Introduction
To The Threes
The number Three represents the integration of an initial idea,
action or feeling and its response. In the One we saw unity,
initiation, beginning. In the Two we saw the possibilities of
movement and therefore relationship. Now in the Three, we find
the interaction between the two poles represented by the One
and the Two.
Fairy
Tales
We see this relationship often in stories and fairy tales. Heroes
have to perform some action three times before they succeed at
the task which transforms them. The hero's first attempt represents
initiation and a commitment to action. The second attempt represents
a response to that action, either from the hero's environment
or subconscious. The final attempt represents the integration
of the first two tries. Goldilocks first eats food that is too
hot (yang) and then too cold (yin) until she finds a healthy
integration in food that is "just right."
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Fairy
Tales Exercise |
| Fairy tales
are full of Three's. Read through some fairy tales and look for
them (I recommend the unabridged Brother's Grimm.) There might
be 3 brothers, or 3 tasks or 3 trials or attempts. Often the
same phrases are repeated 3 times in the story. List all the
ones that you find until you have a good list (at least 5). You
may want to write a little about what each example symbolizes.
Look for what is initiating, what is responding and what is integrating.
How might each triplet symbolize completion? Assign a Three from
the Tarot to each example on your list and explain why. |
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As a response
to the One and Two, the number Three represents the action between
the first two numbers. It is the dynamic interaction of yin and
yang. If you imagine a pendulum swinging back and forth, the
numbers One and Two represent the two extreme poles of position
the pendulum can reach on it's length of chain. The number Three
represents the swing of the pendulum as it traverses every possible
relationship between the two poles. It is through this interaction
that we come to see the relationship between two poles of a duality.
The relationship was created with the number Two, but our ability
to perceive and understand only comes with the number Three.
|
Light
& Dark Exercise |
| For this
you will need: A flashlight, a mirror and a dark room. Face the
mirror with the flashlight shining on the right side of your
face. Notice how your face looks. What is shadowed? What is highlighted.
Do your eyes look the same? Try to see your face as two halves.
Does the left side have the same expression or look as the right
side? Now move the light so that it shines on the left side of
your face and study how you face now looks. How is it different?
Next, shine the light from below, studying the changes in your
appearance. Then shine the light from above and notice the difference.
You may want to slowly move the light around at different angles,
watching the shadows move and your appearance change as the light
moves. This is the relationship of the light (One) and dark (Two)
interacting (Three). |
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This is the
source of creativity, the ability to combine elements in new
and unique ways. As humans we are able to occasionally do this
creative combining in conscious ways that express our internal
realities. It is the essence of creativity to bridge the distance
between our inner personal reality and the outer reality we share
with others. We can see our inner reality as One; the outer,
shared reality as Two and the creative interaction of the inner
and outer realities to be Three.
Three is
also considered the number of completion or completeness. In
Christianity, the trinity of father, son and holy spirit is the
complete God. In Hinduism, the manifestation of the Godhead is
seen in Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and they are related to the
three gunas of reality: rajas, sattva and tamas. Goddess spirituality
often shows the goddess also in threes, maiden, mother, crone.
There are 3 fates and time is represented by Three: past, present
and future. Action is also represented by Three: subject, verb,
object.
Each of the
Three's in the Tarot represents a certain type of interaction.
The Wands represent an interaction that creates self and growth.
It is an interaction of desire and power. This isn't necessarily
an interaction between two wands. It is the interaction itself
that has the quality of fire. My love of animals (Cups) and some
time (Pentacles) might interact to create a desire to take action
(Wands) to save some forest . In Cups, the interaction is one
of feeling. The suit of Swords shows thought or mental action
as the integrating force. The suit of Pentacles shows an interaction
based in the physical. Myself and some antibiotics might interact
to create a greater state of health.
Three is
the number of interaction, and even more so than Two it is the
number of relationship. It is also the number of creativity and
as such also symbolizes love, community and friendship. Finally,
Three is a number of completion, representing intuition, response
and integration.
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Opposites
Interact |
| Look around
your life for pairs of opposites. These might be physical ones
such as the play of light and shadow on your floor. They might
be in the realm of personal relationships. Perhaps you are a
very social person while your best friend is a recluse. Look
for opposites in the ways that you feel about things. I really
love sci-fi novels, but I'm not very keen on Westerns. In each
case, write what each opposite represents symbolically. Sci-fi
novels might represent the future while Westerns represent the
past. Now look for the interaction between the two poles. The
light and shadow may make an interesting pattern. You might describe
the interactions between you and your friend. Perhaps you value
your time together, but sometimes you don't want the same social
situations. For each interaction, assign a Three from the Tarot
to each example on your list and explain why. |
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