The Meaning Of The Ten Of Wands Tarot Card

New to Tarot? Just pulled the Ten of Wands? If the overworked Ten of Wands was pulled out of your deck and you want to know what it means, keep reading!

The Ten of Wands might be telling you that you’re overwhelmed with burdens and unaware of your limits! This card appears when you’re burning the candle at both ends and not listening to the needs of your mind and body. What’s weighing you down right now?

The Ten of Wands is about blood, sweat, and tears, but without burdening yourself to the point that you’re unable to enjoy your reward at the end. This card knows that if you push yourself too hard, you might end up with a bittersweet victory.

Want to know what else this card wants to share with you? Read on!

Key Facts

Upright Meaning of The Ten of Wands

The Ten of Wands is a card that knows how to work hard for their requirement, depicting a figure carrying ten large wooden wands, exhausted after doing this back-breaking work. They struggle to keep going, yet they persist. But for how long?

You may be realizing that the way that you’ve been working yourself too hard, and despite your productivity and your work ethic likely being praised by others, you might need to pull back on how much work you’re doing. 

Exhaustion is one of the most common themes surrounding this card, as who wouldn’t be exhausted after carrying all those burdens? It can indicate that you’re literally doing intense physical work and you’re tired, or you might be emotionally exhausted. 

The Ten of Wands is a hard worker, but sometimes, they don’t know their limits. They will promise everything to everyone around them, but unfortunately, they can run out of steam before they finish fulfilling their promises to others. 

Burnout is very possible when you see this card, or you may be right on the brink of it! Ask yourself if your work/life balance is actually balanced or if it’s swinging too far onto the work side!

You might feel like you’re sacrificing your time and energy for the greater good, but your perspective on the risk versus the reward could be skewed because of a desire to be productive, to be praised, or to create security for yourself.

Love and Relationships – Upright, The Ten of Wands

In love, the Ten of Wands lets you know that you or a partner might be feeling overwhelmed with the relationship, and without something being done, this can develop into a much more difficult situation. Make sure that you’re communicating effectively, or you risk fizzling out.

This card wants you to realize that two people both have to make it work in a relationship, and one person carrying all of the burdens or putting too many burdens on each other can cause a rift between you. Work together as much as you can to make it easier. 

Don’t feel like you have to treat your relationship like a burden. Solve the issues that are between you, or set it down and let it go. After all, someone out there may be looking for someone exactly like you.

Career and Work – Upright, The Ten of Wands

In career readings, the Ten of Wands is a card that indicates that you’re putting in too much effort for too little reward in your career. You might be taking on more responsibility than you should be while other people lounge around or are just not there.

The Ten of Wands knows that it’s hard to communicate openly sometimes in your work environment, but that the more that you are able to establish healthy boundaries and express your wants and needs, the less your job might feel like such a burden to you.

Once you’ve laid everything out on the table, in addition to hearing out the wants and needs of others at the company, you might then see improvements or take it as a sign that you need to move on from this place. The work/life balance just isn’t cutting it!

Health and Wellness – Upright, The Ten of Wands

The meaning is often clear when you see the Ten of Wands in a health reading, as it indicates that you’re not getting enough rest and it’s time for you to start prioritizing your health over your income or being an employee of the month. 

Of course, not everyone has the luxury of resting more when they have a very demanding job, but this card encourages you to get more rest where you can. It might be worth it to have some assistance sharing the burdens and responsibilities or a professional to help guide you.

This card lets you know that you have to recharge and do what’s best for you because when you’re letting your projects and goals get in the way of your wellness, then it’s time to make a change and get into alignment with the right health path for you. 

Spiritual Context – Upright, The Ten of Wands

In a spiritual reading, the Ten of Wands lets you know that you may be carrying too many burdens internally. You might be holding secrets, grudges against others, broken dreams, failed relationships, or any number of emotional burdens that could drag you down. 

The Ten of Wands wants you to know that you can set these down; these don’t have to remain within you and cause inner torment for you. Some things may be harder to let go of than others, but after spending time working through it, you can find healing.

Additionally, a spiritual organization could encourage you to burden yourself or take on more than your fair share, and this may be due to someone else manipulating you into doing the heavy lifting. Know who’s guiding you!

The Ten of Wands is burdened, tired, and ready to set down his many responsibilities. They’re too much!

Reversed Meaning of The Ten of Wands

The Ten of Wands reversed lets you know that you are reaching a breaking point, and it might cause a lot of upheaval if you don’t course–correct, and quickly!

You’re being encouraged to let go of some of your responsibilities or risk letting go of them all when you’re forced to rest after being so overwhelmed. It’s okay to have goals and desires for your future, but you have to make rest a priority or risk everything toppling.

The Ten of Wands reversed wants you to be resilient; there’s no reason to give up completely, but make it so that you’re getting an adequate amount of time to spend with the people you love, doing what you love, and then getting a good night’s sleep!

If you’ve already recognized the need for change and are putting it into action, but it’s only happened recently, this card is likely reflecting this for you. You’re meant to continue on this path and free yourself from your past burdens. 

When you see this card, it’s important to know the difference between important essential tasks and unnecessary burdens because if you set down the wrong responsibilities, then you might feel stressed when you’re not seeing progress. Be discerning.

Love and Relationships – Reversed, The Ten of Wands

In a love reading, the Ten of Wands reversed is a powerful sign that you are able to let go of burdens and grudges in love, and this can be bittersweet. You may have felt weighed down by these issues, and letting go of them can be emotional as well as a relief.

Sometimes, this implies letting go of the relationship as well, but it can also herald healing if you’re both letting the issues go. Be honest with yourself about how you feel and what you feel the issues are. If they’re not being solved, it’s important to be realistic.

Career and Work – Reversed, The Ten of Wands

When it comes to your career, the reversed Ten of Wands is warning you that you need to take a break from your responsibilities because they are taking you to a breaking point. You need to prioritize rest and avoid overcommitting yourself in the near future!

The reversed Ten of Wands doesn’t want you to burn out, and if you continue on the way that you’re going, that’s what’s going to happen! You need to be aware of your limits because if you’re pushing past them all the time, you’re going to find yourself facing consequences.

It could also mean that there is someone in your workplace who is overworking themselves or encouraging you to overwork yourself and while sometimes this can be motivating in short bursts, it can become unhealthy in too large a dose.

Health and Wellness – Reversed, The Ten of Wands

The Ten of Wands reversed in a health reading can mean that you’re not resting enough, and it’s beginning to take a toll on you. If you’re aware of changes that need to be made and you’ve already made them, then this card is letting you know that you need to keep on!

However, if you’re just running yourself into the ground with no signs of stopping and no indication of reaching out for help, it indicates that you may be struggling to continue on the path you want to be on. Rest now so you can keep pursuing your goals later.

It’s time to stop burning the candle at both ends and stop carrying everyone else’s burdens for them because you need to respect your energetic needs despite your goals. You can’t reach your goals if you’re burnt out!

Spiritual Context – Reversed, The Ten of Wands

You may feel emotionally overworked or overburdened to the point that it is causing you stress in your daily life. This is something that you need to remedy, or you risk it having more and more consequences on your life. 

You’re meant to be free and light in your spiritual life, and while you’re meant to hold space for dark and heavy topics, they shouldn’t be on your mind all the time. Find ways to meditate on peace and what that would look like for you. 

Unburden yourself by telling someone else, either a spiritual mentor, a therapist, or another person that you trust to keep your secrets, who will not feel overwhelmed by this information. Free yourself of these grudges or secrets you’re carrying. 

When the Ten of Wands is reversed, you’re meant to make sure you’re getting enough rest rather than burning the candle at both ends and exhausting yourself.

The Ten of Wands: Yes or No

The Ten of Wands is most often a no since it has negative themes like burdens, stress, and exhaustion and indicates that what you’re asking about might be tantamount to beating a dead horse. It might be time to let this question go or at least give it some rest. 

This card certainly isn’t a fun one to see in the yes or no category, and because it usually is a no, it may be disappointing for you if you are very attached to the outcome of the question. However, it can be a yes, but with hard work required.

When the Ten of Wands is here, the answer is no, or that it will take a huge amount of work.

The Ten of Wands and Astrology

In astrology, the burdened, overwhelmed Ten of Wands is associated with Sagittarius. Ruled by Jupiter and Neptune, and with Saturn in Sagittarius connected to this card as well, this is a serious yet optimistic card.

Saturn is connected to hard work and will force you to commit to your responsibilities. Saturn in Sagittarius can indicate trouble creating boundaries or too many responsibilities for one person. You must know your limits!

The Ten of Wands’s energy will likely feel more natural to you if you’re a Sagittarius. Similarly, if you are a fire sign, as Aries will understand pushing yourself hard and ambition, Leo will align with the drive to succeed and dedication.

The fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius will emotionally identify with the Ten of Wands!

The Ten of Wands and Numerology

In numerology, the Ten of Wands is represented by the number 10. 10 represents endings, new beginnings, completion, and hope. 

The number 10 is asking you to pay attention to how the different generations bring new beginnings and well-lived endings to families. Both are transitional and as the new children are born and elders pass on, traditions are carried on or left behind.

The number 10 helps us say goodbye to the past and hello to the future.

The Ten of Wands as a Daily Card

The Ten of Wands is a daily card that indicates you have a hard road ahead of you today! This is not a card that people love to see in their everyday lives because it usually foretells a lot of responsibilities and hard work. It can mean you’re doing more than your fair share!

When you see this card as your daily card, and you notice that your day seems to be like any other day, this indicates that you’re working too much and your routine is not healthy or supportive for your happiness. You need to create a true balance or risk exhaustion.

This card is either a warning that you’re doing more than you need to or heralding more work than you may normally have. Be resilient and see your responsibilities through if you have the ability, but think twice before taking this amount on again.

The Ten of Wands wants you to be dedicated and resilient but set boundaries and don’t allow your responsibilities to exhaust you.

The Ten of Wands in Relation to Other Cards

All tarot cards have other cards in the major and minor arcana that back them up by complementing their energy, or that challenge them by contrasting their energy. Are you doubling down or finding a balance? Let’s find out!

• Ten of Wands’s struggles + Strength’s endurance = Not giving up on challenges or difficult situations yet, enduring challenges with resilience 
• Ten of Wands’s responsibilities + The Chariot’s drive = Being driven to succeed, to achieve, to uphold responsibilities
• Ten of Wands’s difficulties + The Nine of Wand’s guarded energy = Being self-reliant and determined in the face of struggles
• Ten of Wands’s abundance of work + The Eight of Pentacles’s mastery = Practicing much and often, commitment to working toward greatness
• Ten of Wands’s burdens + The Sun’s joy = Happy to take on burdens, often to receive the reward

Complementary Cards

• Strength: The Ten of Wands shares the perseverance, dedication, and resilience with Strength
• The Nine of Wands: The Ten of Wands has the same guarded energy, perseverance, and guarded strength as the Nine of Wands
• The Ten of Swords: The Ten of Wands has a shared exhaustion and stress with the Ten of Swords
• The Knight of Wands: The Ten of Wands shares ambition, drive, and resilience with the Knight of Wands
• The Devil: The Ten of Wands has a similar attachment, burden, and restriction to the Devil

Contrasting Cards

• The Fool: The Ten of Wands isn’t as carefree or open-minded as the Fool, indicating a need for balance between being brave and being kind
• The Sun: The Ten of Wands isn’t as joyful or enthusiastic as the Sun, indicating a need to balance work with play
• The Four of Swords: The Ten of Wands isn’t as restful or healing as the Four of Swords, indicating a need to balance rest and work
• The Two of Cups: The Ten of Wands isn’t as supported or connected as the Two of Cups, indicating a need to reach out for assistance or to assist
• The Nine of Pentacles: The Ten of Wands isn’t as settled or content as the Nine of Pentacles, which may mean that you need to find more contentment in what you have or make sure you’re working toward a better future and not a dead end

When the Ten of Wands is with a complementary card, it might be telling you to go for it, but in a specific way! If the Ten of Wands is with a contrasting card, figure out what needs balancing out.

Conclusion

The Ten of Wands is ambitious but ready to let go of some burdens, and so are you probably, but are you going to set them down? Promising yourself that you’re going to rest more, spend quality time with your loved ones, and work less is sometimes easier said than done.

While it’s hard to set down your goals and your ambitions for a while, you must take time to smell the roses and sleep when you need it. Otherwise, you might be cheating yourself out of the healthy, happy life the Ten of Wands knows you can have!

Set goals, work hard, and then rest up!

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