The Meaning of
the "Ten of Wands" Tarot Card

On the Ten of Wands tarot card we see a worker carrying a bundle of ten wands. The wands are clearly heavy, and he strains under their weight — walking hunched over, with his face pressed into the bundle.

The crossed wands in the bundle mirror the shape of the roman numeral X of the card.

The position of the man's head, deep within his work, suggests that the man's focus is on his labor; Now is not the time for distraction.

... the man's focus is on his labor; Now is not the time for distraction.

The worker has almost reached a nearby village, signifying that his work is nearly finished. The serenity of the green trees and the idyllic village before him suggest that the purpose of his work is security, comfort and a better life.

The clear, cloudless sky, the flat ground and the plowed field all suggest that this is positive, healthy work without opposition. The work is done for his own purposes — to meet his own personal goals.

The Ten of Wands signifies hard work, productivity and the way we work towards our personal goals.

On the simplest level, the worker carrying wands points to the daily grind of hard work and the concept of burying one's head in work. On a more positive level however, the card suggests that the end of a project or a task may be approaching. Though the current work is burdensome and difficult, the man carrying the bundle of wands hopes that his sweat and tears will one day pay off.

... As the last numbered card in the Suit of Wands, the Ten of Wands indicates closure — or the end of a cycle ....

As the last numbered card in the Suit of Wands, the Ten of Wands indicates closure — or the end of a cycle of work. The obvious fatigue we see represented on the card is also coupled with the idea of finishing and a sense of gratification that comes with completion.

When the Ten of Wands appears in a reading, it can be read as a slightly negative card in the here and now, as it points to current difficulties and stressful situations. A more nuanced view, is that the card also carries positive long-term implications, with overtones of hope, faith and eventual success.

When the reversed Ten of Wands appears in a reading, it's often a sign that someone is overburdened. The amount of work, or the expectations placed upon someone, are just too high.

The inverted card may also indicate someone quitting a job, or abandoning a task. Feelings of resentfulness and mistrust may also be indicated.

... a gentle suggestion to stop going it alone on a task. Perhaps the time has come to seek help ...

When the reversed Ten of Wands appears in a reading, it may serve as a gentle suggestion to stop going it alone on a task. Perhaps the time has come to seek help, or to add additional hands to project.

If the card represents a past event in a reading, it may reference a time when burdens were too high, or when someone walked off the field in frustration.

Generally speaking, the reversed Ten of Wands doesn't indicate a greater or total failure to reach a goal — but it does indicate that without intervention, success may be threatened.