We’ve come out of the planning phases of the Twos and are now getting our hands dirty to make dreams into reality. We also start to realize the role we play in our communities. This is the affect of the Threes.

The Expansion of the Threes

There is an inner rumbling that comes with the Threes, a creeping desire to merge your inner world with the outer world. These cards can denote the need to participate like in the serious collaboration of the Three of Pentacles, and the jubilant celebrations of the Three of Cups. There’s also the need for separation to understand oneself better, like in the heartbreak and loss in the Three of Swords and the urge to venture out on your own in the Three of Wands.

One thing each of these cards have in common is the involvement of others. It would be hard to make big lofty dreams a reality without the help of another, and the Threes give us the green light to search, to learn from others, to work with them, and let us experience the ups and downs that come with it. These cards indicate the early stages of these plans, so Threes also show the querent is in their exploratory phase.

The Threes bring up themes of community and being part of a group, or apart of from the group. They also amplify and expand the specific suit they’re a part of, indicating the process of actualization is occurring. They are the gestational part of the suit; something is growing within us in the dark womb of our minds and hearts, and we’re looking for ways outside of ourselves to realize these ideas.

The Numerology of Three

In both religious and esoteric/occult literature, the number three is a divine and complete number. In Christianity, you have the father, the son and the holy spirit or the Three Wise Men. In Wicca and witchcraft, there’s the threefold law, and the Goddess’ threefold expression as the mother, the maiden and the crone. In Greek mythos, the Three Fates controlled the lives of humans as the past, present and future. Hecate, the chthonic goddess of witchcraft and crossroads, had three faces. The Greek philosopher and mathematician Anatolius said the number three is “called perfect by some” because it is the first odd number to have a beginning, middle and end. In mythology, in fairy tales, in media, there is a recurrence in using the motif of the number three, like three chances, or three wishes from the genie’s lantern, or “three times the charm.”

So why are we like… obsessed?

Apart from the universal symbolism, I find that the number three gives us this sense of wholeness. The Threes in the RWS tarot show the process of becoming part of a whole. The number three provides us with support, as well as the dynamism and ambition to grow.

Self-confidence, strength and courage are major themes of the numerological three because these are the traits needed to manifest your desires. Life is not a bunch of wins and losses, but a culmination of experiences.

The Messiness of Nurturing: The Empress

To me, the Empress embodies the present moment. When you are nurturing something, when you are tending to something, or just in the moment of creation, you give your undivided attention.

nur·ture

verb

care for and encourage the growth or development of.

The Empress is often associated with creativity, expression, and fertility. As a writer and artist, I know firsthand the creative process can be a messy thing. You’re taking your “culmination of experiences” and laying them bare on the page or canvas or whatever your medium of choice is. Most of the time, the work gets ugly before it gets better, but it’s just part of the journey. A card of abundance, the Empress encourages you not to hold back. She fosters the imagination, romantic ideals, and material and emotional richness, and she asks us to loosen restrictions in these areas of life.

When we observe the Empress card, she’s often sat outdoors in the middle of verdant, flourishing surroundings. Her connection to nature represents how we cannot do things alone. The natural world provides for us as much as we are able to provide for it, and in order to do so, we need to adhere to its cycles. This can be applied to relationships, to society, to our business endeavors even. There’s no forcing, or maximizing, or speeding up how someone or something should naturally develop… unless you don’t care about the consequences of playing god.

Patience is a virtue typically associated with motherhood and this is because children are not on anyone’s timeline but their own. Parenting means providing a secure and safe environment for offspring, like birds and their hidden nests or kangaroos and their joey-keeping pouches. The Empress reminds us that in order for us to raise our “children” the way we wish to see them in the world, we must tap into our caregiver instincts and be receptive.

Keywords for the Threes in Tarot

Upright Keywords:

• Expansion
• Finding community
• Creativity
• Self-confidence
• Dynamism
• Material Prosperity
• Moving on to move forward (in terms of relationships)
• Herald of Manifestation

Reversed Keywords:

• Restriction
• Loneliness
• Stagnancy
• Aversion to others
• Scarceness
• Monotony
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of self-belief

Threes in Tarot Overview

Three of Wands

Gazing upon the open sea, the person depicted is wondering what is out there that can fulfil their dreams. The Three of Wands offers the promise of adventure and newness, away from the present situation. This card is often about long-term planning and tangible progress into those first initial ideas of the Ace.

Three of Cups

Joy and celebration are marked in the Three of Cups. There is good fortune and even better company around enjoying the success with you. This is often about friendships, community and supportive relationships.

Three of Swords

Heartbreak is a major keyword for the Three of Swords, as is separation. Loss and sorrow is heavily felt, often because of misunderstanding and willful fighting. This loss is a lesson learned in tempering one’s expression, as well as understanding power and aggression. One of the few swords cards that is quite emotional.

Three of Pentacles

This is the card of recognition, not necessarily of fame, but because of hard work and merit. The Three of Pentacles also suggests collaboration, especially among people who are of different experiences and backgrounds. In this card, the querent’s resources and plans are being put to work. This is also the “intern” card, or apprenticing card, suggesting that this is a learning period for the seeker.

Deck used: Fyodor Pavlov Tarot by Fyodor Pavlov (U.S. Games Systems)