3 of Wands

Keywords & phrases

• First steps, stepping out, showing up, engaging
• Starting something
• Taking an idea and running with it
• New horizons & opportunities
• Expectations, hopes and dreams
• Moving from inspiration to inspired action
• Taking a chance
• You are ready

First impressions

In the 3 of Wands we someone stepping out into the world. Someone with a plan and some expectation of results. They are looking out across a bay towards the mountains on the horizon, watching the ships at sea.

What is happening in the card?

Here we see a person who has stepped out of the confines and relative safety of their castle/home/office – the place where the planning is done – into the world of action. While not yet in the thick of it – at this stage still just surveying the situation from their vantage point – they are poised to take their first steps.

They look out expectantly, watching the ships come in or go out. 

How can we relate to this card?

For anyone thinking of embarking on a new path or venture or relationship, 3 of Wands is one of encouragement to put ourselves out there. 

It’s one thing to be inspired and to have a great idea, but we also need to take inspired positive action every day toward reaching our goals. We need to step up and step out. Be brave and also be prepared to fail.

Message & affirmations

This card brings to mind the work of Brené Brown. She talks about vulnerability and urges us to step out and:

My personal experiences of this card

Pulling a card a day and recording what I see, what I know and feel, and what I learn is an exercise from my Tarot certification course. This is the card that I pulled when I embarked on these pages. It felt like a green light to go ahead and record these cards here rather than in a private notebook.

Whenever I pull the 3 of Wands it feels like the nudge I need… a little voice saying “Yes, you’re ready. Go ahead!”. There is always a little bit of a risk involved, but that’s life!

Events, situations & readings

In a career spread:
Starting a new business enterprise. A new job. You have to take that first step.

People & interaction with other cards

This card brings to mind the entrepreneurs that appear on Dragons Den.

Aries. Like my daughter, who is always full of ideas and loves to start new projects.

The Page of Wands. New ideas and projects are like a gift.

A good person to have around when you want to get your ideas off the ground.

Questions, prompts & insights

Are you ready to take the first step into a new project.

Featured decks:
Main image from The Rider Waite Tarot.

The other featured image of the 3 of Wands is part of an ongoing creative Tarot project by Still Small Voice Tarot combining digital collage and AI generative art.