The Ten of Wands shows some one who has taken on far too much, or one who is now burdened by his own ambitions. One of the central attributes of the Wands suit is enthusiasm, which is of course a wonderful quality in almost any situation. Yet enthusiasm that becomes scattered, or enthusiasm that is not matched by an equal amount of pragmatism and measuredness, means spreading oneself too thin, not being able to finish what you start or flimsy foundations which fall apart the moment they are put to the test.
The Wands suit is defined by confidence, a love of life, and even a love of conflict; people with Wands suit dominating in a reading may feel invincible, inspired, and capable of accomplishing anything they put their minds to. Yet the ten of Wands suit is here to remind us on the one hand that we must direct our energy toward one thing at a time, rather than trying (and probably failing) to accomplish too many things at once, and, on the other hand, that it is not enough just to enthusiastically ignite a project with the animating idea.
While people with a lot of Wands influence are somewhat given to starting projects in an excited state and then quickly abandoning them when something new comes along, the Ten of Wands shows that there is only so long that approach will work until we get caught up in obligations anyway. Investing your energy somewhere inevitably means that you will acquire new obligations and responsibilities which you may or may not have foreseen; once the immaterial “spark” of the idea has become a physical, 3-D fire roaring in front of your eyes, it is your duty to feed it, guard it and keep it from burning down the forest. The ten of Wands shows some one who has had too much inspiration, or has been too eager for everything, and now resents all the responsibilities that have come in its wake.
Astrological Association:
The Ten of Wands card is connected to Saturn / the Sun as a symbol of gloom and severity in the soul, or Saturn in the 11th house as an image of hopelessness.
Card meanings upright:
The Ten of Wands card may represent a need for hard work or accepting responsibility in your life. You may struggle with telling others no, and might often get taken advantage of by others as a result. Now is a good time to focus on the big picture to help you gain perspective in your life.
Card meanings reversed:
When the Ten of Wands card is reversed, it may indicate a fear of responsibility or an inability to keep up on the obligations you have in your life. You may feel unmotivated and wish to walk away from your duties, responsibilities, or hard work.
