Ten of Wands

Some see the Ten of Wands as representing oppression, and that the man in the card is struggling with the burden of the 10 wands he is carrying. That may be the case, but he could also be clearing away the wands that have held him down or held him in. In the Nine of Wands, the wands are lined up behind him to form a barrier for protection. Or could it be those wands were more of a prison and now he’s removing the bars that caged him?

Look to the other cards in the spread for the context of the ten of Wands to get a better idea of whether this card truly represents oppression or for a newfound freedom. It could also represent thievery or treason, sneaking away with the spoils of another.