Comparative Tarot

3 of Wands/Courtship of Skill shows us a couple holding hands standing on the shore. The woman has long blonde hair and wears a green gown. The man is also golden haired and wears a blue tunic over brown pants. They are looking deeply into each others' eyes. A golden cup hangs in the air to either side of them. Above their heads we see a lion faced sun shining its light upon them.

The book says: This card depicts Art, son of Conn, and Delbchaem. Art is sent on a quest to find Delbchaem by his stepmother Becuma who hopes he will fail and never return. Delbchaem's mother, Coinchenn, has set strong enchantments around her daughter because the prophecy states that if Delbchaem is wooed, Coinchenn will die. Art defeats all of these enchantments and overcomes other challenges to win Delbchaem and ultimately his father's kingdom for his own.

Keywords: Rewards for achievement or enterprise; hopes realized; results through teamwork; partnership or good relations; negotiations; help of a patron or benefactor; practical skills; business interests.

Reversed: The end of trouble; wealth or achievements may disperse through lack of vigilance; beware of help motivated by self-interest.

Soul Wisdom: What achievement lies within your sights? What help is being offered to you?

Bee's Buzz: Looking at this card what struck me is that once again we see that the sum is greater than the whole of all its parts. Individually Art & Delbchaem are interesting people, but nothing special. But together they manage to overcome enchantments, win back a kingdom and find true love. They go from being a nice story to an epic, a legend. She wears green indicating her connection with abundance and growth. Art wears a blue tunic and brown trousers suggesting he is connected to the peace and healing of the water and the solidness and strength of the earth. As they stand on the shore looking at each other we realize that they have completed one leg of their journey and will soon be sailing off towards another adventure. To the ancient Celts, 3 was a magical number. There are a number of instances where this is shown - Brighid and Morrigan are seen as triple goddesses, Eriu, Banba & Fotla are the three queens of Ireland met by the Milesians upon their arrival, etc. So this card shows the magic and strength that occurs when 3 and skill are combined. Delbchaem and Art are a mystical pairing and their union can heal whatever is wrong in the kingdom of Art's father. United they manage to oust Becuma and claim the throne. It is a happily ever after story. But it cannot end happily unless the two unite to form a union, which becomes the third in the equation.

Bees Blessings
Debbie