Three of Wands

Three of Wands

The Basic Meaning of the Card (Rider-Waite)

The Three of Wands is the third card in the Tarot’s Minor Arcana within the Wands suit and symbolizes success, expansion, and long-term vision. The card’s image shows a man standing on a cliff looking out over the sea, with three wands behind him. It represents that when we have a clear vision and work towards our goals, we can achieve success and expand our horizons.

Three of Wands – Upright Meaning

The Three of Wands represents foresight, planning, and looking towards the future. This card often signifies a situation where someone is evaluating their progress, setting new goals, or considering new opportunities for growth and expansion. The Three of Wands is associated with ambition, progress, and taking calculated risks. Key aspects of the upright Three of Wands include:

  1. Foresight: Envisioning future possibilities, making plans, or setting long-term goals in order to create a successful future.
  2. Planning: Strategizing, organizing, and making thoughtful decisions to ensure a strong foundation for your endeavors.
  3. Looking Towards the Future: Taking a broad perspective on your life, assessing progress, and identifying areas for growth or expansion.
  4. Ambition: Pursuing your dreams with determination, passion, and a willingness to take calculated risks.
  5. Progress: Making strides in your personal or professional life, often as a result of hard work, dedication, and strategic planning.

Three of Wands – Reversed Meaning

When the Three of Wands appears reversed, it can signify a lack of foresight, poor planning, or missed opportunities. This card often represents a situation where someone is struggling to envision their future, is facing setbacks due to inadequate preparation, or is feeling stagnant in their personal or professional life. The reversed Three of Wands can also indicate procrastination, fear of the unknown, or an inability to take action. Key aspects of the reversed Three of Wands include:

  1. Lack of Foresight: Struggling to envision your future, set goals, or make long-term plans, which can hinder your progress and personal growth.
  2. Poor Planning: Experiencing setbacks or difficulties due to inadequate preparation, organization, or strategic decision-making.
  3. Missed Opportunities: Failing to recognize or seize potential opportunities for growth, expansion, or progress.
  4. Procrastination: Delaying action, decision-making, or planning, often due to fear, indecision, or a lack of motivation.
  5. Fear of the Unknown: Feeling apprehensive or uncertain about the future, which can prevent you from taking risks, setting goals, or pursuing your dreams.

The Three of Wands, whether upright or reversed, emphasizes the importance of foresight, planning, and setting goals for a successful future. It serves as a reminder to remain proactive, take calculated risks, and continuously strive for personal and professional growth.

Example Interpretation

If the Three of Wands appears in a reading alongside the Nine of Pentacles and the Four of Swords, it can be interpreted as focusing on success, expansion, and long-term visions (Three of Wands) will lead to material wealth and independence (Nine of Pentacles). This will lead to a period of rest and recovery (Four of Swords), giving you the opportunity to reflect on your accomplishments and prepare for future challenges and opportunities.

Psychological Interpretation

Archetypal Meanings

The Three of Wands is a card in the tarot deck that represents exploration, expansion, and progress. It is often associated with the archetype of the visionary, someone who has a clear vision of their future and is actively working towards making it a reality. This card is also linked to the archetype of the entrepreneur, someone who takes risks and creates their own opportunities.

Behavioral Patterns

When this card appears in a tarot reading, it may indicate that the individual is in a state of planning and strategizing. They may have a strong desire for growth and are taking steps to achieve it. This card can also suggest a sense of confidence and optimism, as the individual is willing to take risks and trust in their abilities to succeed.

Integration and Shadow Work

Psychologically, the Three of Wands encourages the individual to embrace their inner visionary and entrepreneur. It urges them to tap into their creative and ambitious energies and actively work towards their goals and dreams. However, this card may also bring up the shadow aspect of being overly ambitious and taking on too much at once. In order to work with the energies of this card in a healthy way, it is important to find balance and avoid burnout. Setting realistic goals and boundaries can help in integrating the positive aspects of this card and addressing any potential negative patterns.


More Tarot Cards In "Wands"

Page of Wands

The Page of Wands is a tarot card representing a young person who is full of energy and creativity. It also symbolizes new beginnings and opportunities that await and is a sign that you should be ready to take the chance and follow your intuition.

Page of Wands

Queen of Wands

The Queen of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes a woman who is emotionally stable and self-assured, and who has a strong will and great self-confidence. She stands for creativity, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and she inspires others to reach their goals.

Queen of Wands

Seven of Wands

Seven of Wands symbolizes strength and courage to stand up for oneself and one's beliefs. It also represents the fight for what one wants and being ready to defend what one believes in. This means that one must stand up against adversity and try to find a way to move forward.

Seven of Wands

Six of Wands

The Six of Wands tarot card symbolizes victory and triumph. It represents success, recognition, and strength. It is a sign that one has succeeded in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals. It is a sign that one will receive the recognition they deserve.

Six of Wands

Ten of Wands

The Tarot card Ten of Wands symbolizes responsibility and burden. It represents that you have taken on too much and that you should prioritize your commitments and restrain yourself. It urges you to let go of what is no longer necessary and to focus on what is important.

Ten of Wands

Two of Wands

The Two of Wands in Tarot symbolizes planning, decision-making, and expansion. When upright, it indicates a time for considering various possibilities, long-term planning, and being open to new ideas. When reversed, it suggests difficulty making decisions, fear of change, or uncertainty about plans and goals. In a reading with the Queen of Swords and the Five of Cups, focusing on planning (Two of Wands) can lead to better clarity, insight, and communication skills (Queen of Swords), helping overcome feelings of loss, grief, and disappointment (Five of Cups) and fostering personal growth and self-understanding.

Two of Wands

Ace of Wands

The Ace of Wands tarot card symbolizes new beginnings, creativity, and energy. It stands for new opportunities and potential that are ready to be tapped into. It also signifies a time for recovery and renewal, which can help one get back on the right track.

Ace of Wands

Eight of Wands

The Eight of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes speed, movement, and change. It also represents success and progress and stands for a period of intense activity and quick results. It can indicate that it is time to take initiative and take big risks in order to reach one's goals.

Eight of Wands

Five of Wands

Five of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes conflicts and rivalry. It also represents struggles and competition that can lead to exhaustion and resistance. It encourages to address issues in a constructive way to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Five of Wands

Four of Wands

The Four of Wands tarot card symbolizes victory and triumph. It represents joy and celebration, and is a sign that a goal has been achieved. It stands for feelings of security, stability, and long-lasting happiness.

Four of Wands

King of Wands

The King of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes leadership, ability, and confidence. It is a card that stands for passion, creativity, and a willingness to take initiative. It can also represent a strong, loyal, and secure leader who is ready to make decisions and lead others.

King of Wands

Knight of Wands

The Knight of Wands symbolizes an adventurous, impulsive, and creative mindset that is ready to take on new challenges. It also stands for courage, enthusiasm, and a desire to change. It is a sign that there are great opportunities to take on new projects or ventures.

Knight of Wands

Nine of Wands

The Nine of Wands is a Tarot card that symbolizes a defensive stance and perseverance. It is a sign that one is close to achieving their goals, but there are still some obstacles that must be overcome. It is a card that encourages one to maintain their perseverance and not give up hope.

Nine of Wands