The Magician Card from Sasha Graham’s Dark Wood Tarot Deck!
Hi, my magical friends! Last night The Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration was, indeed, quite magical. Ok, it got off to a rough start, but once they got it back on track - those performances wove a spell. For me the most magical moment was Chip Zien’s performance of “No More”. I needed that so much for my heart and he delivered! What moments were most magical for you to watch?!?
But, I have been so excited for the next Tarot Card to be drawn by my dear friend, Sasha Graham, to guide us into the next week of quarantine and beyond. You will find the card above - the Magician! Here’s a message from Sasha about the card:
Have you ever desired “star power? The Magician stands with her wand pointing towards the heavens. She channels universal energy and directs it to the earth with her pointed finger. She knows we are all lighting conduits. Our “magic wand” is our focus point. What we focus on, we make real. Our body is like a flesh and bone movie camera while our awareness is the director of photography. When was the last time you widened focus?
Can you see yourself reflected in the Magician of the Dark Wood Tarot? She is an ancient, wise crone. A sorceress with mastery over all things. However, the secret we witches all know is that the most important thing the witch has mastery over is herself. Magic isn’t about controlling or manipulating other people or events. An evil, spell-casting, demonic woman aligns perfectly for those who want to villainize female essence and agency - whether tying them to a stake and burning them to death or promoting girl on girl hate. In truth, epic magic stems from knowing yourself, observing your own nature, and moving in alignment inside of the truth of who you are. It unleashes a mind-blowing magic.
The saying, “As above, so below,” is inscribed upon her table because what is true for you, is true for the world. What is true for the world, is true for you. How can this be? Because you are a spiral galaxy unto yourself. You are a blazing sun who chooses what orbits around you. This is why if you want to change the world and make a difference, the first place to begin is to change yourself.
“Sure,” you say, “change is easy when you have everything you need.” The Magician displays the four suits of tarot on her table, reflecting the classical elements, earth, air, fire, and water. They are there to let you know that you already HAVE everything you need. Life never gives you something you aren’t ready for.
Not up to accepting your current challenge? Fear not! It will keep showing up like a Halloween trick-or-treater in a different costume, again and again, until you change the behavior that was never truly yours to begin with (insert that distant guy you keep falling for, your familiar power struggle, the victim cycle, the repression of who you deeply are, etc.) and evolve as a human being.
The owl who sits above the Magician is wise because she doesn’t question who she is. She doesn’t compare herself to the other owls. She doesn’t second guess her hunting ability. She tastes her success when she’s feasting on the warm blood of a field mouse. The owl ~ and everything in nature ~ simply is. That’s what makes is magic.
An essential piece of magical work is letting go of what your end goal “should” look like. Do you know how many people have missed the quantum entanglement staring them right in the face because it didn’t appear as a dark haired, six foot two, venture capitalist they always dreamed of? You have to leave an open door to the invisible force that is conspiring alongside you. You do your work and let the (insert your preferred name for that which many call the universe, creative principal, etc.) do its work. Trust me, it will. The best part? The results are often more exciting and exhilarating than anything you could have imagined.
Netfix’s new show, “The Midnight Gospel,” (link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dbloom/2020/04/24/the-midnight-gospel-duncan-trussell-pendleton-ward-netflix-animation/#27a03dae564f) does a brilliant job of describing mindfulness in its premiere episode. Save yourself the money for the buddhist retreat workshop you were going to attend next year and watch the pilot episode.
Once you engage in mindfulness, you can add magic by casting spells, setting intentions, all while focusing in the present moment. Take responsibility for yourself while infusing “doing” with “being.” Trust me, this is the wickedest, wildest magic there is. And a year from now, you’ll barely recognize who you used to be.
Best wishes,
Sasha Graham
www.sashagraham.com
Pre-order The Dark Wood Tarot:https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Wood-Tarot-Sasha-Graham/dp/0738759309
Let’s face it, Sondheim is the magical wizard of Musical Theatre - no other composer/lyricist has so accurately and openly depicted humanity with such understanding and raw intelligence. He himself is a magician! And last night was just re-affirming the magic we all weave in our community - Broadway and the Arts will return stronger than ever.
Keep casting spells, Holly xo
