The Ten of Wands Tarot Card Meaning
What does the Ten of Wands Mean in a Tarot Reading for Love and Career?
The ‘Ten of Wands’ Tarot Card signifies having taken on a lot, either voluntarily or by duty (or under orders). In practical terms this can mean having a heavy burden placed on you in terms of work duties, social commitments, responsibilities, ill loved ones, etc.
You’re struggling, but you can (or think you can) see the light at the end of the tunnel, and you will probably succeed/finish/cope with what burdens you.
That's the 'short answer'. For a more in-depth examination of what the Ten of Wands might mean to you, any potential pitfalls, and how to make the best of the situation... read on...
You’re struggling, but you can (or think you can) see the light at the end of the tunnel, and you will probably succeed/finish/cope with what burdens you.
That's the 'short answer'. For a more in-depth examination of what the Ten of Wands might mean to you, any potential pitfalls, and how to make the best of the situation... read on...
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Ten of Wands Aide-Memoir
The image on the Rider Waite Ten of Wands cards is actually a good Aide-Memoir if memorized in the correct way. A person bent almost double due to the ten large wands they struggle to carry. The person is clearly burdened, but soldiering on. That is the essence of the Upright Ten of Wands.
10 of Wands Key Themes:
Upright: Burdened, Heavy Responsibility, Obligation, Overwhelmed, Burning Out, Soldiering on, Taking on Too Much, Pressured & Persevering, victim of own success, close to success
Reverse: Too much Responsibility, Too Much Obligation, Burned Out, Collapsed, Gave Up, Breakdown, Letting Go, Giving Up,
Note: a core difference between the Upright Ten of Wands and the Reversed, is that with the Upright ‘the person is burdened but coping – and the end is in sight’. With Reverse, ‘the person has or could collapse because the burden is too much’.
The Ten of Wands within the Tarot Deck.
The Suit of Wands Tarot cards represent growth and ambition. They also resonate with competition, primal energy, inspiration and original thought. All associated with fire they tend to be ‘hot’ personalities. As such they are more wild, charismatic and unpredictable than the other suits. The Suite of Wands cards correspond with the zodiac fire signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
The ‘Ten’ cards in the Tarot all signify ‘coming to the end’ of something, a sense of completion.
The ‘Ten of Wands’ represents being burdened with many (worries, projects, demands, jobs, duties) etc. But the likelihood is that burden is reaching its end. You might collapse and fail, but more likely you will scrape through to reaching your end goal.
The Ten of Wands Tarot Card Image in the Rider Waite Cards:
In the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, we see a picture of a young man, head bowed, ploughing (blindly?) forward. He appears burdened, in that he carries 10 staves (wands).
Despite apparently marching ahead blindly, the man does appear to be going in the correct destination (towards the building in the distance). Also the building is ‘in sight’, i.e. we can assume the journey is close to its end. The man appears tired and ‘flagging’ but not so exhausted he won’t reach the buildings he heads towards.
The ten wands (staves) are all sprouting, which indicates they are all still fresh and vital (the young man is returning with the endeavors of his journey... and those endeavors still have potential).
The image on the Rider Waite Ten of Wands cards is actually a good Aide-Memoir if memorized in the correct way. A person bent almost double due to the ten large wands they struggle to carry. The person is clearly burdened, but soldiering on. That is the essence of the Upright Ten of Wands.
10 of Wands Key Themes:
Upright: Burdened, Heavy Responsibility, Obligation, Overwhelmed, Burning Out, Soldiering on, Taking on Too Much, Pressured & Persevering, victim of own success, close to success
Reverse: Too much Responsibility, Too Much Obligation, Burned Out, Collapsed, Gave Up, Breakdown, Letting Go, Giving Up,
Note: a core difference between the Upright Ten of Wands and the Reversed, is that with the Upright ‘the person is burdened but coping – and the end is in sight’. With Reverse, ‘the person has or could collapse because the burden is too much’.
The Ten of Wands within the Tarot Deck.
The Suit of Wands Tarot cards represent growth and ambition. They also resonate with competition, primal energy, inspiration and original thought. All associated with fire they tend to be ‘hot’ personalities. As such they are more wild, charismatic and unpredictable than the other suits. The Suite of Wands cards correspond with the zodiac fire signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
The ‘Ten’ cards in the Tarot all signify ‘coming to the end’ of something, a sense of completion.
The ‘Ten of Wands’ represents being burdened with many (worries, projects, demands, jobs, duties) etc. But the likelihood is that burden is reaching its end. You might collapse and fail, but more likely you will scrape through to reaching your end goal.
The Ten of Wands Tarot Card Image in the Rider Waite Cards:
In the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, we see a picture of a young man, head bowed, ploughing (blindly?) forward. He appears burdened, in that he carries 10 staves (wands).
Despite apparently marching ahead blindly, the man does appear to be going in the correct destination (towards the building in the distance). Also the building is ‘in sight’, i.e. we can assume the journey is close to its end. The man appears tired and ‘flagging’ but not so exhausted he won’t reach the buildings he heads towards.
The ten wands (staves) are all sprouting, which indicates they are all still fresh and vital (the young man is returning with the endeavors of his journey... and those endeavors still have potential).
By Authorship: Arthur Edward Waite, Pamela Coleman Smith was the artist and worked as an artist 'for hire.' Waite was the copyright holder and he died in 1942. - This image scanned by Holly Voley, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6087603
Ten of Wands Meanings for General Readings (Upright):
The Ten of Wands is a card of impending success, but success that has come after struggle. You’re probably feeling burdened now with all manner of responsibilities and tasks that weight you down. Did you take on these burdens voluntarily, or because of some obligation or directive? Either way, the journey has been tough and you almost certainly took too much on. Do the rewards of this struggle go to you or someone else? Is the success commensurate to the work and toil you’ve spent? The destination image on the Ten of Wand Tarot card doesn’t show a pile of gold, or a massive fortress. The image is of a house (perhaps a small fort). The card could almost be suggesting you have embarked on a long difficult task to bring moderate rewards to someone else. In this context, the ‘success’ is not something that would bring you joy.
You’re at the end of your strength, practically exhausted, relying on sheer head-bent will power to forge those final yards, for what? Will it all be worth it? Perhaps this is a lesson to not take on too many tasks in the future, to not accept too many obligations, to not tackle almost impossible challenges, especially for such potential moderate rewards.
You are coming to the end of a cycle, and you should reflect on whether your achievement is (or was) all worth it. Do you choose the best ways to deal with tasks or responsibilities? After all, a wise Ten of Wands might have used a small wagon to carry his heavy load... rather than carry so many staves. Or, he could have taken several journeys with just 3 or 4 wands, or asked the assistance of someone else in carrying the load?
Ten of Wands Reversed Meanings for General Readings:
Reversed cards indicate a negative or corrupted version of the Upright cards. So a strong possibility with the Reversed Ten of Wands is that you won’t reach your final goal or destination. The burden you have, the tasks or responsibilities are just too strong for you and you are on the verge of collapse now. It’s probably better that you actually stop and let go before you damage your health, because it is unlikely you will succeed.
Your proximity to your destination (or completion) might be far further away than you had imagined. You might feel like a hamster wheel that just keeps turning. Again, think to yourself, ‘can I just get off this wheel? Is there a way’? If not, can you share or delegate the load?
Another possibility for a corrupt or negative Ten of Wands is that with ‘your head down, and forging ahead’ you are actually travelling in the wrong direction... moving further away from completion, achievement or success.
The Ten of Wands is a card of impending success, but success that has come after struggle. You’re probably feeling burdened now with all manner of responsibilities and tasks that weight you down. Did you take on these burdens voluntarily, or because of some obligation or directive? Either way, the journey has been tough and you almost certainly took too much on. Do the rewards of this struggle go to you or someone else? Is the success commensurate to the work and toil you’ve spent? The destination image on the Ten of Wand Tarot card doesn’t show a pile of gold, or a massive fortress. The image is of a house (perhaps a small fort). The card could almost be suggesting you have embarked on a long difficult task to bring moderate rewards to someone else. In this context, the ‘success’ is not something that would bring you joy.
You’re at the end of your strength, practically exhausted, relying on sheer head-bent will power to forge those final yards, for what? Will it all be worth it? Perhaps this is a lesson to not take on too many tasks in the future, to not accept too many obligations, to not tackle almost impossible challenges, especially for such potential moderate rewards.
You are coming to the end of a cycle, and you should reflect on whether your achievement is (or was) all worth it. Do you choose the best ways to deal with tasks or responsibilities? After all, a wise Ten of Wands might have used a small wagon to carry his heavy load... rather than carry so many staves. Or, he could have taken several journeys with just 3 or 4 wands, or asked the assistance of someone else in carrying the load?
Ten of Wands Reversed Meanings for General Readings:
Reversed cards indicate a negative or corrupted version of the Upright cards. So a strong possibility with the Reversed Ten of Wands is that you won’t reach your final goal or destination. The burden you have, the tasks or responsibilities are just too strong for you and you are on the verge of collapse now. It’s probably better that you actually stop and let go before you damage your health, because it is unlikely you will succeed.
Your proximity to your destination (or completion) might be far further away than you had imagined. You might feel like a hamster wheel that just keeps turning. Again, think to yourself, ‘can I just get off this wheel? Is there a way’? If not, can you share or delegate the load?
Another possibility for a corrupt or negative Ten of Wands is that with ‘your head down, and forging ahead’ you are actually travelling in the wrong direction... moving further away from completion, achievement or success.
Ten of Wands as Feelings (Upright):
You (or the target of the reading) will feel weighed down, exhausted, perhaps burdened by dark emotions. Yet beneath the grim reality there is a small fierce fire of hope and sense that the struggle is worthwhile
Ten of Wands Reversed as Feelings:
You (or the target of the reading) will feel at the end of your tether. The burden/struggle feels eternal. You feel about to fail. Motivation has long evaporated.
You (or the target of the reading) will feel weighed down, exhausted, perhaps burdened by dark emotions. Yet beneath the grim reality there is a small fierce fire of hope and sense that the struggle is worthwhile
Ten of Wands Reversed as Feelings:
You (or the target of the reading) will feel at the end of your tether. The burden/struggle feels eternal. You feel about to fail. Motivation has long evaporated.
Ten of Wands Love Meanings & Relationship Outcomes (Upright):
If you are in a relationship, you are overburdened by the relationship, but a positive end is in sight. It could be that you are caring for a sick member of the family and that person will recover. Or the ‘positive end’ here might simply be that your struggle to care for this person will be lifted (you might gain help, they might go to a hospice or gain other professional care).
You feel weighed down by a relationship. You might be taken for granted. Is it you that has to put all the effort into keeping the relationship going? Or is it you that has to keep the family’s financial ‘head out of the water’. Or is it you that has to compete all the housekeeping or look after all the children? Somewhere, in this relationship you have been taking the lion share of the tasks and duties. And yet, look at the young man in the image of the Ten of Wands. He is not shirking from his duty. His marches forward resolutely, accepting his burden. And so it might be for you too, you feel your efforts are worthwhile and you know the struggle will end. The end will be successful, not necessarily massively so, but the result will be positive.
So for example if you have been struggling to make that person love and respect you, they might soon. The relationship might never reach the giddy heights of Romeo and Juliet – but will be productive and positive.
For those who are single, and have been making huge efforts to gain the target of your heart, a positive result might be near. You’ve sent cards, taken up the same hobbies, laughed at all their jokes, paid for the dates, made fine meals, gotten to a good weight, had a top haircut... many efforts. Finally it might pay off. The target of your heart might enter the next stage of relationship with you.
Ten of Wands Reversed Love & Relationship Meanings and Outcomes:
If you’re in a relationship, you feel overburdened and ready to collapse. Whatever problems the relationship presents, the sacrifices and struggles you make have not relented, and no positive solution seems in sight. If you don’t change the situation soon, your health and confidence could collapse. Perhaps it is time to end the relationship... or maybe, just stop trying so hard.
If you’re trying to win someone’s love, then the same applies: all your struggles and efforts appear to be going nowhere. Perhaps it’s time to stop trying. Success is unlikely. Take a rest, perhaps other options will appear (or, if you are very lucky – the target of your affections might actually prefer you when you don’t try so hard).
Bottom line... let go of some or all the struggles for the sake of your mental and physical health.
If you are in a relationship, you are overburdened by the relationship, but a positive end is in sight. It could be that you are caring for a sick member of the family and that person will recover. Or the ‘positive end’ here might simply be that your struggle to care for this person will be lifted (you might gain help, they might go to a hospice or gain other professional care).
You feel weighed down by a relationship. You might be taken for granted. Is it you that has to put all the effort into keeping the relationship going? Or is it you that has to keep the family’s financial ‘head out of the water’. Or is it you that has to compete all the housekeeping or look after all the children? Somewhere, in this relationship you have been taking the lion share of the tasks and duties. And yet, look at the young man in the image of the Ten of Wands. He is not shirking from his duty. His marches forward resolutely, accepting his burden. And so it might be for you too, you feel your efforts are worthwhile and you know the struggle will end. The end will be successful, not necessarily massively so, but the result will be positive.
So for example if you have been struggling to make that person love and respect you, they might soon. The relationship might never reach the giddy heights of Romeo and Juliet – but will be productive and positive.
For those who are single, and have been making huge efforts to gain the target of your heart, a positive result might be near. You’ve sent cards, taken up the same hobbies, laughed at all their jokes, paid for the dates, made fine meals, gotten to a good weight, had a top haircut... many efforts. Finally it might pay off. The target of your heart might enter the next stage of relationship with you.
Ten of Wands Reversed Love & Relationship Meanings and Outcomes:
If you’re in a relationship, you feel overburdened and ready to collapse. Whatever problems the relationship presents, the sacrifices and struggles you make have not relented, and no positive solution seems in sight. If you don’t change the situation soon, your health and confidence could collapse. Perhaps it is time to end the relationship... or maybe, just stop trying so hard.
If you’re trying to win someone’s love, then the same applies: all your struggles and efforts appear to be going nowhere. Perhaps it’s time to stop trying. Success is unlikely. Take a rest, perhaps other options will appear (or, if you are very lucky – the target of your affections might actually prefer you when you don’t try so hard).
Bottom line... let go of some or all the struggles for the sake of your mental and physical health.
Ten of Wands Career and Work Meanings and Outcomes (Upright):
The Ten of Wands is particularly apt for Career and Work related questions. You are overburdened. Possibly you have too many tasks or just a few really difficult ones. Either way you are gritting your teeth and carrying on, confident that you are nearing the end of the struggle. Some levels of success are almost certain, but why burden yourself with so much? Is it possible for you to delegate some of the work, or share it with teammates?
Or is it that you feel compelled to carry this load of work yourself? Perhaps you have been assigned the tasks and need to succeed for the sake of your job? Perhaps you run your own business and have no-one else to turn to? Perhaps it is a matter of pride or greed that you continue with such responsibilities and/or demands?
The Upright Ten of Wands suggests you will succeed, this time. But when this is all over, and you can relax, perhaps you can reconsider your working life? Maybe your boss is a tyrant and it would benefit you to apply for a new position. Possibly you need to learn how to ask for help and be more relaxed with allowing others to take some of the load off your shoulders?
Ten of Wands Reversed Career and Work Meanings and Outcomes:
The Ten of Wands in a reversed position could be considered negative. It probably means that you have taken on too much (for whatever reason). It is likely that you won’t succeed with all your goals and responsibilities.
Is there a silver lining here? Yes. Look at the image of the young man carrying the ten staves, in the card’s image. His head is bowed down, he is striding forward blindly, determined to finish his journey. But wait a minute. Are there alternatives for him? If his load is so heavy, why not hide some of the staves near the roadside, and return later for them? Why does he feel compelled to carry that which is almost breaking him, all at once?
The silver lining of the reversed Ten of Wands is that it is telling you that sometimes, just letting go can be the wise decision. Just dropping some or all of the responsibilities/tasks you have. Will the world end if you do? Your health might break if you don’t. Grave errors might be committed in the work you submit if you continue. Stop straining, just for a moment, stand up tall and look around. Which of these tasks can be dropped? What tasks/activities can be handled after others are completed? Can those things that burden you be tackled in a different fashion?
This card is actively telling you to ease some of you burden, because you can’t go on with what you have.
The Ten of Wands is particularly apt for Career and Work related questions. You are overburdened. Possibly you have too many tasks or just a few really difficult ones. Either way you are gritting your teeth and carrying on, confident that you are nearing the end of the struggle. Some levels of success are almost certain, but why burden yourself with so much? Is it possible for you to delegate some of the work, or share it with teammates?
Or is it that you feel compelled to carry this load of work yourself? Perhaps you have been assigned the tasks and need to succeed for the sake of your job? Perhaps you run your own business and have no-one else to turn to? Perhaps it is a matter of pride or greed that you continue with such responsibilities and/or demands?
The Upright Ten of Wands suggests you will succeed, this time. But when this is all over, and you can relax, perhaps you can reconsider your working life? Maybe your boss is a tyrant and it would benefit you to apply for a new position. Possibly you need to learn how to ask for help and be more relaxed with allowing others to take some of the load off your shoulders?
Ten of Wands Reversed Career and Work Meanings and Outcomes:
The Ten of Wands in a reversed position could be considered negative. It probably means that you have taken on too much (for whatever reason). It is likely that you won’t succeed with all your goals and responsibilities.
Is there a silver lining here? Yes. Look at the image of the young man carrying the ten staves, in the card’s image. His head is bowed down, he is striding forward blindly, determined to finish his journey. But wait a minute. Are there alternatives for him? If his load is so heavy, why not hide some of the staves near the roadside, and return later for them? Why does he feel compelled to carry that which is almost breaking him, all at once?
The silver lining of the reversed Ten of Wands is that it is telling you that sometimes, just letting go can be the wise decision. Just dropping some or all of the responsibilities/tasks you have. Will the world end if you do? Your health might break if you don’t. Grave errors might be committed in the work you submit if you continue. Stop straining, just for a moment, stand up tall and look around. Which of these tasks can be dropped? What tasks/activities can be handled after others are completed? Can those things that burden you be tackled in a different fashion?
This card is actively telling you to ease some of you burden, because you can’t go on with what you have.
Ten of Wands Yes or No Meanings (Upright):
The Ten of Wands, drawn upright, means a qualified YES. Yes for General readings. Yes for Love. Yes for Career. Yes for Relationships. Yes for ‘taking something on’. The future prospects are tough but success is likely.
Ten of Wands Reversed Yes/No Meanings:
The Ten of Wands card drawn in reverse means ‘No’. It means ‘No’ for General readings, ‘no’ for Love, ‘no’ for Career and ‘no’ for Relationships. You shouldn’t take on that project. It will be too much for you. You should abandon/adapt your goals because they are not working.
The Ten of Wands, drawn upright, means a qualified YES. Yes for General readings. Yes for Love. Yes for Career. Yes for Relationships. Yes for ‘taking something on’. The future prospects are tough but success is likely.
Ten of Wands Reversed Yes/No Meanings:
The Ten of Wands card drawn in reverse means ‘No’. It means ‘No’ for General readings, ‘no’ for Love, ‘no’ for Career and ‘no’ for Relationships. You shouldn’t take on that project. It will be too much for you. You should abandon/adapt your goals because they are not working.
Do you need a Professional Tarot Card Reading?
You must consider very carefully the question you had in mind when using the tarot, to understand the exact relevance of a Ten of Wands to your situation. For a Video Tarot Card Reading we would recommend you consulting one of the reputable tarot/psychic reading companies recommended on our website – to gain an understanding of your situation from an expert experienced Tarot Card Reader. For a truly unique Celtic Cross Email Tarot Reading... we would of course recommend our own service, which include 'actionable suggestions' to help you try to steer fate.
You must consider very carefully the question you had in mind when using the tarot, to understand the exact relevance of a Ten of Wands to your situation. For a Video Tarot Card Reading we would recommend you consulting one of the reputable tarot/psychic reading companies recommended on our website – to gain an understanding of your situation from an expert experienced Tarot Card Reader. For a truly unique Celtic Cross Email Tarot Reading... we would of course recommend our own service, which include 'actionable suggestions' to help you try to steer fate.
Are Ten of Wands Predictions Predestined?
No. They represent a possible strand of fate.
No. They represent a possible strand of fate.
Ten of Wands Advice to help you Avoid a Poor Outcome in the Future.
In my Celtic Cross Email Tarot Reading Service I give good actionable advice to people, rather than just tell them that this or that is liable to be their fate (or their challenge in life). Below are some brief ideas to help you deal with drawing an Upright Ten of Wands in a Tarot Reading:
In my Celtic Cross Email Tarot Reading Service I give good actionable advice to people, rather than just tell them that this or that is liable to be their fate (or their challenge in life). Below are some brief ideas to help you deal with drawing an Upright Ten of Wands in a Tarot Reading:
- Bach Remedy Oak: Both Elm and Oak are useful remedies for strong people who are normally effective in the world, but are now struggling. Both remedies can help someone who is overburdened with responsibilities and/tasks. The difference between Oak and Elm though, is that the Oak Bach remedy is particularly helpful to someone who keeps struggling on, whereas the Elm is more useful to someone who has faltered and stopped. Therefore, Oak could help provide holistic support to an Upright Tend of Wands and Elm holistic support to a Reversed Ten of Wands.
- Writing Things Down: Feeling of burdened might be tricking you into you thinking your situation is worse than it really is. Also, that feeling might prevent you from dealing with your responsibilities and tasks. I.e. the overwhelming feeling of being burdened, in itself could be a major part of the problem. To help diffuse your feelings, and to help you understand your situation more objectively, take a sheet of paper and write down everything that is bothering you. Don’t stop to consider grammar or spelling, just write down the stream of thoughts and worries in your mind, and then afterwards attempt to find meaning in what you have written. Scientific studies have found that expressive writing can help relieve anxieties, improve objective thinking and boost immune function.
