A New Perspective on the Three of Wands

[sixdegrees]

(Apologies if I have placed this in the wrong subforum. I was debating if this should go in the Personal Readings section, but since I'm not asking for help with interpretation, Individual Card Meanings seemed like a better fit).

 

Yesterday we had a funeral for my grandmother, who passed away just after the new year. The funeral was small, with everyone distant and in masks, and outside as much as possible. Last night I drew my card of the day as I always do, and I was struck by how the day's experience fundamentally changed my understanding of the card.

 

The card was the Three of Wands in the RWS. I have never particularly liked this card. I've always had a difficult time differentiating it from the Two of Wands, and the classical discussions of the meanings of the image--enterprise, the first steps of a new undertaking, "sending one's boats out into the world," etc.--are functional but not very interesting. Whenever the card comes up in a reading, I sort of frown because I know that I'll have a difficult time interpreting it.

 

Last night, however, the image suddenly became very clear to me. Here I was, the figure on the cliff, helping to send my grandmother off to a place where I could not follow her. I and my family had to stay back on the shore and could only watch her go, as she slipped into glorious light. Alternatively, and perhaps especially because she increasingly wore large robes and other free flowing garments in her final years, she was represented by the figure standing on the mountain above the rest of us, watching us retreat from delivering her to her new place. (I don't know how much I believe in the endurance of the human soul after death or the existence of the afterlife, but I cannot deny the correspondence of these ideas with the image on the Three.) In either case, it was a snapshot of an individual distinct from a group, with the water and earth signifying that neither could exist in the same place as the other any longer.

 

From now on I shall always think of the Three as a card of "departure." This idea fits with the classical notions of enterprise and starting off on some sort of venture, but the card could also signify those who "depart" before you--as a source of inspiration to you, or simply as a reminder of where you will inevitably end up anyway. In a slightly harsher sense the card could indicate any situation of being left behind as others pursue their own lives. The split between the individual standing in the foreground and the group of boats in the background helps distinguish the Three from the other cards in the RWS that might also resonate with the idea of departing. The Eight of Cups shows an individual clearly departing from a situation, while the locus of movement in the boats of the Three suggests a situation where group departs and leaves an individual. In addition, the Six of Swords depicts an individual (the rower) joining with a group (the huddled figures) in order to depart together. There is no clear division here like there is in the Three.

 

I was sad to help bury my grandmother, but I was moved that the experience helped me better understand a card that I have disliked for 15+ years. In a poetic light, it was a wonderful parting gift from her. I wanted to post about my experience here in case anyone else could benefit from these insights.

[Grandma]

Dear @sixdegrees,

 

I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother.

 

You did post in the right place, and I'm moved to read your thoughts and ideas.  What a deeply insightful interpretation of the Three of Wands.  Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

Love, Grandma

[Helena]

@sixdegrees how beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. I pull the three of wands a lot in reference to a current life situation, and this brought tears to my eyes. 🥲

[TheLoracular]

23 hours ago, sixdegrees said:

(Apologies if I have placed this in the wrong subforum. I was debating if this should go in the Personal Readings section, but since I'm not asking for help with interpretation, Individual Card Meanings seemed like a better fit).

 

Yesterday we had a funeral for my grandmother, who passed away just after the new year. The funeral was small, with everyone distant and in masks, and outside as much as possible. Last night I drew my card of the day as I always do, and I was struck by how the day's experience fundamentally changed my understanding of the card.

 

The card was the Three of Wands in the RWS. I have never particularly liked this card. I've always had a difficult time differentiating it from the Two of Wands, and the classical discussions of the meanings of the image--enterprise, the first steps of a new undertaking, "sending one's boats out into the world," etc.--are functional but not very interesting. Whenever the card comes up in a reading, I sort of frown because I know that I'll have a difficult time interpreting it.

 

Last night, however, the image suddenly became very clear to me. Here I was, the figure on the cliff, helping to send my grandmother off to a place where I could not follow her. I and my family had to stay back on the shore and could only watch her go, as she slipped into glorious light. Alternatively, and perhaps especially because she increasingly wore large robes and other free flowing garments in her final years, she was represented by the figure standing on the mountain above the rest of us, watching us retreat from delivering her to her new place. (I don't know how much I believe in the endurance of the human soul after death or the existence of the afterlife, but I cannot deny the correspondence of these ideas with the image on the Three.) In either case, it was a snapshot of an individual distinct from a group, with the water and earth signifying that neither could exist in the same place as the other any longer.

 

From now on I shall always think of the Three as a card of "departure." This idea fits with the classical notions of enterprise and starting off on some sort of venture, but the card could also signify those who "depart" before you--as a source of inspiration to you, or simply as a reminder of where you will inevitably end up anyway. In a slightly harsher sense the card could indicate any situation of being left behind as others pursue their own lives. The split between the individual standing in the foreground and the group of boats in the background helps distinguish the Three from the other cards in the RWS that might also resonate with the idea of departing. The Eight of Cups shows an individual clearly departing from a situation, while the locus of movement in the boats of the Three suggests a situation where group departs and leaves an individual. In addition, the Six of Swords depicts an individual (the rower) joining with a group (the huddled figures) in order to depart together. There is no clear division here like there is in the Three.

 

I was sad to help bury my grandmother, but I was moved that the experience helped me better understand a card that I have disliked for 15+ years. In a poetic light, it was a wonderful parting gift from her. I wanted to post about my experience here in case anyone else could benefit from these insights.

@sixdegrees

My heart is with you and your family  😞

Your words are beautiful and your insight just hits home.  In my new 2020+ worldview, I think this is exactly what the RWS style Three of Wands is going to mean to me as well.  So many people I know have lost loved ones in the past twelve months; I feel like all of us are the ones standing there watching the boats sail away and it is for the best that the figure on the card has his back turned to the Reader & Querent.  It gives the figure the respect and dignity that his feelings, at that moment, deserve vs. the Five of Cups where grief is made very public.   It lets me imagine this figure in a greater variance of moods as those ships go sailing off without him. 

[LoveLightPeace]

@sixdegrees thank you for sharing your very personal, insightful interpretation of the 3 of Wands. 

 

I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your grandmother. My heart goes out to you and your family. May you find comfort in each other during this difficult time. Sending lots of love and comforting energy your way. 

[Saturn Celeste]

On 1/24/2021 at 11:47 AM, sixdegrees said:

I was sad to help bury my grandmother, but I was moved that the experience helped me better understand a card that I have disliked for 15+ years. In a poetic light, it was a wonderful parting gift from her. I wanted to post about my experience here in case anyone else could benefit from these insights.

This was so lovely as was your interpretation.  I'm sorry for the loss of your grandma but at least you were there to send her off.

[sixdegrees]

Thanks, all, for your kind words. I'm glad to hear that others found my ideas meaningful. 

[Guest]

Beautiful interpretation of that card and I can see how it fits perfectly. I've always seen the three of wands as looking to new pastures, or further afield than where you presently are. It's a card that comes up frequently for astral travel which is nearly identical to your interpretation. Spirit journeying. Can also be a card of establishing a new order of life in a completely different direction than you have been before so complete career changes, or adopting new perspectives on life. When this card appears in a relationship reading it usually means to me that the querent needs to look elsewhere for love than where they are.

[Ekati]

Hello @sixdegrees. Wonderful thoughts and interpretation! Thanks for sharing and i am very sorry for your loss my dear...
@Helena interesting thoughts that could fit in your situation 🙁🙁