Merlin

Wise Man. Prophet. Magician. Mad Man. Hermit. Elder. Seer.

Merlin as an image is most popularly remembered in relation to the Grail myths. His influence upon King Arthur, as wise man advising the rulers. He set the ultimate quest before man, that of seeking the Holy Grail, the sacred chalice, for which Merlin plays the Guardian. It is Sir Percival who recovers the Grail and from his heroic quest, re-unites all of the lands.

Disney representations of Merlin are most likely the most common recollection of his image. Followed secondly by those found in new age bookstores or in relation to sci-fi & fantasy paraphernalia.

The Merlin traditions are deeply concerned with that of a connection to nature, and all that makes up this world where we live. The forest, the animals that inhabit this earth, the lakes, rivers and oceans. The world we do see and the worlds we imagine.

Here are some modern logos using the symbolism of Merlin.

Make a wish

Water has been to many cultures symbolic of the source of life. Sacred wells or bubbling springs of water, to pagans, were often seen as having a spirit or deity protecting them. It was believed that if you were to make a wish by one of these wells, it would be granted, if you left an offering to the protective deity of the water.

This is where the custom of the wishing well comes from.


Use a coin as your offering, as you drop it in the waters below, imagine your wish and ask for it to be granted. Trust that your wish will come true, leave your wish at the well... and don't tell anyone what it was that you wished for.

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Scrying is most commonly known as crystal gazing... or seeing images in a crystal ball. It is a magic practice that is used to see intuitive reflections upon a surface. In the past this may have been crystals, stones, glass, mirrors, water, fire or smoke. Images may even come from the ripples created from pebbles dropped on water.

This is a scrying mirror.

the tower

the tower from
the tarot