Cosmic Tribe Tarot

TEN OF WANDS

Bearing the Burden

Will the next step be the last? Sometimes life is such a burden that spiritual contemplation seems an impossible luxury. And yet every backbreaking step, every ounce of the load carried, screams for a purpose. Will it be heeded?

In the card, a beast of burden carries a heavy load. The beast is mostly human with the head of an ass. Is he a fool for carrying all of these burning logs, or is he just doing what he needs to do in order to survive? Around his neck, a thick spiked collar yokes him to his chores. His mouth clamps a bridle and the reins disappear to the right as if he's being led. Again, we don't know whether he is being led astray or merely following his own demanding vision. Wherever he is going, the struggle is weakening him spiritually as his fire is dropped and scattered. He is hunched over in a contracted pose signaling that the effort is taking its toll physically as well.

On the figure's head, a magic owl has alighted. The owl represents the figure's humble wisdom. It knows whether this tremendous effort will really help him on his path to spiritual awakening. The owl can also see the difference between the figure struggling for his own goals and slaving for another's benefit. The pursuit of his own goals will be rewarded with wisdom, while slavery will only lead to further struggle.

Divinatory Meaning

Should the Ten Wands appear in your reading, ask yourself some long-term questions. What are your goals and when will they be met? If you're struggling towards something important to you, you might want to push yourself beyond what you thought were your limits in order to accomplish what your goal. In this situation you know what you want and you are going through the necessary, if difficult, steps to get there. But if you are unhappily bogged down and burning out for no particular reason, it's time to ask more questions. Why are you participating in your own oppression? Are there socio-political reasons why you're working so hard? If so, it's time to start organizing. Or do you suffer from workaholism? If so then it's time to take a break and reconfigure your motivations. Listen carefully to that wise little creature flying behind your curtains, and use its advice to end your oppression.