Three of Wands
Wands
How This Card Is Derived
Papus gives no separate description of this card. It is derived from his system: Wands is Yod (י), the active, originating principle, acting in Atziluth, the archetypal world; the number 3 is Vau of the first series, the equilibrium binding the two. The meaning below is that combination read out — the active, originating principle taken at its 3rd term — not a quotation from him.
Upright
The binding term of the active suit: impulse and plan united in an enterprise now under way. The ships are out; the figure watches from the shore. Papus's third term produces something the first two did not contain, and here that is commitment — the venture launched, past the point where reconsidering is free. Balance in the active world means several things in motion at once and none of them controllable.
Reversed
The venture launched without the second term — impulse and commitment, no survey, which the suit collects on at five. Or the ships watched so long that the watching has become the enterprise.
Correspondences
- Suit
- Wands — Yod (י), Atziluth, the archetypal world
- Suit principle
- the active, originating principle
- Number
- 3 — Vau of the first series
- Numeric role
- the equilibrium binding the two
In a Spread
At the commencement, the matter begins with something already sent out. In opposition, a commitment that cannot be recalled. At equilibrium several ventures are in flight and balancing each other. As the result: the enterprise is under way, and its returns are not this card's business.