Ten of Wands Tarot Card Meanings

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Ten of Wands’ Upright & Reversed Meanings

Ten of Wands (Reversed, Lacking)

Ideas: Assignment, limit, prioritization

Traits: Fair, humble, moderate, modest, practical, rational, realistic, trusting

Emotions: Contentment, gladness, hope, relief, satisfaction

  • Actions:
    • Assigning tasks to others
    • Knowing about your own limits
    • Letting others carry your load partially
    • Prioritizing your commitments
    • Recognizing when you are not well-suited for a particular task
    • Unburdening yourself
Ten of Wands (Upright, Balanced)

Ideas: Burden, maximum challenge, resistance

Traits: Busy, determined, dutiful, forceful, responsible, slow, strong, tough

Emotions: Annoyance, caring, eagerness, enthusiasm, frustration, irritation, optimism, uneasiness

  • Actions:
    • Attempting to outdo yourself
    • Carrying on despite difficulties or setbacks
    • Challenging yourself as much as possible
    • Coming to the aid of the oppressed
    • Helping others carry their burdens
    • Holding your own in extreme circumstances
    • Pushing the envelope
Ten of Wands (Upright, Excessive)

Ideas: Exhaustion, overextension, overload, overtime

Traits: Demanding, difficult, impractical, irrational, oppressed, perfectionist, unrealistic, vulnerable

Emotions: Agony, anguish, hurt, neglect, pity, pride, suffering, sympathy

  • Actions:
    • Insisting you’re the only one who can do the job well
    • Making a habit of working overtime
    • Overextending yourself on a regular basis
    • Reaching your limit
    • Refusing to accept help when you’re already overloaded
    • Shielding others from facing the consequences of their own poor judgment
    • Taking on more work than you know you can handle

Ten of Wands’ Advice

Personal Growth

Knowing your own limits is a sign of maturity. Don’t take on more than you can reliably handle. It’s better to be respected for saying “No” than hated for saying “Yes” and failing to deliver. When unreasonable demands are made, point them out and sidestep them.

Relationship

Some relationships become a burden. When this happens, have the presence of mind to put them aside. Relationships involve more than one person. When you’ve done all you can do to make a relationship a success, there’s no shame in withdrawing from a bad situation.

Career

Overextending yourself on a regular basis is not a sign of strength: it’s evidence of poor judgment. You cannot perform at your best when exhausted. There are too many irons in the fire. Review your values and make tough choices, letting go of work that isn’t critical.

Spirituality

When we are exhausted, we tend to feel disconnected from Spirit. Restore yourself (and your spirit) by scheduling regular quiet time. Guard this appointment with contemplative silence as jealously as you would an appointment with a life-saving doctor. Disconnect—and reconnect.

Ten of Wands’ Symbols & Insights

The Stooped Figure

Most Rider–Waite–Smith-inspired decks depict a stooped, overburdened figure on this card. He has gone as far as sheer Will can take him; he is on the verge of collapse. There comes a point when too much is too much, and it’s time to re-evaluate your approach to the problem.

The Distant Village

Some Rider–Waite–Smith-inspired decks depict a distant village in the background of the card. The village is the light at the end of the tunnel: a reminded that the destination is close at hand. Your own “way out” may be as simple as declining an opportunity you lack the time or energy to complete.

Exhaustion

Fullness has been exceeded, and the energy of the Wands suit becomes spoiled and over-extended. As a result, we’ve become slaves to our own intentions; a little searching, though, will help us find the key to escaping our self-made prisons.

The Marseilles Image

Though woven tightly together, the ten Wands seen here are as compressed as they can be. Adding another would likely cause an explosion! Intent and action have reached their limit; it’s time to try another way of solving the problem at hand.

More About Ten of Wands Tarot Card

Prediction
You’re worn out! Back off, take a time out, and let someone else handle things for a while.
Timing
Between December 13 and December 21
Affirmation
“I respect my own limits.”
Numerology Number
10
(the end: finality, completion, exhaustion)
Astrology Element
Fire
Astrology Planet in Sign
Saturn in Sagittarius
Storyline
The main character attempts a task he is not well-suited for, with disastrous results.
Questions to Ask
How will you know when you reach the end of your rope?
How easily do you say no to new projects and requests?
What projects could you delegate … or eliminate?
Related Pages
Tarot Card Meanings Guide
Exploring Today’s Tarot
Consulting the Tarot
Traditional Tarot Card Meanings
Thirteen Fun Things to Do with Tarot Cards
Where to Go to Learn More
More Tarot Card Meaningss