TAROTThree of Pentacles
Upright
Working together towards success, with a solid plan and understanding of aims
Working together to complete larger goals.
Maintaining skills and abilities used in achieving your aims
Intuition
The sculptor in this card is Daedalus, father of Icarus and designer of the Minotaur’s maze.
His name literally means ‘craftsman’ and he was a famed sculptor, architect, and inventor.
Reversed
Failing to work as a team, accept help or communicate with others.
Disorganized or poorly managed tasks or plans.
Inability to learn skills needed to propel you forward.
Lack of communication or planning for a large task or project.
Astrologia
Power and energy, with the discipline to use it to put plans in action. Patience and the ability to see things through. Can be obstinate and unable to change.
Three of Pentacles
Following the personal trials of the Two of Pentacles, the Three of Pentacles addresses more complex tasks. The number three represents a crowd, or group efforts.
While we manage personal goals alone, the Three of Pentacles speaks to larger ambitions: commercial production or professional advancement within a group.
We all have personal goals that we can take care of ourselves, but the Three of Pentacles speaks of larger things such as production of commercial products or professional advancement within a group.
This extends beyond career or artistic projects. It points to large life events like wedding planning (a task requiring collaboration), life-changing family decisions, or long-term goals that are more than personal choices.
The card emphasizes craft: abilities and careers involving skilled or technical creation. This encompasses artists, designers, builders, and content designed to last. It points to learning the skills required to further a career.
The card depicts the ultimate inventor and 'ideas man' from mythology.
Daedalus
Daedalus is a mythical inventor, architect, and artist first referenced around 1400 BCE. He created the Minotaur’s labyrinth and the wings his son Icarus used to fly too close to the sun. Myths attribute the invention of carpentry tools and ship masts to him.
He is of course a mythic stand-in for many great artists and inventors, whose real names and life stories are unfortunately lost to antiquity.
He carved statues so realistic that onlookers swore they breathed. Legend had it that some occasionally walked off on their own, although this is probably not because they were so realistic, but because early statues had simplistic legs (that were always straight and held together). Those attributed to Daedalus had separate and anatomically realistic legs that looked as if the statue was able to walk.
On the card, Daedalus stands in his workshop, putting the finishing touches to a statue: the Horae, goddesses of the seasons.
The ancients around the early Mediterranean counted three seasons (spring, summer autumn, but no winter, because it was so mild at this latitude), which represented the passage of time and the cycle of life (birth growth and death). The three goddesses of the seasons were Thallo, Auxo, and Carpo. The goddess Kheimon was added later, after travel into northern Europe led to the 'discovery' of winter.
Although ancient Greek statues appear today in bare white marble or bronze, their creators painted them to look realistic. They featured inlaid, lifelike eyes covering the basic carved stone that remains today. Daedalus paints one of the Horae, working his magic so the sculpture appears to live and breathe.
A man and a woman stand nearby. They represent a rich patron funding the work, alongside a manager overseeing the larger project. On the floor in front of them lies a detailed plan.
This project is not the work of one person (irrespective of the sculptor's individual brilliance, or whether Athena herself taught him his skills). It requires the effort of many people bringing their unique skills and resources to a unified team.
Description and Symbology
A sculptor works in his studio, creating a statue. A man and a woman stand nearby, representing the rest of his team. They provide detailed plans, funding, management, and specialized skills the sculptor lacks.
Without all three people, the work would not be created.
The craftsman at work
We see a sculptor working on a statue. He is adding the final touches to the statue; painting it (something that the ancients did – the ones we see no longer have the paint) and making it look real. The work clearly requires years of dedication to achieve the required skills.
The other team members
We see other people involved in the project. They could for example be funding and managing it. The sculpture could be only a small part of a much larger project. The use of a team is essential because of the complexity.
The great project
The work being undertaken is a statue of the Horae, which literally means hours but is often used to denote the passage of the seasons (there were three seasons in Ancient Mediterranean cultures). This is symbolic of work that will take time to achieve, and will work out better with a team.
Tips for Readings
The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.
Upright
Reversed
For existing relationships, this card suggests a deepening of the relationship through common goals, good communications and comfort in planning a future together.
For a new person in your life, this card suggests there will be trust in the relationship. There will be a meeting of purpose and a relationship that is far greater than the two halves.
Something is not fitting together in the relationship. This may be caused by one half of the relationship being pulled away through career.
It may be caused by differences of opinion or lack of communication within the relationship, or might be just a steady drifting apart over time.
Whatever the reason, you are no longer working as a team and need to work to remedy this.
For new couples, this card points to differences in mindset or different goals. Either may cause a lack of connection after the initial attraction has worn out.
This card is an excellent sign for career advancement.
It points to your becoming an important person within your team or organization.
Professional advancement may also occur through learning and experience, and it is advised you take any roles that increase your horizons, as the experience will do you good in the long term.
You will see setbacks and disappointments in your progression or projects.
This is caused by issues within your team, a bad fit somewhere, or simply a lack of planning or unforeseen problems you have missed or will soon encounter.
Double-check your assumptions, especially if you have a feeling that something is off, because it probably is!
Any shared goals will work well: training with a partner, competitive or team sports, or joining a health related group.
If you take this step, the gains will be massive vs. going down a solo path, so well worth considering. You might also find some kindred souls and new friends into the bargain!
You are not listening to people who are trying to help you with your health. You are instead resisting and preferring to go it alone or believe your priorities lie elsewhere.
It is time to admit who knows best when you are outside your expertise and listen to your body when it suggests something is wrong.
You will move forward in your spiritual journey through groups and congregations rather than going it alone.
There is also some value in self-study and learning, but don’t do this in exclusion of being open to other people as guides and fellow travelers.
A lack of being open to other experiences or learning is slowing down your progression.
You may believe your way is best because it has worked for you, but you may be closed to taking the best from other points of view.
Your financial position will increase if you take advice or work with others.
Joint discussion with your significant other or family will be beneficial, or talking things through with a professional.
This situation is caused by your goals or current situation being somewhat complex, or you have missed problems that others know more about and can clear up for you.
You are holding too much of your finances close to your chest, and this will cause you problems in the long run.
A partner who thinks you are being far too secretive, or a personal plan that you are so invested in that you don’t see the glaring mistakes and bad assumptions. Or simply that your personal situation is about to change and sharing your plans with others will quickly reveal the omissions.
Perhaps you know the issues but are trying to hide a loss.
Whatever the problem or plan, it is time to be more open with the surrounding group that you consider your team: partners, family and trusted friends.
Yes through being open to sources of help, advice and collaboration.
No through failing to plan, organize or collaborate on tasks you cannot easily do on your own.
Reading the Card
The Upright Card
This card signals career advancement and professional learning. You are well-placed for success through collaboration over going it alone.
It is also a good card for relationships as it points to good communication, teamwork, and a meeting of minds on goals.
For personal goals outside career and relationships, this card points to getting ahead in your current goals by working together rather than going it alone. Your task will suffer if you attempt it on your own as your goal:
- Needs more people than you think to handle the workload.
- Will succeed with a second opinion, company, and support.
- Requires a high level of experience in unfamiliar areas, meaning you must bring in people with the practical skills you lack.
The task ahead requires learning, research, and developing a craft. It is a major undertaking. It demands upfront work such as planning, funding, and management.
Treat the project for its actual size and do not cut corners. Do this, and you will succeed.
The Reversal
The Reversed card indicates that teamwork is breaking down. Something is causing failure. Even if your goals succeed, expect overruns, lateness, and unexpected costs. Arguments disrupt progress.
There may also be a lack of planning, lack of communication, dissent or opposing views, or a lack of morale. The issues will become serious and derail your goals unless addressed.
The card urges you to fix the difficulties and get back on track. This involves heartfelt talks, admissions, and difficult decisions when people fail to step up. Mismanagement, incompetence, and personality clashes wreck progress. Confront them sooner rather than later.
Card Design Process
This was one of the harder cards to visualize. The original Rider-Waite-Smith card is very specific. Although there are many re-interpretations of it in other decks, they tend to drift away from the idea of a complex task that requires an artisan skill set and a group rather than a single person.
This is difficult to create when considering mythology, as there are few graphically recognizable parallels.
The issue was solved by creating a shortlist of famous artists from mythology and trying to build up a scene around one of them.
Final Words
The Three of Pentacles represents productivity, creativity, and skillful application of one's talents. It symbolizes success in a project or profession through collaboration with others.
The Three of Pentacles represents productivity, creativity, and skillful application of one's talents. It symbolizes success in a project or profession through collaboration with others.
The end result will be something long-lasting, created through dedication to craftsmanship and teamwork.
