Tarot
and Your Daily Life: One Plus One Equals Three
by James Ricklef
In this article we will explore the “Three” cards
in the Rider Waite Smith Tarot deck, beginning with a numerological
overview. First, we know that when two things come together, their
union creates a new entity, such as a marriage or a partnership,
or their interaction may generate something new, such as when two
chemicals react. Thus the Tarot’s Three cards deal with creativity,
growth, and expansion, and they are concerned with the interaction
or integration of differing entities, energies, or forces.
Similarly,
the number Three may signify a balancing point between two states
of being, or it may indicate a transformative force or event leading
from one state to another. In addition, there are many important
trinities within our conception of reality, such as body, mind,
and spirit; past, present, and future; and personal, interpersonal,
and transpersonal. Just as duality is an important factor in our
understanding of the Tarot Twos, these trinities can illuminate
our exploration of the Threes. So now let’s turn to the cards
themselves and see what messages they may hold for our daily lives.
In the Three of Wands we see a man standing at the crest of a hill
as he watches ships sail along a river or bay, either setting out
on a journey or returning from one.
In either case, what we see
here is someone taking the long view in order to have a clear vision
of what she/he wants. There is also a sense of serenity in this
card, such as when seeds have been planted and all that is left
to do is to watch and wait. Or, as John Lubbock stated, “When
we have done our best, we should wait for the result in peace.” Thus
we see in this card the advice to combine foresight and patience
in order to find success.
The Three of Cups depicts three women merrily dancing together,
perhaps in celebration of their friendship, which certainly is
an important aspect of this card’s meaning. As we nurture
and celebrate our friendships, we are creating something wonderful
that is greater than the sum of
its parts.
Our friendships
are precious, each in its own unique way, being a source of joy
and emotional strength and solace. As Emily Kimbrough put it, “Remember, we all stumble, every
one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in
hand.” Best of all, though, friendships bring out the best
in us when we rise to the occasion to help a friend in need.
The Three of Swords, with its literal representation of heartache
through the image of a heart pierced by three swords, frequently
alarms people. However, since this card is in the suit of Swords
(i.e., of mental processes), it can be more about understanding
or expressing such pain than about the pain itself. It also is
a reminder to release the sorrow of past wounds (i.e., to pull
those swords out of our heart and cast them aside) so that we may
begin the healing process. Although grief and sorrow take a while
to run their course, there always comes a time to forgive past
transgressions so that we may move on with our lives. Then through
our efforts to understand and gain wisdom from our anguish, we
are transformed. We not only come to understand ourselves better,
we also learn to empathize with the suffering of others; we not
only find healing for ourselves, we also become better able to
lead others to healing as well.
The three men depicted in the Three of Pentacles seem to be discussing
the construction of the cathedral in which they are standing. Perhaps
they are an artisan, an architect, and the patron of the endeavor,
but, of course, this identification is quite subjective. Nevertheless,
we may surmise that the work of each of them has its place and
value, so this card says that it is not the grandeur of what we
do that ennobles us. We need not build a castle, compose a symphony,
or discover a cure for cancer in order for our lives to have value.
Rather, it is the sincerity of our efforts and the care we take
in them that demonstrates our worth. Just as the Magician card
expresses our divine creative potential, this card says that we
can manifest that potential in whatever work we do. Indeed, a soulful
aspect of this card is its message that our unity with both the
material and the spiritual worlds can be discovered through even
the simplest of labor.
James Ricklef is a Tarot reader, teacher,
and writer. His new book, Tarot Get the Whole Story explains how
to read Tarot cards through various spreads, giving ideas for inventing
your own spreads. For more information about his work, see his
website: http://home.att.net~jwricklef/
e-mail: knighthawk111@hotmail.com
