The Magi were the followers of Zarathustra’s wisdom teaching. They were seekers of wisdom, Moghan in Persian, Magi in Greek. Zoroastrian priests are known as “Mobed” from the same root. Often, they were skilled in astrology, cosmology, psychology, meditation, herbology, alchemy, and had remarkable healing abilities. The Magi were the inner circle of Zarathustra as the twelve disciples of Yeshua (Jesus in Greek) used to be.
Come unto me, O Ye, the best, and Lord of Wisdom, and reveal Thyself to me, so that my words may be heard not only by the Society of Magians, (Society of Brotherhood), but by others as well
(Gathas: Yasna 33-7)
The word magic comes from magi for their extraordinary power of healing and wisdom. The Magi exercised positions of power in Persian politics because of their wisdom. The Persian mystic poet Hafiz (14th century) wrote of the wisdom of the Magi gathered in Zarathustra’s inner circle at his time as ‘The Divine light.”
In the tavern of the Magi I see the bright light of Divine
O what a light, such a delight, how can it so brightly shine?
Stop showing off to me, O pilgrim of the House of God
In that place you see the house, while I see God’s grand design.
Secrets of the divine, for myself I wish to define
This is a mindless design, myself I further misalign.
(Hafiz, Ghazal 357)