THREE

of WANDS

This is a card of…

Returns on investment

Strong beginnings

Expansion

Opportunity

Growth

“Everything in the world was in precarious balance, pure risk, and those who didn’t agree to take the risk wasted away in a corner without getting to know life.”

-Elena Ferrante

The Three of Wands lives in the moment just before we find out if a gamble has paid off. It was necessary to take bold risks to get to our goal, and the dice we rolled are just about to tumble into place. The figure on this card has gambled a lot, but not more than he can afford. He’s got a solid foundation. He’s taking these risks hoping to expand that ground.

This is a card about the times when we are in suspension, unsure if the ships we sent out to seek our fortune will return laden with gold or be lost at sea. It is a card of big ambitions built on a solid foundation. The figure on the RWS card has staked out some ground with a nice water view, but he wants more than that. This patch was conquered just to give him a place from which to launch his next bold adventure.

There is a sense of being in harmony with our ambitions, even in harmony with risk. We know that even if the outcome is disastrous we are still committed to our goal. Whether we get a treasure or bad news, the only way is forward.

The suit of WANDS:

  • Drive
  • Vitality
  • Ambition
  • Gut Feelings
  • Action

The THREES:

  • Nature of the suit
  • Harmony
  • Truth
  • Simplicity

Meditations/ Questions for a Three of Wands Day

Is there something in your life that could be thought of as a ship you have sent out and are waiting to return?

Where in your life would you most like to expand your influence/ territory?

Would you say you tend err on the side of risking too much or not risking enough?

Claiming our own little patch of ground is satisfying for a time, but we eventually seek to expand it.