Meaning of Two of wands versus three of wands in readings: what is your experience?

[Strength8]

Hi,

How do you differentiate between these two in your readings? Or how have they shown up or panned out in your readings?

Both are holding on to one wand only, so potentially one choice has been made, leaving behind one or other two.

Then, I think about if two of cups is a choice or even lovers being read as a choice, then do we use these wands cards for choices too?

If three of wands is waiting for results (looking at ships) or sending ships off to progress,

then is two of wands about getting ready to take that one step in the vast sea?

On has turned his back (I only use RWS so only speaking for that deck) and other is standing sideways but neither looking directly at the querent or reader.

Two of wands guy has the World in his hand and we can't see one hand in 3 of wands card. What does that mean to you? 

Holding wand in left or right hand- has that been meaningful to you, if yes, in what way?

Did 2 of wands guy get short stick by choice or could not "free the other one" for himself?

2 of wands seems to be in house and 3 of wands has ventured outside.

Do you think 2 wands guy is younger self of querent and 3 of wands when querent be more seasoned? I understand context is everything, I am trying to learn from your experience.

 

Please do add your thoughts, in response to any portion of this post or just your thoughts, as they come to you about these two cards (RWS).

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 24, 2023 by Strength8

[FindYourSovereignty]

I was just reading about the 2 of Wands as it astrologically corresponds to the first decan of Aries which we are currently in.  In 36 Secrets by T. Susan Chang she talks about the 2 of Wands as conquest/dominion and the 3 of Wands as governance/virtue.
 

This supports my connection with these cards when they appear in a reading. The 2 of Wands for me shows holding the world in his hands because he’s conquered his education, his fears, his indecision - he is in control of his world and knows it, successfully breaking through blocks and challenges.

 

The 3 of Wands, IMO, is now watching over all that he has accomplished and his plans. He’s broken through his fears and is honorably managing his choices and the progress he is making and needs to make for the success he is working towards.
 

The context of the reading is everything and these are just my baselines.

[Guest]

For me, the Two of Wands is all about planning. The guy is just about to embark on a magnificent and ambitious conquest, and he's in the process of crafting and refining his blueprint for domination. 

 

The Three of Wands shows the execution of these very plans. It shows him standing proudly before a promontory, watching the ships bearing his men/merchandise as they sail out into the wide seas. We know how many dreams sadly wither by the wayside, so just watching his projects manifesting is already an achievement. Still, this is only the start of the journey. Unknown storms and tribulations may loom in the horizon, and this enterprise is still not a certified success. 

[Guest]

BTW I posted my detailed ramblings on both cards here and here. I hope you'll find them useful @Strength8.

 

That said, I really should proceed with my 78 Weeks. I haven't jotted down one word since the start of the year. 😑

[November]

Hi, in the 2 Wands you're pondering over two choices/options/decisions. Actually you already know what you want to go after, but for some reason you're hesitating, it's the pause before you finally choose what to do. In the 3 Wands instead you've finally made your choice and thus you're waiting for what you will get out of that. 

[KiMo]

Adding to what others have already said, I often envisage the two of wands as a gateway. Each wand represents a post of the gate, with the querent making the decision to step through onto the new path on the other side. Maybe not particularly sophisticated but it works for me! The realisation of what to do with the ace has happened, and a new, concrete opportunity has presented itself (how I see the globe held by the figure's hand in the RWS). And so along with the stepping through the gate, making the decision to take action, come the necessary steps of conquering doubt, planning and strategising, and having dominion over one's ideas. Moving forward with surety and confidence.

 

The three of wands represents the emerging results of the choice made in the two, with plans set into motion, a project in progress. Ships are setting sail with a goal to be achieved, and some may even have returned with the first signs of success (the figure now has three wands, a new one has been gained through their enterprise). This is a stage of exciting growth however the number three is not perfectly balanced, without careful oversight and management the project may become derailed or not return the results hoped for. The figure in the card watches the progress with pride, but also makes sure that all the ships are sailing in the right direction. That then progresses naturally to the solid structure of success in the four of wands, an event or achievement that is balanced, settled, and worthy of celebration and joy.

[Strength8]

Thank you @FindYourSovereignty @KiMo @November @Akhilleus for taking the time to explain how you differentiate these two cards!

And @Akhilleus I appreciate you linking me to your other posts related to these cards, I am checking those out 🙂

 

I am still trying to wrap my head around these two and trying to understand them within context also (when one or both pop up in my readings)

[TarotSparks]

Wands are fire signs. Two of wands means competition and getting a job or bettering yourself in terms of plans, looking in future with optimism, success, good fortune, triumph , like a door to a better future, while three of wands is the realization or better said taking action of the two of wands, of the plans that have been made, in my readings it has more ties to partnerships, even family. However considering 3 as an unstable number, three is a number of work in motion, where anything could happen, the ships might not return.