Three of Wands Tarot Card Meanings
Three of Wands’ Upright & Reversed Meanings
Ideas: Agenda, milestone, long-term goals
Traits: Aimless, cautious, flexible, hesitant, impractical, indecisive, lazy, relaxed
Emotions: Apprehension, contentment, hope, insecurity, nervousness, relief, satisfaction
- Actions:
- Assessing the value of a venture
- Delaying carrying out actions
- Identifying long-term goals
- Knowing what to do
- Making plans for a project
- Stopping and smelling the roses
Ideas: Execution, performance, trail
Traits: Constant, dedicated, directed, focused, hardworking, independent, patient, practical, progressive, resourceful
Emotions: Eagerness, enjoyment, enthusiasm, excitement, optimism
- Actions:
- Blazing new trails
- Going beyond your limits
- Hitting the ground running
- Making good things happen
- Putting a plan into motion
- Taking that critical first step
Ideas: Effort–reward imbalance, overexpansion, premature expectation
Traits: Busy, hurried, impatient, irrational, presumptuous, unappreciative, unrealistic
Emotions: Annoyance, anxiety, disappointment, frustration, irritation, neglect, tenseness
- Actions:
- Depreciating short-term gains
- Expanding your project too much or too quickly
- Expecting possible outcome resulted from efforts prematurely
- Failing to achieve a balance between effort and reward
- Focusing too much on the future
- Trying to force your ship to come in
Three of Wands’ Advice
Personal Growth
Routine is the enemy of growth. Take new roads. See new sights. Pick a new hobby. Order the menu items you don’t recognize. Make a habit of blazing new trails.
Relationship
Knowing what you want or need does you no good if you don’t come up with a plan for achieving it! It’s time to expand your horizons: go places you’ve never been, try sports you’ve never tried, meet people you’ve overlooked. As your world expands, so do your opportunities.
Career
Lead by doing. Forge ahead with your plans, but don’t forget to show others what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Be proactive, brainstorming obstacles and minting solutions before breakdowns occur. Define very clearly your criteria for success and measure progress daily.
Spirituality
Rather than look for a guru or a well-worn path, take the spiritual initiative. If you could express your spirituality in any way, what form would you choose? If you could worship anywhere, where would you go? Break the mold. Remember: bearing new fruit takes time.
Three of Wands’ Symbols & Insights
A Wand in Hand
In Rider–Waite–Smith-inspired decks, this card often depicts a merchant and three wands. Two (the number of duality) have been planted in the ground, but one (the “starting point”) is in hand—suggesting the time for debate has given way to a time for action.
Distant Ships
In the background of Rider–Waite–Smith illustrations, this card often features ships sailing towards the horizon. In The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, Waite says these belong to the central figure, who sends them out to do his bidding.
The Marseilles Image
The two Wands from the earlier card are joined by a third, decisive Wand. The crossed purposes of the Two must now give way to the clear intention expressed by the Three. Have you clarified your own goals?
More About Three of Wands Tarot Card
- Predictions
- You’ll be planning a trip soon.
- Be on the lookout: your ship is coming in.
- Timing
- Between March 31 and April 10
- Affirmation
- “I take the steps necessary to put my plans in action.”
- Numerology Number
- 3
(the result: expression, productivity, output) - Astrology Element
- Fire
- Astrology Planet in Sign
- Sun in Aries
- Storyline
- The main character’s initial plans are laid and launched.
- Questions to Ask
- How can you make a habit of breaking your habits?
- How can you be a decisive leader in this circumstance?
- What’s your action plan for the next week, month, year, or decade?
- Related Pages
- Tarot Card Meanings Guide
- Exploring Today’s Tarot
- Consulting the Tarot
- Traditional Tarot Card Meanings
- Thirteen Fun Things to Do with Tarot Cards
- Where to Go to Learn More
