The Writer's Arcana: Crafting Compelling Character Arcs with Tarot.
- Julie Embleton
- May 31
- 6 min read
Chapter Two: The Magician's Secret
Welcome to the second step on the Writer’s Arcana journey. After the leap of faith with The Fool, we meet The Magician—an archetype of manifestation, resourcefulness, and creative power. This chapter is all about recognising the tools you already possess and trusting your unique magic as a writer, even when the world is noisy with advice and opinions. The Magician’s secret? He knows he already has everything he needs.
Chapter Two: The Magician
The Magician is a master manifestor, confident that he needs nothing more than what’s already within reach. Some speculate the knapsack being carried by The Fool contains the four elements we see laid out on The Magician's table; a Cup, a Wand, a Pentacle, and a Sword. With these four items, representing the elements of Water, Fire, Earth, and Air, The Magician can manifest his every desire. What's in your writer's knapsack?
Who is The Magician?
The Magician stands poised between the heavens and the earth, channelling inspiration into reality. With one hand raised and the other grounded, he reminds us that we are the bridge between idea and creation. His table holds all four suits of the tarot—wands, cups, swords, and pentacles—symbolising the diverse skills, passions, and experiences we already have at our disposal.
As writers, we’re often bombarded by a chorus of voices—social media trends, endless “how-to” threads, and the ever-present “You should be doing this!” advice. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, as if we’re always missing that one magic formula everyone else seems to have.
But The Magician invites us to pause and look at what’s already on our table. Your words, your imagination, your lived experiences—these are your tools. You don’t need to chase every new writing hack or marketing tip to be “enough.” The Magician is the master manifestor because he trusts in his own abilities and tunes out the external noise.
Practical Magic for Writers
Inventory Your Tools: List your strengths as a writer—be it vivid description, snappy dialogue, or emotional depth. Recognise that these are your wands, cups, swords, and pentacles.
Set Clear Intentions: Like The Magician, focus your energy. What do you want to create right now? A new chapter, a short story, a blog post? State it clearly.
Silence the Noise: When social media feels overwhelming, step back. Unfollow accounts that spark doubt rather than inspiration. Remember, you don’t need every opinion to find your path.
Trust the Process: The Magician reminds us that mastery comes from within. You already have the drive and talent—let them lead.
Writing Prompt
Take ten minutes to write about a time you created something meaningful using only what you already had. How did it feel to rely on your own resources? What did you discover about your abilities?
Using The Magician in Character Development
The Magician archetype is a goldmine for building dynamic, memorable characters. At their core, Magician-type characters are resourceful, confident, and proactive—they know how to “work with what they’ve got” and channel their unique skills into real-world results. This archetype can appear in any genre, from fantasy wizards to everyday heroes who trust their instincts and abilities.
Ways to weave The Magician into your characters
Discovery of Inner Power: Show your character realising they already possess the tools they need. Maybe they’ve always had a knack for reading people, or a hidden talent that suddenly becomes essential.
Manifesting Change: The Magician doesn’t wait for permission—they act. Write scenes where your character takes bold steps, trusting their gut rather than waiting for outside validation.
Silencing the Noise: In today’s world, characters (like real writers!) are surrounded by advice and expectations. Illustrate moments when your character consciously tunes out external voices—perhaps ignoring a mentor’s doubts, or choosing their own path despite family pressure.
Inventiveness: The Magician is a master of improvisation. Maybe your character solves a problem with an unexpected resource, or combines their skills in a way no one else has thought of.
Writing Prompt
Write a scene where your character faces a major setback. Instead of giving up or seeking outside help, they pause, take stock of what they have, and use their own skills or intuition to move forward. How does this self-reliance change the outcome? How does it change them?
Think of a time when your character was influenced by “shoulds” or outside expectations. Write a moment where they choose to silence those voices and trust their own instincts. What’s the result?
A 3-card Tarot Spread for Writers: The Magician's Secret
This spread focuses on you as a writer. Pull these cards before a writing session to reconnect with your innate abilities and quiet the world’s chatter. If the cards present an aspect you hadn't ever considered, reflect on how embracing that energy could enhance your craft.
Card 1: What unique talent or resource do I already possess as a writer?
Card 2: How can I best use this talent/resource to manifest my creative goals?
Card 3: What external “noise” or distraction should I tune out to focus on my path?
The Magician in Action: A Personal Example
The Magician’s magic is in doing. For writers, this means trusting your voice, embracing your quirks, and taking action with what you have—no waiting for the “perfect” tool or the “right” advice. Maybe you have a knack for dialogue, vivid imagery, or building worlds from scraps of inspiration. Use what’s on your table, and remember: your drive and imagination are more powerful than any trend or tip.
In my novel Rogue Assassin, Leven finds herself captured and trapped in a locked room with no clear way out. Instead of succumbing to panic or waiting for rescue, she channels pure Magician energy: first, by reading and manipulating the emotions of her captor, and then by using the ordinary objects around her to orchestrate a daring escape. Leven doesn’t rely on magic or outside intervention—her greatest asset is her ability to trust her instincts, improvise, and act decisively, even under pressure. Her escape is a testament to the power of self-belief and the resourcefulness that lives within us all.
The Magician Reversed
When The Magician’s energy is reversed, things get tricky. This can show up as self-doubt, misusing talents, or feeling disconnected from one’s own power. Examples of this could be a character thrust into a situation for which they believe they're not ready, a manipulative leader who uses those around him as chess pieces for a personal win, or a supernatural being who has lost faith in their abilities. In character arcs, The Magician reversed is a powerful tool for conflict, growth, and transformation.
How The Magician Reversed might appear in your stories:
Paralysis by Analysis: Your character is overwhelmed by advice, trends, or what others expect. They might spend more time researching or planning than actually doing, convinced they’re “not ready yet.”
Imposter Syndrome: Even with all their skills, your character feels like a fraud. They second-guess every decision, or constantly compare themselves to others.
Manipulation or Deception: Instead of using their gifts for creation, your character bends the truth, manipulates situations, or tries to shortcut their way to success—often with unintended consequences.
Missed Opportunities: The reversed Magician is so distracted by what they lack (or what others say they lack) that they fail to see the resources right in front of them.
Here are a few examples:
A writer character endlessly rewrites their first chapter, convinced it’s never good enough, while their story stalls.
A fantasy hero ignores their intuition, following a “proven” plan from a mentor, only to realise too late that their own instincts were right.
An antagonist uses charm and cleverness for manipulation rather than honest creation, leading to their downfall.
Writing Prompts
Write a scene where your character is paralysed by self-doubt or the overwhelming opinions of others. What is the emotional cost? What finally helps them break free?
Create a moment where your character uses their abilities to manipulate or deceive. What motivates this choice, and what are the consequences?
Imagine your character missing an opportunity because they’re so focused on what they don’t have. How do they come to realize what was within their grasp all along?
Up Next! Chapter 3: The High Priestess
The Magician reminds you that your power is already in your hands—trust your instincts, use your unique skills, and let your creativity flow without waiting for permission. In our next chapter of The Writer's Arcana, we’ll meet The High Priestess, who invites us to dive deeper into intuition, mystery, and the wisdom that lies beneath the surface. Get ready to explore the magic within the quiet spaces of your writing life!
Have you made The Fool's Leap and are now ready to create with The Magician? Let me know how this new series is helping your writer's journey! You can reach me at julie@julieembleton.com
As a creative, I've experienced and am sympathetic to the creative challenges authors can face, regardless of whether they're new to writing or have a few titles under their belt. If you're stuck in creative block, lacking inspiration, or need creative guidance in any shape or form, check out my services. Readings start from as little as €24.
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