In the “Tarot de Marseille” the first Major Arcanum, which in other decks, is called “The Magician”, is “Le Bateleur”.

A “bateleur” in mediaeval times, was an illusionist. He is pretending to be a magician. He is performing tricks.

He may have announced what he is now doing like this:

“I will charge this coin with fluid and instead of one, three coins will appear in my hand, before your eyes!”

Now he is fully focused. What he’s doing is not easy.

Look at his eyes. He is not looking at his hands. He trusts them. His body knows what he is doing. His mind doesn’t interfere.

I used to be a guitarist. I wasn’t really good, but I know the feeling, when you master a piece. You can play the chords whilst striking a nice rhythm with the other hand and sing without looking at your hands. It all flows through you, effortlessly, you become the music, you forget the technique. You become one with what you’re doing. One is the number of the card. One is the purpose of the game. It’s mastery. It’s shown at the beginning, but it’s the end of the lesson. Can you become One?

Now, if we remember that the world is an illusion, and that the Arcanum XXI is “the World'', we may think that this illusionist may well be a real magician after all. He is even the greatest of them all: he makes The World appear and we, little consciousnesses, are taken in. We are fooled. We are The Fool. Le Mat.

Did you think that they could only think of God as an old man with a beard? The Tarot suggests a young one with golden locks!

Now, as the story goes, God is within ourselves. Any human is the creator of the World. Some say we are “co-creators”. When we sing a song, we’re creating a world. When we speak, think or act, we create.

Everyone is a sorcerer apprentice. Everyone can be a magician.

Awakening is the goal of the game.

On the table, in front of the Bateleur, are various objects. A hat, out of which he may draw a rabbit every now and then, or incredibly long scarfs. A goblet and a knife, he wouldn’t have been allowed to set his stand on the marketplace with a sword and it would have been silly to bring a magnificently chiselled cup. He is playing with the minor arcanas anyway. The coins evoke the suit of pentacles. In French, pentacles are “deniers”. Deniers were money. Translators wanted something more magical I suppose. Coins are powerful symbols though.

There are dice on this table. We are playing with fate and fortune.

Those who practise divination say that cards don’t show up by chance.

How about dice? Is luck a thing? When you’re playing, do you hold the dice in your fist, blow on them in an attempt to charge them with your intention? Is breath like a magic wand?

Then you roll the dice…

Do you believe it’s possible to direct the world with the power of the mind? The Bateleur shows us: yes, do like this. One intention. One action. One straight wand.

Are you familiar with the game called four-twenty one by the way?

The number one is displayed on the brightest side of the three dice. Four and two are seen on the other sides.

One can mean One, but one can also mean first.

There will be a second, a third and a fourth number, called two three and four, the series will carry on far beyond twenty one or twenty two. The Bateleur is wearing only one hat, but shaped as the symbol of infinity.

When we were children, we wondered at the very thought of infinity. Then we forgot. We can do it again, to get an intuition of the Great Mystery. Have you ever tried to count up to infinity?

Is there a limit to the sky? If yes, is there another side to this limit? If not, could the world be wrapped up in a magic sheet that has one one side, called the vault of heaven? If not, just look up, infinity is there, physically.

What is our attitude? Are we constantly turning away from the mystery?

Is its presence just above our heads unbearable? It’s a shame. We may not be able to understand, but we may become fertilised, if we don’t push it out of our consciousness altogether.

Many rabbits may be conjured out of the Bateleur’s bag. Another day, a story-interpretation may be suggested by his belt or the knife. Or the coin. Or the particular way he’s waving the wand, with his left hand.

Jean-Marc

Storyteller, writer, astrologer.

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