Ten of Wands in Tarot: Burden, Responsibility, Completion

The Ten of Wands could be characterized with keywords like burden, responsibility, completion, and stress. This card often appears when one is carrying a heavy load, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual. It signifies the culmination of effort and the weight that comes with it, asking us to assess the burdens we choose to bear.

The Ten of Wands can be a positive sign of perseverance and resilience, indicating that you are nearing the completion of a significant task or phase in life. However, it also serves as a caution against taking on more than you can handle. Balancing ambition with personal well-being is crucial, as the card highlights the importance of recognising limits and seeking support when needed.

In relationships, the Ten of Wands suggests a time of carrying emotional weight, potentially speaking to the need for communication and shared responsibilities. It prompts reflection on whether you are shouldering too much alone and how this might affect your connections with others.

Symbolism found in Ten of Wands

The symbolism of the Ten of Wands in the Rider-Waite deck is both vivid and instructive. The ten wands represent not just burdens, but also accomplishments – the fruits of one’s labour. The man’s struggle symbolises the final push toward completion, yet it also warns of burnout and the necessity of delegation.

The background shows a town, suggesting a destination or goal. It reinforces the idea of near-completion, that the end is in sight, yet it still requires effort to reach. This imagery serves as a metaphor for life’s journey, emphasising that while the goal is important, so too is the journey and the lessons learned along the way.

Man carrying the wands

In the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the Ten of Wands depicts a man struggling to carry ten wands. His posture is bent, indicating the strain of his load. This imagery captures the essence of the card: the challenge of bearing responsibility. The card reminds us that while burdens can lead to growth, they may also lead to exhaustion if not managed wisely.

Colour Symbolism

The muted earth tones in the card suggest a connection to practical, real-world issues – responsibilities, work, and obligations. These colours remind us that the burdens we carry often relate to our material lives and how we engage with the world around us.

A Simple and Free Tarot Journaling App?

❤️❤️❤️ Yes! ❤️❤️❤️

Sign up now for our Beta!

Journal prompts for reflective work on Ten of Wands

To delve deeper into the introspective nature of the Ten of Wands, consider these journal prompts:

  • What burdens are you currently carrying, and are they necessary for your growth?
  • How do you balance responsibility with self-care and well-being?
  • What responsibilities might you delegate or release to create more balance in your life?
  • Reflect on a time when you successfully managed a heavy burden. What did you learn from that experience?
  • Consider the ways in which your current responsibilities align with your long-term goals. Are they supportive or obstructive?

These questions invite you to explore your inner world, using the Ten of Wands as a guide to understanding how responsibility and burden play roles in your personal journey. Through reflective journaling, you gain insights that help you navigate life’s complexities with wisdom and resilience.