Ten of Wands Tarot Card Meaning
Nine of Wands |
Ten of Wands |
Page of Wands |
General Meaning
The Ten of Wands card symbolizes the burden of responsibilities, commitments, work, money, or success that you tirelessly carry with you, straining your strength and leading yourself to moral and physical exhaustion.
Card Motto
Release yourself from the burden of worries and anxieties that weigh you down, and you will be able to reach your goals much faster.
by Marta Winter
Core Card Meanings Ten of Wands
Description and Symbols of the Card Ten of Wands
The Ten of Wands card depicts a person carrying a heavy bundle of wands. Bent under the weight of this overwhelming load, the figure's journey appears challenging. However, the man on this Tarot card is determined to reach his goal, no matter what!
Yet, he stubbornly refuses to pause for rest, to carry his burden in parts, or to seek assistance. Looking at the Ten of Wands raises several questions: Is it worth straining yourself so much, and are you using your strength wisely? Perhaps there’s an easier way to achieve your goal?
Meaning in Upright Position
The upright Ten of Wands Tarot card symbolizes a heavy burden resting on your shoulders. You may have taken on this overwhelming load yourself, or circumstances might have forced it upon you. Either way, this card indicates that the burden is quite heavy, and each step forward feels like a significant struggle, draining your energy and strength. It's uncertain whether you can reach your goal in this state, or if you might need to change your path or let go of part of your load...
You are at the limit of your strength and capabilities, but courage, perseverance, ambition, and unwavering self-confidence keep you from stopping halfway. The Tarot card suggests that you are capable of achieving your goal, though success will come at a fairly high cost.
Key Meanings of the Upright Ten of Wands
- A heavy load taken on to achieve a goal.
- The burden of obligations, money, power.
- A sense of oppression, apathy, internal exhaustion, disappointment, depression.
Reversed Position
The reversed Tarot card, Ten of Wands, represents overwhelming responsibilities and exhausting work that bring neither satisfaction nor financial stability. It seems you're staying afloat solely due to your stubbornness, as you have little health, energy, and perseverance left.
Like a squeezed lemon or a driven horse—this is how the reversed Ten of Wands Tarot card describes your current state. The most frustrating part is that you've put yourself in this position, refusing to seek easier paths or at least allies to help share the heavy burden.
The reversed Ten of Wands suggests that you might be an ineffective leader with poor management skills, distrusting the experience and competence of your team, thus shouldering most of their responsibilities yourself. Alternatively, it may indicate that you're too selfish to share your success with others and prefer to handle everything alone rather than asking for help.
In any case, this reversed arcana signals that you have a goal or cherished dream that you're pursuing with blind determination, not stopping for any obstacles!
The main warning of the reversed Ten of Wands is that you risk losing everything achieved through arduous effort, facing immense disappointment, and possibly ruining your health if you don't learn to distribute your energy wisely, collaborate with others, and maintain a balance between work and rest.
Key Meanings of the Reversed Ten of Wands Card
- Obstacles on the path to your goal, overwhelming tasks, fear of commitments, a person on the verge of stress.
- Authoritarianism, ambition, pressure, rigidity.
- Deceit, behind-the-scenes intrigues, treacherous enemies, striving to achieve one's ends at any cost.
Meaning in Love Readings
In love readings, the upright Ten of Wands card indicates a fear of loneliness, longing, and feeling overwhelmed. Complexes, shyness, and self-doubt hinder forming new connections, and you may miss your chance to find happiness in love.
The card can also point to strong pressure from a partner, their desire to lead and impose their opinions, making the relationship very heavy and challenging for both parties. Such relationships bring neither joy nor satisfaction and may end in a breakup.
In the reversed position, the card warns of partners parting ways due to jealousy and a lack of future prospects in the relationship.
When Reading for a Suitor or Loved One
In readings concerning a suitor or partner, the upright card suggests that your chosen one is very responsible in love! They are ready to take on all the major challenges and are willing to hold their loved one's future in their caring, reliable hands.
The reversed card reveals that your chosen one is someone who is willing to do a lot out of a sense of duty but might feel burdened by the responsibilities they have taken on.
Reading for Money, Career
In business readings, the upright Ten of Wands card serves as a reminder that success and financial stability may come at a steep cost.
Your grand ambitions might have helped you climb the career ladder and achieve higher income, but they've also brought extra responsibilities that feel like a heavy burden. You'll need to muster all your inner strength and determination to navigate this challenging situation without losing money, respect, or reputation.
When reversed, the card warns of deteriorating health and an inability to cope with problems and obligations.
Reading for a Person
When drawn upright in a Tarot reading, the Ten of Wands represents a person who is determined and ambitious. This individual has taken on a significant load of tasks and responsibilities and, no matter how challenging it may be, feels obligated to carry it forward.
In a reversed position, this card signifies someone overwhelmed by an excessive burden of duties and commitments. This heavy load hinders their progress toward truly important goals, and they struggle to find a way to lighten their load.
Reading for Advice
In its upright position, the Ten of Wands card encourages you not to shy away from new responsibilities and commitments. The key is to ensure they don't become too burdensome for you.
When the card appears reversed in a reading, it advises you to release some heavy duties or obligations. At the very least, consider how you can distribute them more evenly between yourself and those around you.
Reading for Outcome
If the card appears upright, the outlook for your situation is complex. You have the potential to achieve your goals, but it will require taking on certain responsibilities and commitments.
When the card is reversed, the forecast for your situation remains complex. Overbearing duties or commitments you've taken on might stand in your way.
Meanings In Combination with All Tarot Cards
Major Arcana Combinations
With card 0, the Fool - Letting things go with the flow, accumulating debts, getting into trouble.
With card 1, the Magician - Lack of effort or abilities, need for support.
With card 2, the High Priestess - Losing an argument, feeling guilty, overestimating one's abilities and reconsidering.
In combination with card 3, the Empress - One breadwinner in the family, overwhelmed with responsibility, getting lost in domestic affairs.
With card 4, the Emperor - Lack of responsible employees, unwillingness to share power, an unviable production.
With card 5, the Hierophant - White-collar crime, inability to trust, compromising information.
With card 6, the Lovers - Overestimating oneself, experiencing an energy decline, getting tangled up in affairs.
With card 7, the Chariot - Lack of necessary skills, carrying the family's burden, overworking.
With card 8, Strength - Multitasking, mistrust of others, working to exhaustion.
With card 9, the Hermit - Serious long-term commitments, taking someone under one's care or engaging in lengthy litigation.
With card 10, Wheel of Fortune - A heavy burden that can be borne, assistance from others, quick resolution of difficulties.
With card 11, Justice - Getting entangled in current events, lack of support from the government, doubting one's own abilities.
With card 12, the Hanged Man - Getting stuck in routine, losing interest, becoming disillusioned with surroundings or colleagues.
With card 13, Death - Abandoning responsibilities, breaking under the weight of fate, letting things run their course.
With card 14, Temperance - Losing patience or control, too much responsibility, events unfolding on their own.
With card 15, the Devil - Greed, abusing one's position, profiting without regard for conscience.
With card 16, the Tower - The last straw, giving up everything and leaving, damaging one's health.
With card 17, the Star - Sharing responsibility with someone, sorting oneself out, setting priorities.
With card 18, the Moon - Feeling resentful toward everyone, selfishness, backing oneself into a corner, lacking support.
With card 19, the Sun - Overbearing attention, rapid advancement, becoming tired of fame and honor.
With card 20, Judgment - Paying back debts to society, following orders, becoming more responsible.
With card 21, the World - Lack of skill, needing more trust in colleagues or family members, attempting to solve a difficult problem independently.
Wands Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Wands — Losing interest, overestimating one's abilities, holding on until the last moment, or not trusting important tasks to others.
With the Two of Wands — Feeling like "the lone wolf," lacking strength or self-confidence, facing unforeseen difficulties, or abandoning an idea.
With the Three of Wands — Trying to handle everything alone, taking on too many commitments, needing to share responsibilities.
With the Four of Wands — Carrying too much responsibility, fixing other people's mistakes, being burdened with too many household chores.
With the Five of Wands — Losing a position, losing to a competitor or rival, being left out or kept at a distance.
With the Six of Wands — Bearing too much responsibility, multitasking, burning out at work.
With the Seven of Wands — Giving up before reaching the end, bending under external pressure, losing one's arguments.
With the Eight of Wands — Receiving bad news, self-destruction, being unable to cope with duties, declining health.
With the Nine of Wands — Surveillance, mistrust in relationships, grievances and accusations, suspiciousness.
With the Page of Wands — Hard times, exams at the institute, numerous worries.
With the Knight of Wands — A position that is too much to handle, a slowdown in career growth, feeling burdened with excessive responsibility.
With the Queen of Wands — Uncertainty, making substantial claims, selfishness.
With the King of Wands — Routine, taking on too many tasks at once, poor planning.
Swords Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Swords — Highest standards, burdensome thoughts, striving relentlessly for success.
With the Two of Swords — Feeling suppressed, lack of energy, a negative mindset.
With the Three of Swords — Holding on with the last of your strength, suppressing pain, hiding emotions, or dealing with a heavy burden of knowledge.
With the Four of Swords — Feeling enslaved, being confined or trapped in the mind, the possibility of mental distress.
With the Five of Swords — Unrecognized efforts, playing a secondary role, not receiving the deserved recognition.
With the Six of Swords — Leaving a familiar place, going against the current, facing setbacks in endeavors.
With the Seven of Swords — A guilty conscience, the weight of guilt, taking advantage of the misfortunes of others.
With the Eight of Swords — Fear of responsibility, being inactive in a critical situation, having nothing to be proud of or making a mistake.
With the Nine of Swords — Taking responsibility for past actions, realizing one's wrongdoings, deterioration in well-being.
With the Ten of Swords — Facing defeat, the collapse of a company, news of bankruptcy, accumulating debts.
With the Page of Swords — Sharp criticism, an enemy or envious person, an unpleasant rival.
With the Knight of Swords — Making a bad move, acting impulsively or recklessly, fiery enthusiasm leading to disappointment.
With the Queen of Swords — Being sharp in communication, experiencing loneliness, loss or the end of a relationship.
With the King of Swords — Dominance and a thirst for control, a man from the military or law enforcement, a strict and stern approach to matters.
Ten of Wands and Swords Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Cups — Excessive emotionalism, being overwhelmed with feelings, a turbulent time.
With the Two of Cups — Involvement in several love affairs, choosing between partners, getting entangled in emotions.
With the Three of Cups — Organizing a meeting or party, overindulgence in something, bad habits, or a love for frequent social gatherings.
With the Four of Cups — Pitying oneself, getting offended without reason, dissatisfaction, or attempting to raise one's status.
With the Five of Cups — Pessimism, despondency, getting stuck in existing troubles and withdrawing into oneself.
With the Six of Cups — Burden of memories, dwelling in the past, futile attempts to change what has already happened.
With the Seven of Cups — Unrealistic dreams, living in an illusory world, a heavy dependency.
With the Eight of Cups — Not finding a way out of a situation, feeling exhausted, overwhelmed with work.
With the Nine of Cups — Inflated ego, indulging one's own desires, recklessness.
With the Ten of Cups — Taking on all family responsibilities, excessively smothering a romantic partner, using others without consideration.
With the Page of Cups — Immature thinking, inappropriate emotionalism, getting confused in one's desires or intentions.
With the Knight of Cups — Ill-conceived plan, lack of trust from others or family members, being irresponsible or getting carried away.
With the Queen of Cups — Overflowing emotions, nervousness, impulsive actions.
With the King of Cups — Strong parental control, seeking approval, self-criticism.
Pentacles Suit Combinations
With the Ace of Pentacles — Additional expenses or financial commitments related to a loan, deterioration of health, nervousness.
With the Two of Pentacles — Overwhelming debts, constant failures, low self-esteem.
With the Three of Pentacles — Heavy workload at work, extra responsibilities, working overtime.
With the Four of Pentacles — Not receiving what was promised, delayed payment of wages, stubbornness.
With the Five of Pentacles — Problems with property, overwhelming mortgage, loss of possessions.
With the Six of Pentacles — A humiliating situation, feeling unwell, disability or loss of strength.
With the Seven of Pentacles — Prolonged waiting, delays, tight financial circumstances.
With the Eight of Pentacles — Discontent with work or responsibilities, hard labor, physical exhaustion.
With the Nine of Pentacles — Stuck at a certain level, the need to think on a larger scale, losing one's grip.
With the Ten of Pentacles — Family obligations, pressure from relatives, being dependent on family.
With the Page of Pentacles — Depleting resources, taking exams or defending a diploma, experiencing nervous and physical tension.
With the Knight of Pentacles — Business stagnation, need for assistance or fresh ideas, the need for support or a good partner.
With the Queen of Pentacles — Rigid conservatism, demanding and controlling nature, a heavy workload with little reward.
With the King of Pentacles — Pragmatism and lack of foresight, dryness or emotional detachment, poor leadership.
Example Interpretation In a Daily Spread
A Card Has Fallen for You Ten of Wands? This Signifies:
Today, if necessary, you'll be able to accomplish the tasks you set for yourself, but only at the cost of great effort. Therefore, the card of the day advises you to make a choice early in the morning by asking yourself, 'Are those tasks that are planned for today truly important? Is it really necessary to do everything today?' If the answer is no, put aside all important matters with a light heart and attend to them later. However, if, for various reasons, you must achieve results on this day, prepare yourself for a challenging victory. Yes, in the end, you'll accomplish everything you intended to do and even surpass your plans. But instead of joy, you'll feel nothing but fatigue.