advanced tarot interpretation

The Meaning of the "Three of Wands" Tarot Card

The Symbolism of the Tarot Card:

A stately man, as evidenced by his robes, watches as ships pull out to see. His dress suggests a merchant rather than a general. He is standing on the edge of a cliff, and the number of ships suggest that he is looking out over a harbor. Three wands seem to be growing out of the top of the cliff, and he rests his hand lightly on one of them.

The Meaning of the Tarot Card:

This card is commonly called the "Merchant Card". This is a merchant who has had a few successful transactions, but is really just starting out on a number of ventures. Responsibility and prudence will yield success in his business. The ships are his, and the only thing that he can do after making all of his arrangements and seeing them off is to wait for the results. Being a merchant in medieval and ancient times was much riskier than it is today, as ships were prone to shipwrecks, piracy, and grifting from the sailors of the profits if they weren't paid well enough. As such, this card commonly portrays all of the machinations of enterprise, rather than the profits thereof. It also means strength in character, ingenuity, and an entrepreneurial spirit.