Welcome to Tarot for Scholars, a resource that helps you weave the deep wisdom of tarot into your daily life and work. In each post, we offer reflections and prompts for exploring your own inner world and unlocking the unique creative power of your scholarship.
10 of Wands
About this card
The culmination of a period of inspired, instinctive activity. Completion of a creative cycle. The unsustainable burden that can accumulate by the end of a “wands-y” process. A feeling of being overcommitted, verging on burnout, overwhelmed by an excess of inspirations. The danger of carrying our inspirations too far without discerning which “wands” to really invest in and grow into solid, permanent manifestations. The portal out of a moment of discouragement or low energy.
Other interpretations
Margy’s cards, clockwise from top left: Radiant Tarot; New Chapter Tarot; Cosmic Slumber Tarot; Shining Tribe Tarot; Elemental Tarot; Navigators Tarot of the Mystic Sea; Spolia Tarot; Tarot of the Spirit.
Helen’s cards, clockwise from top left: Moon & Stars Tarot; Light Seer’s Tarot; Japaridze Tarot; Canes Arcanae; Star Spinner Tarot; Muse Tarot; Tarot of Mystical Moments; Forest of Enchantment Tarot.
Questions and prompts
How many wands are you carrying today? Too few, too many, or just the right number? What signals indicate to you when you’re approaching a 10 of Wands point in your creative cycle?
If you need to lighten your load today, which wands can you set down, whether to pick back up later or to release for good?
What language do you use to describe your 10 of Wands experiences? If the language feels self-critical, how can you soften it to incorporate more self-compassion?
Thanks for reading Tarot for Scholars! Drop us a heart or restack if you like, or better yet, comment and let us know how you’re using tarot in your scholarly life. 💫
Yours in scholarship,
HELEN SWORD is a scholar, poet, award-winning teacher, and founder of the WriteSPACE, an international writing community with members in 30+ countries. Her research-based books, articles, and online tools empower scholarly writers to write more clearly, confidently, prolifically, and with greater pleasure.
Visit Helen’s website here.
MARGY THOMAS is the creator of ScholarShape, a body of work dedicated to elucidating the patterns of Story-Argument across genres, disciplines, and life itself. Through services and DIY resources, Margy helps scholars use Story-Argument patterns to design their work — and to find its deeper meaning and higher purpose.
Visit Margy’s website here.
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