Three of Wands Tarot Card Meaning
Two of Wands |
Three of Wands |
Four of Wands |
General Meaning
The Three of Wands card represents the initial steps towards success, venturing beyond current limitations, and the start of implementing plans. This is a time when ideas and plans take shape and gain direction. The period of planning and contemplation is over; now is the time for active steps and movement towards your goals!
Card Motto
You are already taking the first steps towards new heights — act without hesitation!
by Marta Winter
Core Card Meanings Three of Wands
Description and Symbols of the Card Three of Wands
The Three of Wands depicts a figure of a man standing on a high hill, turned away from us, watching the ships sail by. He is likely a wealthy merchant awaiting the arrival of his vessels with goods. The entire posture of the character on this tarot card radiates confidence, focus, and calmness, as he leans assuredly on one of the three wands beside him.
Meaning in Upright Position
The Three of Wands Tarot card is brimming with inspiration, enthusiasm, optimism, and a thirst for action. It invites you to take a deep breath, look confidently into the future, and let go of doubts and uncertainties.
However, the Three of Wands also requires you to be active, energetic, and persistent—remember, "nothing ventured, nothing gained!" Be diligent and assertive, have patience, fully utilize your natural charm and diplomatic skills, and success will not be far behind!
Additionally, this card symbolizes cooperation and teamwork. When carrying out your plans, try to find allies, secure support from partners, and communicate effectively with colleagues—your ability to negotiate and your diplomatic skills are crucial for success at this stage. Shared interests, understanding, and mutual assistance will lead to prosperity and financial success.
The Three of Wands is closely connected with career, learning, and business, so its predictions mainly pertain to the professional sphere. It can also herald positive changes in home matters—such as successfully building a house or starting major renovations.
Key Meanings of the Upright Three of Wands
- Positive changes in affairs, realization of plans, hope for the future, vitality, activity, initiative.
- Strong foundation, stability, sound and responsible actions, excellent prospects.
- Teamwork, understanding, strong relationships.
Reversed Position
The reversed Three of Wands card takes on a more somber meaning. It suggests that perhaps you were not careful enough, your plans were not well thought out, and now you're facing setbacks in a project that initially seemed quite promising.
When the reversed Three of Wands appears in a Tarot spread, you might anticipate financial issues, disjointed actions (mainly due to complications in relationships with colleagues), the breakdown of promising partnerships, or unsuccessful trips. All these factors can cause confusion in your affairs, destabilize your inner state, and lead to negative emotions like anger, frustration, helplessness, and despair.
In the professional realm, the reversed Three of Wands creates an uncertain situation and a complete standstill. Your task is to manage your panic, control your emotions, and face the problems head-on instead of running away from them. The effect of this reversed card doesn't last long—there's a breakthrough ahead and a well-deserved reward for your resilience!
Key Meanings of the Reversed Three of Wands Card
- Doubts, weakness, depression, lack of solid support, indecision, panic.
- Stagnation in affairs, delays, forced halts.
- Losses, instability, worsening relations with colleagues and partners, dependency, deception, betrayal.
- Physical illness, mental distress, negative emotions.
Meaning in Love Readings
In love readings, the upright Three of Wands card predicts clarity of intentions between partners, initiative, and a readiness to take decisive steps in love. If you're waiting for a proposal, you'll receive it soon.
The time for doubts and contemplation is over; now it's time to make decisions and move towards a shared goal. Ahead lies a clear period where you can make joint plans, feel the support of your loved one, and enjoy harmony in your relationship. For those who have recently met, the Three of Wands promises a long and delightful romance that may lead to marriage.
In a reversed position, the card speaks of betrayal and an inability to take decisive actions in personal relationships.
In a Reading for a Suitor or Loved One
In a reading about a suitor or partner, the upright card suggests that stability is important to your chosen one in love. Fleeting romances are not for them; they seek lasting relationships, ideally for life.
The reversed card indicates that your chosen one prefers not to look too far into the future in love — the necessity to plan life makes them uneasy. They fear they might not handle such responsibility well.
Reading for Money, Career
In business readings, the Three of Wands card highlights your diplomatic skills, the ability to forge valuable connections, and find like-minded individuals and strong partners.
These abilities will ensure steady profits and help you succeed in any field, particularly in trade. You might meet very influential acquaintances who can provide essential support for your business. To seal a profitable deal, you may need to go on a business trip or travel for work.
When reversed, the card warns of futile efforts, overconfidence, and a tendency to take reckless risks.
Reading for a Person
When reading the Tarot for a person, the upright 'Three of Wands' card represents someone active and energetic, truly passionate about their work. Their plans are visibly starting to come to fruition, and this is just the beginning.
In the reversed position, this card signifies a person feeling uncertain about the tasks they have undertaken. They may be going through a challenging phase, with potential issues in communication with those around them.
Reading for Advice
In the upright position, this card encourages you to channel your energy into a new project where you sense potential. Move forward boldly, and don't be afraid to take action!
If the card appears reversed in a reading, it advises you not to embark on a new project or to postpone it for a better time; at present, it doesn't promise anything favorable.
Reading for Outcome
If the card appears upright, the forecast for your situation is positive. Your goals are within reach, and a new project you engage in will play a key role in fulfilling your desires. Stay focused, and you're likely to see success.
If the card is reversed, the outlook for your situation becomes less clear. There might be setbacks with a project you were counting on, which could hinder your progress. It's important to stay adaptable and consider alternative paths.
Meanings In Combination with All Tarot Cards
Major Arcana Combinations
With card 0, the Fool - Unfamiliar route, lack of mentor, step towards independence.
With card 1, the Magician - Good impression, successful career start, competence.
With card 2, the High Priestess - A successful start, secrecy, personal interests.
In combination with card 3, the Empress - A successful undertaking, stepping out of the comfort zone, a promising young woman.
With card 4, the Emperor - Successful entrepreneurship, profitable niche, fresh interests.
With card 5, the Hierophant - Moving forward, open opportunity for development, wise transformations.
With card 6, the Lovers - Negotiation strategy, interview, hidden opportunities.
With card 7, the Chariot - Inclination towards one direction or another, choosing a path, fragile agreement.
With card 8, Strength - Inner elation, finding a loophole, career is on the rise.
With card 9, the Hermit - Valuable information or a loophole, see an easy way, come up with a workable plan.
With card 10, Wheel of Fortune - Excellent prospects, rapid advancement in a career, everything works out in no time.
With card 11, Justice - Considering a legal career, getting into a government structure, receiving a resolution or an order.
With card 12, the Hanged Man - Procrastination, excessive caution, attempting to control everything.
With card 13, Death - Agreeing to something new, accepting the conditions of the game, gradual development.
With card 14, Temperance - Testing skills, practice or exams, step towards independence.
With card 15, the Devil - Troubles approaching, unfair competition, rival.
With card 16, the Tower - Loss of connections, missed opportunity, anticipating failure in advance.
With card 17, the Star - Getting the desired position, high hopes for the future, an open path to growth.
With card 18, the Moon - An unforeseen situation, sudden support or advice, pleasant detail.
With card 19, the Sun - Making the right choice, a good career start, excellent prospects.
With card 20, Judgment - Receiving blessings or approval, useful experience, basic knowledge.
With card 21, the World - Old business partners, useful connections or reliable advisors, expanding the business.
Wands Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Wands — Project detailing, business plan development, clarifying nuances.
With the Two of Wands — Decision-making, considering multiple options, experiencing minor fluctuations, seeking approval.
With the Four of Wands — Significant achievements, getting more than expected, celebrating success.
With the Five of Wands — Disagreements, obstacles at work, unhealthy competition.
With the Six of Wands — Rapid career growth, success, gaining popularity.
With the Seven of Wands — Obstacles, a competitive field, testing resilience and determination.
With the Eight of Wands — Smooth progress, gradual growth, expected outcomes.
With the Nine of Wands — Efforts might seem in vain, time to contemplate, a decline in enthusiasm or encountering an insurmountable obstacle.
With the Ten of Wands — Carrying the weight of everything on one's shoulders, taking on numerous responsibilities, necessitating the division of responsibilities.
With the Page of Wands — Increased motivation, a small bonus or reward, recognition from superiors or family.
With the Knight of Wands — The beginning of a career, promising prospects, ambition.
With the Queen of Wands — Accumulating experience, professional growth, aspiring to a desired position.
With the King of Wands — Achieving promotion, increased authority, developing new directions or projects.
Swords Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Swords — A wonderful beginning in your career or relationships, success, acquiring valuable resources, gaining useful knowledge.
With the Two of Swords — Contradictory or insufficient information, acting blindly, needing guidance from superiors.
With the Three of Swords — Cruelly disillusioned, falling victim to deception or betrayal by a loved one.
With the Four of Swords — A pause or emotional decline, loss of ambition.
With the Five of Swords — Defeat or setback, returning to the starting point, loss of trust or influence.
With the Six of Swords — Learning from past mistakes, testing new ideas, seeking like-minded individuals.
With the Seven of Swords — Employing a cunning approach, hiding the whole truth, engaging in minor deception, dealing with a guilty conscience.
With the Eight of Swords — Becoming entangled in information, relying on luck or chance, finding oneself in a dangerous situation.
With the Nine of Swords — An unsuccessful approach, a project at risk, feeling depressed or experiencing loneliness.
With the Ten of Swords — A complete failure, dismissal from a job or the end of a romantic relationship, feeling overwhelmed.
With the Page of Swords — A quick start, encountering envy or jealousy, facing dishonest games and opposition.
With the Knight of Swords — Charging ahead, promoting ideas, experiencing instability or poor planning.
With the Queen of Swords — Depending on someone else's support, seeking protection under someone else's authority, displaying self-assurance.
With the King of Swords — Representing the law, having dangerous intentions, being involved in a criminal environment or dealing with criminals.
Three of Wands and Swords Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Cups — Starting a new romantic relationship, a romantic partnership, or agreement, a pleasant beginning of a romance.
With the Two of Cups — Engagement, a civil union, or cohabitation of students.
With the Three of Cups — Marriage, a grand ceremony or celebration, a large gathering of people.
With the Four of Cups — Reassessing priorities, gaining a different perspective on the situation, having disagreements with a loved one.
With the Five of Cups — Becoming disappointed in a project or relationship, receiving unpleasant news, making disheartening conclusions.
With the Six of Cups — Childishness, resuming action after a long pause, the desire to create something meaningful.
With the Seven of Cups — Feeling stuck, being immature or avoiding problems, an unfulfilled task.
With the Eight of Cups — Experiencing futile efforts, finding the path more winding than expected, succumbing to someone's persuasion and being deceived.
With the Nine of Cups — Quickly realizing a dream, gaining popularity, being content with life.
With the Ten of Cups — A formal marital union, the beginning of a shared life, a good understanding with a reliable partner.
With the Page of Cups — Romance or deep attachment, a naive girl, inexperience, charm.
With the Knight of Cups — Achieving a romantic partner, insisting on a relationship, showing resourcefulness and taking the lead.
With the Queen of Cups — An easy-going woman, a desire for a second marriage, sociability.
With the King of Cups — A charming man, receiving attention from the opposite sex, engaging in flirtation in a casual atmosphere.
Pentacles Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Pentacles - A constant source of income, discovering a golden vein, excellent financial opportunities.
With the Two of Pentacles - Not dwelling on the future, a low income level, not fully planning everything and diving into execution.
With the Three of Pentacles - A business approach, successful negotiations, making a deal.
With the Four of Pentacles - Prudence, saving for a rainy day, the ability to set aside funds for significant purchases, frugality.
With the Five of Pentacles - Betrayal, challenging circumstances, a path to bankruptcy or the arrival of "poor relatives."
With the Six of Pentacles - Investments without guarantees, working on reputation, taking out a loan.
With the Seven of Pentacles - Investing in securities, acquiring real estate, gaining education.
With the Eight of Pentacles - Accumulating resources, initial capital, finding a good job.
With the Nine of Pentacles - Everything is going as planned, financial growth, a successful investment, significant profit.
With the Ten of Pentacles - Reaching a new level, attracting affluent clients, long-term contracts, or advantageous relationships.
With the Page of Pentacles - Rational decision-making, practicality, the ability to see benefits everywhere.
With the Knight of Pentacles - Practical application of knowledge, perseverance, and the ability to see a project through to the end, solid success.
With the Queen of Pentacles - A reliable partner, a woman devoid of emotions, opening branches and expanding the company.
The King of Pentacles - Having a financial safety net, no risk, the path of creation and prosperity.
Example Interpretation In a Daily Spread
A Card Has Fallen for You Three of Wands? This Signifies:
Today marks the beginning of a new, highly productive, and auspicious phase in your life. Your plans have already started to materialize, and they promise to bring you wonderful results in the future. However, nothing will come effortlessly, as if by magic. Only your energy, resourcefulness, and enthusiasm will eventually grant you everything you aspire to. Additionally, the card of the day suggests that cooperation with other people—partners, clients, colleagues—will play a significant role in achieving your goals. Your ability to find common ground and shared interests will undoubtedly lead you to success.