The 3′ Tarot Card Meaning. This is a post covering the suit of 3’s in the traditional tarot card deck.

The 3’s Tarot Card Meaning Summary
Swords | Wands | Cups | Pentacles | |
Themes | Intellect, ideas, and science | Strength, will and ambition | Emotions, creativity & renewal | Wealth, health & abundance |
Elements | Air | Fire | Water | Earth |
Astrology | Gemini, Aquarius, Libra | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius | Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio | Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo |
Direction | East | South | West | North |
3 Card Meanings | Mental Suffering, loss of innocence | Forward progress, expansion | Harmony, friendship, family bonds | Daily grind, hard work, negotiations |
Numerology of the #3 (Themes)
- Optimism, Curious, Unique Thinking, Finding New Solutions
- Communication, Connection, Creativity and Creative Expression
- Magnetic and Attractive
Swords

Swords
- Themes – Intellect, ideas, science, unemotional, bold, calculations
- Element – Air
- Astrology Signs – Gemini, Aquarius, Libra
- Direction – East
3 of Swords Meaning
- Saturn, Cardinal, Libra energy
- Can mean a betrayal in love or union; Love triangle. Partnership being disrupted by others; an intrusion but in reality it is not as bad as it appears. This will pass.
- Lack of communication; Loss of hope. Delay in what you want. Revelations that cause mental suffering (not emotional) so it often connotes death of naivety and loss of innocence (for example, learning that the tooth fairy isn’t real).
Click HERE for an in-depth article on the 3 of Swords including upright and reversed meanings.
Wands

Wands / Batons
- Themes – Inspiration, primal energy determination, strength, will, ambition.
- Element – Fire
- Astrology Signs – Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
- Direction – South
3 of Wands / Batons Meaning
- Saturn, Cardinal, Aries energy.
- Progress, expansion and foresight.
- Querent should continue working on the project at hand or turn to a new project while elements develop that are beyond his control.
- There is more to look forward to; There is more preparation and stability to carry through.
- Things have been set in motion and wait for consequences – positive or negative. No going back.
- Represents a moment of action. Invested resources to realize ambitions – results will not be immediate.
- Active waiting teaches patience. Patience teaches confidence and calmness.
- This card also implies that sometimes we will stand alone and we should if necessary.
- Common lesson with this card – having the courage of your convictions, to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.
CLICK HERE for a deep dive into the 3 of Wands including upright and reversed meanings.
Cups

Cups / Chalices
- Themes – emotions, love, healing, renewal, creativity, divination, intuition
- Element – Water
- Astrology Signs – Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio
- Direction – West
3 of Cups
- Saturn, Cardinal, Cancer Energy
- Group camaraderie, harmony, sisterly, brotherly, strength of friendship and celebration of the bond.
- Celebrating a union.
- Abundance of emotions but also corresponds to the liberal and creative arts (dancing, music, writing, poetry, acting).
- 3 way relationship of a variety of kinds.
CLICK HERE for a deep dive into the 3 of Cups including reversed and upright meanings.
Pentacles

Pentacles / Coins
- Themes – Corporeal, finances, practicality, grounding, health, wealth, manifestation
- Element – Earth
- Astrology Signs – Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo
- Direction – North
3 of Pentacles Meaning
- Saturn, Cardinal, Capricorn energy
- Negotiations, counsel, manifest with help of others.
- Hard work in general without recognition; oftentimes this also corresponds to working in teams of three or three people involved in a project.
- Daily grind.
CLICK HERE for a deep dive into the 3 of Pentacles including upright and reversed meanings.

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