Azorius Aethermage — ruling 1

This ability will trigger whenever any permanent, including a token creature or Azorius Aethermage itself, is returned to your hand. It doesn’t matter who controlled the permanent or if it had ever actually been in your hand before.

Azorius Aethermage : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Azorius Aethermage is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Whenever a permanent is returned to your hand, you may pay . If you do, draw a card.

How it works : Azorius Aethermage

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1May 1, 2006· Wizards of the Coast
This ability will trigger whenever any permanent, including a token creature or Azorius Aethermage itself, is returned to your hand. It doesn’t matter who controlled the permanent or if it had ever actually been in your hand before.
No other card is named in this ruling.