Here's a description of the card from the book by Howard Rodway:

Astrological: Mercury
Element: Air
Month: June, Sept.

"The shaman has cast the Runes. He is wearing skins and antler horns, and he holds a sword which is the weapon of the air element. He is a wild and powerful personality. Illuminated by the flame of a torch which symbolizes fire is a cup standing on a large flat stone. The stone represents the earth, and the cup is a symbol of intuition. Close by lurks a wolf who is watching the shaman. The wolf is the master of transforming ideas into action. He has keen eyesight and large ears for hearing Like the magician, he is an opportunist who weighs up the surrounding environment and uses his abilities to maximum benefit. In the background, illuminated by a full moon, a unicorn stands on the edge of an ancient stone circle. A flash of lightning adds to the scene. At each top corner of the border can be seen an inverted triangle which symbolizes a god. The shaman's strong willpower and ability to concentrate help him to utilize his knowledge. This is expressed through his actions and creations. All senses are used fully. Through his power, the Divine will manifest within the physical world."

My personal interpretation:
I really love the way the magician is depicted in this deck. He seems confident, powerful, and with purpose. First and foremost, this card tells me about power, the knowledge of how to wield it, and attaining the wisdom to know when to wield it. It also seems to indicate a more primal state. In a somewhat abstract way I can tie this in with a couple of ideas. That 1) in order to reach the state of the Magician, we need to become in tune with our surroundings and with ourselves and that 2) we need to pay more attention to that little voice inside our head. We would be surprised by the things that we already know. When we tap into that collective memory that resides deep within us, we can awaken the Magician within ourselves.

Dana
darklayce@prodigy.net