Today I drew the 10 of Wands. The Image in the Gendron Tarot is significantly different from the more traditional image in the Robin Wood Deck. When presented with two significantly different visions of the same card, I think the artists challenge us to find a synthesis, that includes both visions and thus, better understand the card over all. No?

In the Gendron, the primary character is a dark skinned man hard at work on a garden he seems to be tilling the soil with his staff. Behind him, the remaining 9 staffs form a fence. Beyond that fence we see a chaos of overgrowth, in the center of which is a giant sun flower, looking at first glance like a blazing sun beating down on the farmer.

I think Melanie is clearly emphasizing the aspect of the 10's as a fresh start. In this card the man has fenced off an area, and in that area has claimed a space of his own. The eternal theme of man bringing order to natures chaos is silently played out in this image. The lovely garden the man works clearly is meant to appeal to our aesthetic sense far more than the chaos beyond the fence. Beyond the fence we see the relentless, power of natures energy. A restless drive to fill every available space with life. An energy that with-in a generation of man was already colonizing the slopes of blasted Mount St. Helens. Yet also an energy in to which Order, Beauty, or Serenity are secondary. The expansion of life itself is the only measure. Any other good arising from this restless drive is an after thought. So man need not subdue, or conquer nature. Yet man working with nature as her partner can make the world more beautiful.

Like I said the Robin Wood card is significantly different. The man bears a load that he can hardly carry. His face is covered by the staves, and looking down he can hardly see the road in front of him. Much less the village far in the distance that seems his likely objective.

The deep red of the mans tunic creates the appearance of someone who is full of wands energy. He is equal to the difficulty of his task. I have always myself seen this particular card as a Harvest Time Card. The last great effort to get the crop in before winter. Before the earth herself and those who work the land pause for a season of rest.

I see it as a card about the preparations that have gone before being completed and the Q being able to claim their rewards if they can complete the trials of this card.

So in away the card has a certain amount in common with the 6 of Swords. Where the Q is also facing one of life bridges. In the 6 of Swords, I see the curriculum has been completed and the crossing of the bridge largely ceremonial. Like graduating High School, or achieving a black belt. If you did your work properly, the threat of failure is pretty low. I see the 10 of Wands more like a bar exam. The chance of failure is very real, and the stakes are very high for the Q, but the time has come to stop training, to make the final effort and to graduate to the next level.

So can we find a common ground shared by Robins and Melanies images. I think we can. I think the theme of new beginnings are contained in both cards, but are also to an extent hidden in both cards. Neither card assures of us the character's, or the Q's success. The Farmer in the field may still see his plot swamped by the chaos beyond his fences if he should relax efforts. While the Man on the road may stumble, his strength may fail. We expect but cannot know he will reach the distant village.

Both men are hard about their work, the promised reward for their efforts gives them the strength to endure the difficulty of the present moment. So personally I tend to view this as a positive card. A card that encourages the belief the Q's hard work, in whatever field of life will bear fruit, if the Q does not quit in the 11th hour. The 10 of Wands in a spread tells me, that the present moment is not the time for the Q to give up on his/herself or their dreams.

Blessed Be, All BB.

Divination: Excessive Pressure due to success, Overworked, Overloaded. Problems are near resolution. Striving to "make it."

Reversed: Deception, Difficulties, Misuse of talents, Subterfuge.