Key Meanings

Upright

Expansion, foresight, long-term planning, progress, overseas travel, growth, exploration, enterprise, lead, forward movement, forward thinking, big picture, opportunity coming

Reversed

Delays, frustration, playing it small, lack of foresight, obstacles to progress, fear of the unknown, returned plans, short-sightedness, missed opportunities, setbacks in travel, restricted growth, disappointment

General Interpretation

Upright

In a general context, the Three of Wands is a card of looking ahead. You have lit the initial flame and set plans into motion, the Three of Wands sees you looking out to the horizon. It is a card of expansion and moving forward. Where the Two of Wands was about making a decision, the Three of Wands represents taking action after the decision and experiencing early success. It can signify long-distance travel and overseas connections or simply thinking on a much larger scale. You are feeling confident that the initial planning was correct and the future holds great potential when it appears.

Reversed

In a reversed position, the Three of Wands indicates stalled momentum. Things that were meant to take off may stall. Delays, shipping problems if you've sent something overseas, a project not taking off as planned. Or it can signify being unwilling to leave your comfort zone. You can see the bigger picture but something is holding you back and focusing your attention on the small, safe thing in front of you. Frustration can build when you can see the vision but can't see how to get there.

Love & Partnership

Upright

For those in relationships, the Three of Wands upright indicates that you and your partner should be growing together. Your relationship could be taking on a new dimension. Perhaps this involves a bit of overseas adventure for the two of you, another country, moving house or just broadening your horizons. It represents two people who are on the same page about where they want to go and seeing their plans beginning to manifest.

For single people, this card can be an indication that love will come from an unexpected place. Maybe a trip is in your near future or maybe you will connect with potential partners online who are a bit further afield. Maybe the person you connect with will be from a completely different culture to you. Don't limit your options. The best match for you might not be the closest one.

Reversed

In relationships, the Three of Wands in a reversed position can indicate feeling stuck. Growth has come to a halt. You or your partner may be feeling that the relationship is not progressing in the way you had hoped. Long distance relationships may feel the pressure of this card more than others as the distance and delays become tiresome. It can also signify that your expectations of the future are not aligning.

If you are single, the Three of Wands reversed can indicate that you are hesitating. You may be clinging to the familiar rather than taking a chance. You may be letting opportunities to meet people pass you by. Or you may be clinging onto your preconceived ideas of what you think love "should" be like to the detriment of your options.

Social Relationships

Upright

In terms of existing friendships and social circles, the Three of Wands can indicate broadening your horizons with friends. This could be in the form of group travel, working on projects with multiple people or even just introducing people from different areas of your life to each other. You may find that old friendships deepen as you discover mutual interests. It's a time of sharing your good energy with those around you.

New friends or social contacts can come from unexpected places when this card appears. Perhaps from a different culture or country, an online community or through a work network that's a bit wider than normal. The Three of Wands in a social context indicates that you will find expanding your social network is well worth it. The people you meet at this time will open doors for you and broaden your horizons.

Reversed

Existing friendships may leave a lot to be desired when this card appears in a reversed position. Plans get cancelled. Someone pulls out. The gang's trip doesn't materialise. You may feel like you and your friends are all going off in different directions and don't have as much in common as you used to. The friendship has lost its momentum. It takes work to prevent the friendship from fizzling out.

With new social connections, the Three of Wands in a reversed position can indicate missed opportunities or hesitancy to expand your social circle. If you stay within your social circles you will meet the same type of people. There can also be a lack of communication with people from other countries or cultures or an opportunity to meet new contacts being delayed indefinitely.

Work & Career

Upright

In a career reading, the Three of Wands upright is a good omen. Projects are taking off. You may be expanding your business or branching out into foreign lands. Overseas work or trading or working from a distance are options with this card. This card indicates that all of the hard work you put in previously is starting to bear fruit and you are expanding your horizons. You are in command and you know your next destination.

Reversed

In a career context, the Three of Wands reversed can represent hitting a wall. Your plans for expansion may not work out in the way you hoped. Maybe a promotion is pushed back. Maybe an overseas deal doesn't materialise. Whatever it is, you will be frustrated because you know the potential is there, you just can't access it yet. In some cases, the Three of Wands reversed can indicate that a strategy needs to be revised. Just because something works domestically doesn't mean it will automatically work internationally.

Money & Finance

Upright

In a financial context, the Three of Wands upright can signify investments or sources of income that are maturing or expanding. You may begin to reap the benefits of financial choices you made in the past. It also represents trade, commerce and international or cross border money. There is a sense of financial confidence with this card where you are feeling optimistic and there is space for prosperity or abundance to expand with this card in your Tarot reading as long as you maintain your focus on the long term.

Reversed

When reversed, the Three of Wands in a financial context can indicate that returns on money you were expecting may be delayed. Investments may not perform as well as you hoped. International business deals may not go smoothly or may incur unexpected charges. This Minor Arcana card reversed is generally not an indication of a complete loss but simply a delay in things progressing as you hoped. Getting impatient with financial matters will not help and can actually make the situation worse. Also, focusing only on the short term can lead to making choices that sabotage your longer term success.

Spirituality

Upright

Spiritually, the Three of Wands indicates that you are expanding your awareness. The inner work you have done up to this point is paying off and you may be finding yourself drawn to bigger picture questions. You may find that practices from other traditions or teachings from faraway lands resonate with you at this time. It is a card of a spiritual seeker who is not satisfied with answers that only scratch the surface. You will grow by looking beyond and exploring what's out there.

Reversed

In a spiritual context, the Three of Wands reversed can indicate that you may be feeling disconnected from the bigger picture. You may find your spiritual development is stagnant or that you are learning the same lessons over and over in a loop. Alternatively, you may be refusing to accept new concepts or holding rigidly to one particular spiritual path or idea. It can also signify spiritual wanderlust - you want more but you're not sure where to find it.