The 10s

As the last number in the Minor Arcana sequence (not counting the royals), the 10s represent extreme manifestations of each suit--the apogee or nadir of expression of each suit's qualities.  The extreme can be positive or negative, depending on circumstances, but as is always the case with extremes, there is a certain risk of collapse inherent in even the rosiest picture, simply because it is so hard to maintain an extreme for long.  The 10s remind me of the scene in This Is Spinal Tap when Nigel Tufnel explains how amplifiers that go to 11 are better because 11 "is one more."  Similarly, the 9s complete the story arc for each suit in the Minor Arcana, and the 10 is one more--for better or worse.

The 10 of Swords is, obviously, not a happy card.  You only need one sword to kill a person, so the poor chap on this card, with all 10 swords in his back, is clearly a victim of overkill.  And that's what this card is all about.  On a superficial level we could say that if we were worried with the 9 of Swords, the 10 says the worry was more than justified.  But on a deeper level, we see that if we let our minds run away with us, if we wallow in inner conflict without a reality check (as shown in the 9), we will finally collapse under the stress (in the 10).  In short, swords qualities, unchecked, can be very damaging.  Once we have reached such a low point, of course, there's nowhere to go but up.  When you receive this card, all you can do is batten down the hatches, hunker down, and weather the storm, knowing that it can only get better.  This is a not a time to struggle--just give up and keep your head down.  And when the skies clear, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on with your life.

10 of Wands, Robin Wood Tarot

The 10 of Cups is very straightforward.  It is all about contentment.  Your physical and emotional needs are met and you are wise enough to know it and enjoy it.  In my experience I have found that this is not a particularly romantic card--it isn't about falling in love, it's about the comfort of long-established relationships and even about a spiritual bliss that arises from pure love.  There is security and stability here, and definitely joy, although no adventure or mystery.

10 of Pentacles, Gilded Tarot

The 10 of Pentacles is the peak of affluence.  It differs from the 9 in that for the wealthy woman of the 9, luxury is not yet totally divorced from the labor necessary to attain it, whereas in the 10 of Pentacles there's a certain complacency.  You might say that the 9 represents the self-made man or woman, while the 10 is the rich kid born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth.  For the 10, the wealth is inherited, not earned, and indeed, this card can appear to remind us of what we have inherited from our forebears--spiritually and psychologically as well as materially--and the legacy we are leaving to our descendants.  This stuff is often taken for granted instead of being thoroughly considered, understood, and appreciated. 

10 of Wands, Druidcraft Tarot

The person on the 10 of Wands card is weighed down by responsibility.  In the 9 we were encouraged to hold out, remain strong, just a bit longer; but in the 10, maybe we've been strong too long.  When you receive this card, it's likely that you are plodding forward, one foot in front of the other.  You have too much on your plate to be looking forward into the future, or behind you into the past.  And that is usually the best way to handle a big task--by staying in the present moment, handling each new task as it arises, and not projecting hopes or fears into the future.  But it can also send us crashing into anything in our path if our eyes are on our feet, not on the horizon.  It is easy to overextend ourselves.  This card reminds us that it's OK to ask for help, in fact, we would be wise to delegate some tasks here if possible.  The world will not end if we take a break.  On a positive note, the Wands story arc has been about personal achievement, and that should always culminate in taking responsibility for your creations.