Three of Swords-- I love this 3ofS. It looks bleak and painful, but I agree with what WhiteRaven said about the rose being a symbol of hope. . .this card looks to me like an unfinished story. It looks like something horrible has happened, some sort of painful conflict, but you can still see the man, and the woman hasn't given up on that blossom of love. . .I think it's beautiful. Even if the relationship depicted on the card is finished, at the very least it looks like they'll both be able to move on. Hope for new love, projects, ideas, or whatever. Yay!
Three of Cups-- Cute card. . .I like how the dancer on the right is holding what looks like the same spiral The Empress was holding. Definitely emphasizes the connection there. The only thing about this card that confuses me is that weird thing on the girl on the left. . .(our left). It looks like somebody has thrown a tomato at her chest! Do you see it? What is it? Does it mean that even in the midst of the celebration there could be conflict, but that the good so outweighs the bad that one hardly notices? Or. . .is it actually supposed to be a bow or something? lol!
Three of Pentacles-- I love this card. I'm a total tarot newbie, so I don't have any previous notions of this card to make me dissatisfied with it. On to of that, I'm a theatre actress/singer, so the visual is really easy for me to relate to.
I believe the RWS version which shows intricate and lasting work in progress being shown to "satisfied customers" is more inclusive of the many aspects of work. If I were just to look at this card, I'd be hard pressed to see gain, building, group effort, etc.
Oh. . .I wish I could get you into an opera or something, because I think you'd change your mind. For one thing, the ballerina is a
very hard worker (I for one can't dance, and to see those girls practice constantly like they do, pushing on through injuries--!). The amount of teamwork and varied skills it took to get that ballerina in the position you now see her in is mind boggling. Those pentacle lights are being operated by unseen lighting technicians, the outfit was made by a costume designer, there was a choreographer and director, and while the ballerina is shown alone, it's doubtful that it was a one-woman-show. Actually, that sort of gives it new meaning. . .it could be not only a woman getting recognition for her skills, but a woman getting recognition for other people's skills, as well. An audience rarely thinks about the backstage people. There is a definite creative/artistic angle to this card, though, I'll give you that.
Question though: do you see the ballerina as facing the audience, or facing away from the audience? I've always seen her as having her back to the audience, which is strange.
Three of Wands-- Straight-forward. I always see this woman as wanting to leave, and go on to better and greater things. It's like she's standing there in her fancy new dress, thinking to herself, "Alright, I've come this far. . .let's see how much further I can go!" . . .with just a touch of arrogance. I like her, lol.