A man is shown carrying a heavy burden of wood, in the form of ten bundled wands, approaching a town which is not too far. This image on the ten of wands indicates a person who has already struggled in life and has succeeded, and he is now carrying the harvests to his final destination. Although he is not near the destination, it shows that he has finished the hardest part of life struggle and he just needs a place to relax and revel in his success.

Upright Meaning Guide
Ten of Wands Upright Tarot Card Key Meanings:
Overburdened, overloaded, responsibilities, stress, problems, weight on shoulders, duty, drudgery, obligation, saddled, restricted, burn-out, uphill struggle, taken for granted, taking on too much, delays, struggle, resistance, lost your way, lost focus, major challenges, lack of fun/ spontaneity, keep going, end in sight

General Meaning and Interpretation (Upright)

In a general context, the Ten of Wands represents a situation that started off as a good idea but has now become a burden. It signifies problems, responsibilities, being overburdened, overloaded and stressed. It indicates that you have a huge weight on your shoulders and you feeling obligated, saddled and restricted. This Minor Arcana card can signify being taken for granted, struggle, major challenges, drudgery, and duty. It suggests that you have taken on too much and maybe heading for burn out. This card does however also indicate that the end is in sight and if you keep going you will be successful. It can also signify delays, losing your way, losing your focus and having an uphill struggle. It can indicate that fun or spontaneity has gone out of your life.

Love & Relationships (Upright)

In a love Tarot spread, if you are in a relationship the Ten of Wands indicates that you are overloaded or overburdened by the relationship. You may feel as though your partner takes you for granted, you may be carrying the full weight of the relationship on your shoulders while your partner takes a back seat and you may feel saddled with all the stress and responsibility of the relationship. This Minor Arcana card indicates that the fun and spontaneity has gone out of the relationship and has been replaced by duty and obligation making every day an uphill struggle. If you are single, the Ten of Wands indicates that the fun has gone out of your love life. You may be stressed and overburdened to the point that you don’t have time for dating or meeting someone new and excitement has been replaced by drudgery. If you want love in your life you have to make time for it!

Money & Career (Upright)

In a career Tarot spread, the Ten of Wands represents stress, burdens and being overloaded. You may have bitten off way more than you can chew when this card appears in your Tarot reading. You may have taken on new projects or tasks under the impression that they would be great for your career but you now realize that you have overloaded yourself with work. You’ve lost your enthusiasm and your ability to do the job well is affected. It’s leaving you drained, irritable and exhausted. You may need to negotiate with your boss and see if you can share out some of the work or if you are the boss, you will need to consider delegating or taking on some extra staff to lighten the load. In a financial Tarot reading, the Ten of Wands represents financial burdens and responsibilities. This Minor Arcana card may signify that you may be struggling to support yourself or your family on your salary and it’s causing you stress or that you have taken on too much in terms of debt and are now struggling to keep up the repayments. Whatever the issue, you now realize that you need to sit down and work out how to get yourself out from under this burden. Meeting with a professional financial adviser and thinking about restructuring your debt might help!

Health (Upright)

In a health Tarot reading, the Ten of Wands indicates that stress or burdens are having a negative impact on your health and maybe physically manifesting in illness or injuries. You need to take care of yourself first and foremost. You cannot look after anyone else if your own health fails, so make yourself a priority. It can also represent your body refusing to succumb to an illness.

Spirituality (Upright)

In a spiritual context, the Ten of Wands suggests that you have lost your way a little bit or lost your focus. You may feel you have gone off course on your spiritual path or that the stresses and burdens of your life have taken you away from your path. Know that your path is always there and you are always being guided back to it. If you feel you have strayed simply change direction, the universe will guide you back.

Reversed Meaning Guide
Ten of Wands Reversed Tarot Card Key Meanings:
Insurmountable problems, flogging a dead horse, duty-bound, resigned to fate, too much responsibility/ stress, cross too heavy to bear, collapse, breakdown, no stamina, not up to the challenge, working hard but getting nowhere, learning to say no, off-loading, dumping, shirking duties/responsibilities, letting go

General meaning and interpretation (Reversed)

In a general context, the Ten of Wands reversed represents having too much responsibility and stress or across that’s too heavy to bear. When reversed, this Minor Arcana card can signify insurmountable problems, flogging a dead horse and working hard but getting nowhere. It suggests that you are pushing yourself so far that you are on the brink of a collapse or a breakdown. It can also indicate being duty-bound and resigned to your fate or having no stamina and not being up to the challenges you are facing. Alternatively, it can represent letting go, learning to say no, off-loading, dumping and shirking duties or responsibilities.

Love & Relationships (Reversed)

In a love Tarot spread, if you are in a relationship the Ten of Wands reversed can indicate that you are offloading some of your stresses and responsibilities thus leaving room for the fun and spontaneity to come back. Your partner may be taking on more duties and sharing burdens making you closer and more connected. It can also indicate one or both of you completely shirking your responsibilities. Alternately, it can indicate that you are so overloaded with duties and stresses that the relationship is on the brink if collapse. This reversed Minor Arcana card can be a bad omen as it can indicate that you are flogging a dead horse by pushing forward in your relationship and putting lots of work in but getting nowhere. If you are single, the Ten of Wands reversed suggests that you may be offloading your burdens and stress which will give you time for dating or meeting someone new and allow more fun, spontaneity, and excitement into your life.

Money & Career (Reversed)

In a career Tarot spread, the Ten of Wands reversed can represent reducing burdens and responsibilities or crumbling under the pressure of excessive burdens. You may be finding ways to reduce your workload when this Minor Arcana card appears reversed in your Tarot reading. Perhaps you have delegated some of your work to colleagues or employees. Perhaps you have found a more efficient way of doing things. Whatever the case, this change has brought some balance to your work life and will be much more productive and healthy for you and your career in the long run. Alternatively, the Ten of Wands reversed can signify that you have definitely bitten off more than you can chew work-wise. However, rather than accept this and find a way to correct it you are digging your heels in and pushing yourself to the point of collapse. You need to recognize the problem and take steps to get it under control and reduce your workload to a manageable level. In a financial Tarot reading, the Ten of Wands reversed can indicate that you have reduced your financial burdens or that excessive financial burdens are overwhelming you. It can indicate that you have somehow gotten your financial responsibilities back to a manageable level. Perhaps you have cut up your credit cards or arranged an easier repayment plan with your lenders. Whatever the case, this is a good move as it will reduce your anxiety and bring you to balance in your life. Alternatively, this Minor Arcana card reversed may signify that your financial burdens are spiraling out of control you are beginning to cave under the pressure of it all. Making yourself ill with worry will not resolve the issue. You may need to seek financial advice from a professional to help you resolve the issue.

Health (Reversed)

In a health Tarot reading, the Ten of Wands reversed indicates that you may be lessening the stress or burdens that were having a negative impact on your health which should see your symptoms improve. However, on the flip side, it can be an indication that you have ignored these warning signs too much and are headed for collapse or serious illness. Again if this applies to you, you must make yourself a priority!! It can also represent your body succumbing to an illness.

Spirituality (Reversed)

In a spiritual context, the Ten of Wands reversed tells you that you must make time for yourself. You may think you are helping others by giving them every bit of energy you have but you are heading for a serious burnout. You must put yourself first or you will be no use to anyone.

Reference:
Labyrinthos, 2019, 11/13/19, (https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list/ten-of-wands-meaning-tarot-card-meanings?_pos=10&_sid=18b5a7f6f&_ss=r)
Lisa, 2019, 11/13/19, (https://www.thetarotguide.com/ten-of-wands)