The Ten of Wands shows a man struggling to carry ten wands he has gathered in his arms. It seems he is travelling in the direction of a city in the distance but he is having difficulty with the load and is taking some time in getting to the gates. Tens in the Minor Arcana show the very end of the journey. There is finality in the meaning of all ten cards, and this is also true for the Ten of Wands, which displays a scene that reveals what happens with the querent and his career or social goals after the last struggle in the Nine of Wands. This can be a card of complete achievement where the goals have all been fulfilled and there is no longer anything left to fret about or toil for, but there will be a heavy burden to carry right up until the minute that this point is reached. All tens represent completion and the end results of all of the drama, work, soul searching, and conflict the querent has had to endure in order to earn his rightful place at the top of his profession.
When more than one ten appears in the same spread, there is more to reveal to the querent. Pairs of tens show that there are long-lasting, almost permanent losses or gains in the querent’s vicinity while three of them points to ending in terms of a final letting go of past loves, past friends, and property that the querent no longer needs to hold onto. This can imply a move into a new forever home or distancing oneself from the people he no longer wants to give his energy to. This seems to be some social housekeeping of sorts, but it does need to be accomplished in a fit and delicate manner. Having four tens in a spread indicates, unfortunately, a massive collapse of the present circumstances. It is like the floor has fallen out from under the querent in this situation, and he is called upon to have a major rebirth and new outlook on life.
The Ten of Wands in an Upright Position
An upright position with the Ten of Wands shows the querent being weighed down by his work. There is too much to do and no time to do it all in. Some would consider this prospect alone to be form of success, but it can be a large burden to carry when so close to the end of the journey. There could be a possibility of having an overconfident attitude that results in taking on too much. There is a warning to avoid exerting oneself too much. Because the querent is so close to reaching his goals, he should not give up, but it is advised that he take it easy in order to ensure he will be able to get there in one piece. The querent is also warned against being too greedy and trying to save up and make as much as he can before bowing out or retiring. There will be more than enough as it is.
The meaning of all Minor Arcana cards can be modified by the cards that surround it. Court cards from the Minor Arcana (Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings) all represent people. They have corresponding physical characteristics as well as their own astrological correspondences. The Ten of Wands represents that tiny push needed to reach the end of the journey. It may be a small distance, but it is a large effort that gets the querent where he needs to be to reach his goal or gain his or gain his prize. Court cards will identify those who are there cheering him on, helping to lighten his burden, and waiting at the finish line. Major Arcana cards can help develop the interpretation further. A Star card will reinforce the idea that the outcome is a positive one while a Strength card will grant the querent a final burst of energy to get the querent there when he feels that he may fall just short of the goal.
The Ten of Wands in a Reversed Position
The reversed position of each card of the Minor Arcana is really as it states: an inversion of the card’s meaning. The Ten of Wands in reverse shows false promises. The querent is not holding up his end of things with the business, and it’s as if he’s already retired before he’s even signed his last document. He may be unable to escape his schedule, but he can always find someone else to do his work for him, and this is the case seen here. There may be a chance that he is neglecting his responsibilities on purpose or doing so inadvertently. He may also need to neglect specific tasks due to the workload he’s already carrying, but the feeling here is that the querent is simply finished with it and just wants to go home.
The reversal of the Ten of Wands is showing how important it is to keep to task in the final stretch of one’s journey. One may be a few weeks away from hanging up their hat on this project, but until the bell rings, class is still in sessions, and the querent should have better self-discipline than that at this stage of the game. The querent must also beware of appearing irresponsible in the eyes of peers, partners, and potential clients during this time because he may get so comfortable with the idea of succeeding that he brings failure upon himself through laziness or careless errors. It is very important to take heed of the reversal seen here as it may colour the querent’s final victory if he doesn’t care enough to finish strong.
Key Term
- Final efforts
- Tying up loose ends
- Carrying on until finished
- Powering through
- Endurance
- Victory
- Reaching one’s goals
- Social and Professional attainment
- Laziness
- Careless mistakes
- Neglecting responsibility