The number 3 symbolizes the generative force, creative power, multiplicity, and forward movement.  They are about planning and preparing, putting the details into place before beginning the work.  The suit of Swords is associated with reason, thought, logic, will, courage, verbal skill, matters pertaining to the mind, communication and the element of air.  It can represent getting all your plans and thoughts assembled in a coherent manner before presenting them to the public.  It's about deciding how to incorporate these plans and ideas into your current lifestyle.  The 3 of Swords can also indicate a conflict of the heart or a flash of insight that allows the seeker to perceive a situation for what it is.  Sometimes it suggests a sense of betrayal and heartbreak, something that our mind thought would come true has failed.  

"You are clarifying and articulating what you really think, prior to presentation or publication.  You are looking at your chosen lifestyle and planning how to implement it into your daily schedule.  You are figuring out how to communicate what you want to say." - Gail Fairfield.

The Osho Zen Tarot refers to this card as Ice-Olation and shows an image encased in a block of ice, tears pouring from his eyes.  It's as though he wants to free himself from this cold, frozen, immobilizing place but does not know how.  The first thing that struck me when looking at this card is the line from a Madonna "you're frozen when your heart is broken".  On the Victoria Regina card we see a woman prone upon a bed covering her face while three rifles point their barrels at her.

Both approach the issue from a different perspective but the message is the same - allowing ourselves to be defeated and devastated by some type of emotional betrayal or heartache only serves to isolate us.  It makes a bad situation worse and we run the risk of being forever entrapped inside our cold and lonely world, unable to reconnect with others on an emotional level.  Our fear of being hurt again paralyzes us and causes us to encase ourselves in a protective layer.

I can completely understand this attitude.  It is one of the reasons I avoided dealing with cups type situations for so long.  In fact if you wanted to send me screaming from the room just show me the Queen of Cups (AHH, no, not her!!).  It seems so much easier to allow a thick, protective layer to form around you.  It may be a bit lonely and cold but it's safe and you can't be hurt.  Of course the reality is that there are number of other things you miss out on as well - such as the joy and emotional fulfillment one receives from friendships and family connections or the enriching and soul-stirring love one can feel for a life partner.  These are things that make our lives richer, bring joy and laughter into our hearts and keep up from wallowing in our own misery.

How interesting to draw this card in response to this question.  I think what it's trying to tell me is that I've finally broken free of my own block of ice; I've ended my period of ice-olation.  Now it's time to celebrate and rejoice in the wonderful relationships I have in my life; the emotional connections that prevent me from staying forever encased in the ice.  This relationships may not always be harmonious but they are certainly worth nurturing and appreciating.  The are what makes playing so fun.