A man with Three Wands looks out to sea, waiting. He has invested his passion in a venture or an opportunity of some kind. Now those plans are underway (perhaps out of his hands) and his ship may already be coming in. Connected to the 3rd card of the Major Arcana, the Empress, this is a card about growth and creation.

 

Note that the man only made his investment because a) he adopted a longer-term view, in which he was prepared to forgo immediate gains for returns later on, b) he recognized this specific opportunity by being alert and open-minded, and c) he was motivated enough to grab onto it. 

 

We sow in one season; we reap in another. If all goes well, the return on this investment will bring new energy to continue the journey. If we are in dire need of motivation, Three of Wands may remind us of the past results our efforts brought us. 

 

But what will we do when our ship doesn't come in? When the investment seems to have been for naught, sunk to the bottom of the sea? To prevent this from happening, specify goals and boundaries to a project beforehand, deciding in advance how much energy to pour into it in view of how likely success is. And when you've already invested all the energy needed to give a particular opportunity a chance, you may already want to start directing your attention and effort elsewhere.