Upright Meaning
The key message of the Ten of Wands is that, sometimes, the burdens we carry are ones we have - inadvertently or otherwise - taken upon ourselves. The fiery Wands relish a challenge, and this can sometimes result in overcommitment; we take on new endeavors that cannot easily be set aside when we move on to the next one.
The card suggests, through how the figure depicted in the image moves, that we are becoming tired of the weight we carry. The Ten also hints, however, that we are nearing our destination, and, therefore, face a choice: do we let go of that which has become burdensome, or do we battle on under the weight a little further, assured of rest and relief?
There is no right or wrong answer here: what matters is the choice that the figure makes once he sets down his Wands, either on the ground before him, or when he reaches his destination. That choice is whether or not we will walk on freely, or immediately look for new Wands to carry to a distant endpoint.
Reversed Meaning
When the Ten of Wands appears reversed in a reading it usually indicates one of two eventualities: firstly, that we can no longer bear the burdens and responsibilities that we labor under, and we are forced to make a change to our circumstances: there is no longer any choice in the matter as we realize that our situation has become unsustainable. Secondly, it can mean that we have made a conscious choice to put down our Wands and focus our energies on some other project, or path in life. The full message of this card will only become apparent when read in connection with the other cards around it.
The Ten of Wands reminds us that, often, we choose what we carry. Sometimes it can be hard to acknowledge that the option to do things differently is always open to us. The card counsels, too, to be mindful that we are stronger than we know, and that, sometimes, our destinations are closer than we realize.