Three of Wands shows movement of the active impulse into a more creative phase. Exploring the possibilities. Increasing the chances of the action succeeding. Creating a supporting environment for the action, such as a new business. Checking the ecology of the action - will it be supported beyond its environment? Will people accept the action?

Rider-Waite: Three of Wands

A calm, stately personage, with his back turned, looking from a cliff's edge at ships passing over the sea. Three staves are planted in the ground, and he leans slightly on one of them.

He symbolizes established strength, enterprise, effort, trade, commerce, discovery; those are his ships, bearing his merchandise, which are sailing over the sea. The card also signifies able co-operation in business, as if the successful merchant prince were looking from his side towards yours with the view to help you.

Additional Meanings: A very good card; collaboration will favour enterprise.

Reversed Three of Wands

The end of troubles, suspension or cessation of adversity, toil and disappointment.

Book of Thoth - Virtue - Three of Wands

The Three of Wands is accordingly the Lord of Virtue. The idea of will and dominion has become interpreted in Character.

Establishment of primal energy.

More information

Golden Dawn - Three of Wands

Lord of Established Strength

Power, strength, magnetism, all generally, though not necessarily - of a sexual nature.

Mathers: Three of Wands

Enterprise, Undertaking, Commerce, Trade, Negotiation.

Reversed Three of Wands

Hope, Desire, Attempt, Wish.

Etteilla: Three of Wands

Enterprise, Begin, Start. Usurp, Seize. Daring, Brashness, Boldness. Carelessness, Adventurous, Audacious, Temerity, Bold. Undertaking, Muddled. Disconcerted. Paralyzed, Effort, Test, Temptation.

Reversed Three of Wands

Reserved: Interruption in: Misfortunes, Troubles, Pain, and Toil. End, Cessation, Discontinuation, Respite, Rest, Influence, Intermediary, Intermittency.

Thierens: Three of Wands

TRADITION

Enterprise, effort, essay, trade, commerce, discovery, usurpation, daring, temerity and also imprudence, interruption, cessation and 'the end of troubles,' discontinuative.

THEORY

The rather contradictory descriptions of this card's significance are well explained by its zodiacal position: Air on the Third house, which doubles the influence of 'air' and of the mercurial vibrations and effects. This card has the accent of the suit of wands. It must consequently denote: communication, reflection and all that comes from these. This needs little explanation.

CONCLUSION

Communication, instruction, reflexion, message, writing, postage and letters, superficial knowledge, airiness, passing impressions, discontinuance, interruption, change, perhaps a certain amount of geniality, imprudence also; neglect or want of proper attention; as to 'temerity' I should say only in so far as this means an easy manner of overcoming obstacles, quick insight; effort, essay, trade are correct. Mercury being the God of merchants, and thieves, this card may relate to commerce, theft and loss. "The end of troubles" is indeed well said, because this card gives the key for their solution and shows the way of escape.

Three of Wands - Established Strength

The radiant triangle encloses a lamp, symbol of Understanding, represented by the number 3 in Qabalah. The three wands form a fire triangle, and suggest the enclosure of power in form.

Time period

2nd decanate of Aries, March 31st to April 9th, ruled by the Sun.

Meanings

Mental energy, leadership, ambition, determination are among the meanings. It is also a card of the realization of hope, of success after struggle.

Well-dignified

Courage, persistence, pride, nobility.

Ill-dignified

Conceit, arrogance, insolence.