Three of Wands

Minor Arcana · Wands · number 3 · Tre di Bastoni

Upright

The Three of Wands watches his ships set sail: established strength, enterprise, trade, discovery. What you set in motion is travelling and will come back with a cargo. Waite adds something precious: the card speaks of cooperation, of someone more experienced looking from their shore towards yours with the intention of helping you. If at work you feel it is time to expand, to look for a partner, to approach a distant client, it is no accident. The practical advice: accept the help you are offered, without pride, and plan the next step now while the ships are at sea.

Source: Arthur Edward Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910) · read the original passage

«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 a view to help you.»

Reversed

Reversed, the Three of Wands announces the end of troubles: adversity is suspended, toil and disappointment stop. It is one of the few cards that, upside down, bring relief. If you have been through a heavy period, a crisis at work, an illness, a separation, this card tells you the worst is over. It is no accident if these days you breathe more easily. Just be careful not to set off again immediately at full speed: the truce is there for recovery. The practical advice: give yourself a real break, a weekend free of commitments, before loading the ships again.

Source: Arthur Edward Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910) · read the original passage

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

Source

Arthur Edward Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910) Part III, § 2, The Lesser Arcana, Three of Wands https://archive.org/details/a.-e.-waite-the-pictorial-key-to-the-tarot