question

You can indeed! Click L3 (press down left analog stick) whilst casting and you'll use it on yourself. Also if you do this whilst casting offensive spells, you can enter a 'free aim mode', allowing you to shoot them off where you wish as opposed to them automatically targeting an enemy.

I've also yet to play a Mage properly (have always left that & Sorcerer to the Pawns thus far), but plan on going there this time around after maxing out Warrior, so that's good to hear that's it been fun so far

Magic vocations are a lot of fun. My first Arisen and Pawn were both sorcerers for "dual-casting, butt-kicking goodness". Sometimes I'd hire 2 more sorcerers with similar skill sets. With practice and luck, you can preempt many enemies with Quadra-Bolide or Maelstrom.

Anyway, don't forget Magick Archer or Mystic Knight. Both these vocations can also equip staff and have 1 exclusive spell to learn. Using staff over dagger, sword or mace allows you to lean more into the magic aspect of these 2 vocations as opposed to the physical aspect.