Gilded Tarot - Ten of Wands
by Ciro Marchetti, companion book by Barbara Moore
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide

Description: A field worker or farmer carries ten staves on his back in what appears to me an impractical and untenable position. The staves are not tied together, nor tied to his back. Rather, he is holding them by their bases, leaning over in order to rest their weight on his back as he walks. Two stags watch in the background and a waning moon shines dimly overhead in the dusk. The staves, as throughout the deck, are not mere sticks, but wands wrapped in gold and copper, topped with golden crescents. It's as if, now that the battle is over, a farmer uninvolved in the battle has scavenged the field.

My take: You've bitten off more than you can chew, taken on too many responsibilities, including responsibilities which probably aren't even yours. Certainly you must make a living, meet the needs of yourself and your family, but are you being too grasping? Is there an easier way you can achieve your goals? Can you lay down some of your responsibilities, or ask someone for help?

Companion book: "A purposeful man carries his large burden through the night toward the morning sky. He is almost done with his wearisome task. The full moon above and the dawn on the horizon indicate the end of a cycle. … You are nearly finished with an arduous task. You may be exhausted, but the light at the end of the tunnel, like a beautiful sunrise, gives you the determination to see this through. Draw on your most basic instincts for the strength to finish what you've started."

Second thoughts: Hmm, I have to say I disagree with Moore's physical description of the card. There is a shadow on the right side of the moon, revealing a distinct waning crescent.

Atalantaix