a CD. On the way home he asked me what I thought of the band. I just started talking to him like I would a mate, reviewed it like I would for a magazine. Told him why it wasn’t my thing etc. Not realising he would cling to every word spoken. Because I had shown dislike for it, he never even opened the CD package or listened to it again. I felt deep regret for accidentally killing something he enjoyed. Young minds are easily moulded, as are those of the minds that look up to you.

Your actions, words, prejudices and persecutions are passed on to those around you. This Magus very much represents someone who uses their knowledge to dominate those around them. You often find religious people or people in the spiritual community that use scripture, divination or religious beliefs to validate or excuse or exercise their prejudice, persecution or control over others. Again, this can easily be found within the family or obviously within groups. If someone perhaps has sexual orientations you don’t approve of. Habits. Dresses a certain way, lives a certain lifestyle. The new partner of your child/friend/family member.
Are you using your spirituality to justify your own ends?
Are you keeping someone under your control by misusing spirituality?
Is someone controlling or hurting you with belief?
Are you using or are you at the tail end of someone using spiritual meanings as a weapon of hurt or manipulation?

The male figure represents the masculine aggressive aspect of the image. Over to the right is the female aspect, the feminine passive in esoteric terms.

‘Circe’, by Wright Barker. oil on canvas, 1889

Circe:

This is my interpretation of Circe, a Greek witch who used her beauty, knowledge and magic to manipulate in a different way. While Circe showed love and compassion and the ability to do good things, in certain scenarios, she used her power to corrupt or overpower weaker minds into seduction.
She would ensnare males and sometimes turn them into wild beasts (not much of a transformation sometimes haha.) She would trick men to lose track of time or openly prevent men from leaving at all… ever.
Beauty and glamouring are effective tools to manipulate. Business uses this all the time. Sex sells.
On a personal level though, it can be used to domineer others which is an unhealthy relationship.
Using sexuality to gain the upper hand isn’t a bad thing but using it to destroy someone’s life or other relationships however is. Basically, it is the same message as before; it is a power you have, don’t abuse that power.
Alternately, be aware when someone may be using this power on you, don’t be the fool easily manipulated by their glamouring. Does this person really like you, want to be with you or are you just being used?
Another example of this kind of character is using your position to manipulate someone into a sexual situation. If seduction did not work alone, Circe would turn to her craft or cause trouble and strife to the person to force them into the seduction. Workplace sexual harassment, teachers with students, the ever-prominent priest issue – need I go on.
A more subtle version of this is using people, with your sexuality, without any intention of committing to the person at all. Stringing them along.
Does this person not deserve a shot at happiness? Do they not deserve someone who actually loves them? Is someone potentially being like this to you, causing an unresolved unhappiness?
Is there possibly a lack of commitment, are you just the ‘easy option’ for a complacent person?

This kind of manipulation can be tough to spot or realise. It can come from something seemingly innocent (often the case in the workplace) and then slowly start a descent into a spiraling out of control situation. The other problem is that sometimes this behavior is encouraged. Think of the old boy’s club, patriarchy at its worst. Rich men encouraging other men to act like pigs. With my position of power, I can and will exploit you.  They often talk about how breaking someone in is a sign of success. There is a line in the sand with this sort of thing and it really is down to better judgment knowing when that line has been crossed.

The fruit in the trees behind Circe is a reference to gifts being given in order to glamour or manipulate. Dangle the carrot, bribe, give a sense of power by romanticizing the situation.
Why is something being offered so freely?
What’s the catch?
Is this gift presented to distract you from some horrible underlining truth? A false promise of redemption after cruelty, only to find a year or less down the track you are suffering the cruelty once more?
In the case of Circe, her fruit plummeted the devourer into a dream of forgetfulness.
Sometimes when something is offered in good faith, given the situation, it is a tool of manipulation. Suddenly you are in debt for the rest of your life having to pay gratitude for that one favour. Some employers do this a lot. “Here I’ll advance your pay, don’t worry about it…” 6 months or years later you’re still owing him favours and more hours and more sacrifices for that one pay advance. Another example is when an employer is mistreating staff but gives you a bonus for being a good worker, only to enlist you as an enforcer of mistreatment. Or to turn a blind eye.

What gifts are distracting you?
Is something being offered to blind you?
Is there a promise that never seems to eventuate that binds you?
Are you the one offering the poisoned apple?

Pinocchio:

Over to the left we have the puppet on the strings, in this case, a Pinocchio like puppet. This obviously indicates a person being manipulated, however this person is not only falling for the lies but is propagating them as well. They have become a tool of The Magus validating and cultivating the lie or propaganda. This also gives The Magus an opportunity to have a fall guy, someone else who can take the blame if the lie is discovered. You can see that only the puppet is tarred by the brush, not The Magus.
Are you in a situation that could potentially end badly for you at the hands of another?
For example covering for someone, doing something to prove your worth for someone?
Helping someone at your own risk? Lying for someone?

Around the puppets feet are the swine. They represent the multitudes that feed on whatever is being fed to them. Much like the men in Circe’s story that arrive with Odysseus.

This not only shows how effectively one can be manipulated but also can become the liar.
To go back to the poisoned apple, once you have become contaminated you spread the contamination to others like a virus.
An example of this is malicious gossip. Negativity in a work place or community towards someone.
Is the story you’re telling truth or rumour?
Will this conversation potentially harm someone, tar them with a brush?
Are you potentially spreading hate speech or bigotry?
Is this really a joke or is it just cruelty?
Are you the victim of these?
This also shows how a lie can become socially acceptable and once consumed by the masses become an accepted truth.
We see this all the time on the internet, it sometimes can be a thriving pig trough of opinion and propagated lies consumed by an uneducated audience, blurring the line between fact and fiction. Suddenly all types of people can become persecuted for an opinion’s sake.

Pinocchio is given every opportunity to become a real boy, but because of his naivety and gullibility is easily led astray and nearly becomes an ass instead.
Have you compromised your values in support of an idea/belief, person or a person’s opinions?
Is it possible you backed the wrong horse?

Merkstave: Mannaz:

Mannaz is man. So the rune reversed is the  shadow side of our humanity. Depression, mortality, blindness, self-delusion, cunning, slyness, manipulation, craftiness, calculation, selfishness. You can expect no help now, you are on your own. You need to develop awareness of your shadow-side.
This rune can symbolise that you have taken the wrong path, led yourself astray causing plans and ideas to crumble. People have had enough your stubbornness and selfishness and are now leaving you. Stop, retrace, analyse to see where you went wrong to end up where you are.

Mannaz Reversed is telling you to examine your attitudes, look within yourself. Maybe you are attacking issues, or others, with too much force. This will scare them away, hurt rather than help. This means no help from no one. You are at a point where no one wants to help anymore. You really need to stop, reflect, reconsider your life and part ways onto a new path. Only then will people come around again.

Ultimately things are a bit hard and facing rejection along with things going wrong is not pleasant. You have the strength to learn and overcome this and will have more success going forward with this new understanding of the darker aspects of your personality.

Loki: the trickster, the first antihero.
His symbol is twin snakes eating themselves. This links to Jormungandr, the giant serpent of Loki’s offspring and is said to be so big that it can circle the world and bite its own tail. Likened to the ouroboros.
Loki is a shape shifter and in separate incidents he appears in the form of a salmon, a mare, a fly, and possibly an elderly woman. He uses this ability to manipulate people and situations to his advantage. Loki demonstrates a complete lack of concern and disregard for the well-being of his fellow gods. He is portrayed as a scheming coward who cares only for shallow pleasures and self-preservation. Loki is playful, malicious, and helpful, but he’s always irreverent and nihilistic.
He is the ultimate do-it-for-yourself and burn everyone down along the way guy. His punishment for the murder of Balder in many ways resembled the Greek figures Prometheus and Tantalus. Like Prometheus, Loki is considered a god of fire. However, his name could also mean knot or tangle, for network or ensnaring people in his scheming.

Loki helps both the gods and the giants, depending on which course of action is most pleasurable and advantageous to him at the time. He also turns on them whenever it suits him for the same reason. His character is virtually the antithesis of traditional Norse values of honour and loyalty, he is ultimately a traitor to the divinities the Norse held in such reverence. In recent times, certain circles have called for reverence for Loki as a ‘good guy’ due to his gender fluidity and ability to be helpful when needed. However, it would seem there were no such feelings existing in the old belief as he was the anti-God.
Having said this, there is a case to be made that like The Magician of Tarot, Loki was able to be resourceful and use all around him to assist the gods in acquiring them their sacred tools and build them a great palace. He may also be the god that gifted the art of making nets. It is only once he devours the heart of an evil witch that he in turn is corrupted and turned evil. He becomes like a Judas character that brings down the gods for a state of renewal to be possible. There is plausibility for this, as the tales from the Norse mythos were recorded by Christians who biastly turned Loki into their Satan figure to fit their belief system into the Norse traditions.
This can also be likened to Tolkien’s Frodo character. In an act of righteousness, he is slowly corrupted and turned from it.
Is there possibly something that you have done or have that is slowly turning your path dark or eating away at you.
An addiction that drives you to do wrong even though inside you wish you didn’t have to?

 

centre symbol: The Ouroboros of inequality.

This symbol possibly originated as a satanic symbol used to represent the deliberate spreading of deceit in order to maintain a never-ending cycle of conflict. Where there is conflict there is weakness and the ability to prosper from it. If you are the one in control, you can magically create the chaos making others confused and hypersensitive, causing ill-decision from which the practitioner gains the upper hand. This is a method also used in war and business. The origins of this symbol are the ouroboros (the world/universe microcosm) and the two horizontal lines represent balance, equality.
Obviously the one over the top is blocking the equality.
This can be compared to the head of the papal cross; here we have the first bar falling over the other two, meaning the militant conformity of the masses is the highest concern here. Note the backbone of the staff is missing representing tha lack of order.
This is like the analogy of the pendulum, are you the one holding the strings or are you the balls being smashed around by constant polarity and other people’s energy?

I must admit this image is really intimidating, haha. I ask that you see this as an identifier. The issues that this image speaks about are both exterior to you and can be within you, in the same way that the wicked heart corrupts Loki. The exterior can influence you without you even being aware of it. When analysing this in respect to yourself, look around you to see how these issues may be infiltrating your life or be present without your knowing. It is also highly unlikely that all these issues will be affecting you at once… unless your work place is full of bullies!
The main piece of advice when working on this type of emotional work is awareness. Once you are aware where these things are present, you can start dealing with them. Either by eliminating them entirely or managing them through journaling, meditation, expressing it through creativity or indeed just talking to someone about it. The key is to be aware so that you can recognise it before it becomes an issue that is out of control.