Shadowscapes Tarot

TEN of WANDS

This dryad bears the weight of what seems to be a miniature world upon her back. Her branches are weighted down, bent beneath the heavy structures. The support and welfare of the beings who inhabit those towers are hers to nourish with the flow of life's sap through her branches and leaves. Their souls are the songs that spiral up through the foliage from her heart. But the gray cold seeps into her roots, and it is a hard burden to bear. She pushes and strains upwards, reaches towards the sun for that fire that can help to sustain through dark times.

The fires of the wands are burning low and it may seem that there are only embers left from the great roaring furnace that was. So many demands and dependencies! She struggles and tries to keep her head uplifted, to hold to that center of creativity and nourishment.

Overextending, taking on far too much, burdened with overwhelming responsibility, being held accountable, doing things the hard way. Perhaps those little beings who live among her branches do not need the constant watchfulness and nourishment that she believes must be her duty. And yet it is given freely, the burden is taken on willingly, and she knows she has the strength within to bear it and flourish.