10 is the number of perfection, completion and wholeness.  It can mean something is over but not finished and about to begin again.  Pentacles are associated with the material world, acquisitions of wealth and possessions, our connection to Earth and Nature, sensation, matters pertaining to the physical plane and the element of earth.  Pentacles can also be connected with practicality, groundedness and being realistic.  The 10 of Pentacles often represents the contented, solid, happy family. 

"You are recognizing that you may soon need to make some decisions about the kind of security pattern that you have established.  Your current security is stable but not growing or developing.  Your job or home situation is steady but not stimulating.  Your financial situation is safe and low-risk.  Pretty soon, things will begin to stagnate if no changes are made.  But for now, it feels comfortable to maintain the kind of security that you have and to avoid making too many changes." - Gail Fairfield

"Peace and prosperity. A happy family. Contentment; prosperity and luxuries. Inheritance; inter-relationships between different generations. Grand-parents and grandchildren. Family stability and support. Valuable property or real estate. A comfortable home in a good neighborhood. Schools, colleges, hospitals, and other institutions of learning. Corporations, big deals for lots of money. A profitable investment. Pensions and IRAs, other tools to assure wealth in old age or retirement. The end of a career - retiring to a comfortable rest." - Whispering Tarot companion book

Abundance, prosperity, having it all - these terms are often associated with the 10 of Pentacles.  Not bad qualities to be sure.  However those terms may mean different things to different people.  For some, prosperity and abundance mean having a lot of possessions and money.  For others, it may having the ability to purchase whatever new toys come on the market, while for others it might mean the ability to have what they need in life.  It's a matter of perception.  I have often noticed that when things are the most difficult for me on a financial level, I begin to buy things.  It's almost as if I'm buying them now while I still can so that I can store them against future lean times; a bit of a hoarder mentality.  I have gone through enough times in my life where money was so tight we were limited to eating boiled potatoes or spaghetti without sauce.  I have no intentions of experiencing that again.

Maybe the message from the cards is that I will always have enough as long as I can adjust my perspective to focus on what is important.  The reality is that even if I lost all my "things" tomorrow, I could still go on and be happy.  Don't get me wrong, I'd be very upset and disappointed to lose my books, dolls, Tarot decks, etc.  I'd probably mourn that loss for a long time but ultimately they are not what makes me happy and content.  They are not what fulfills me.  If anything they can often become distractions.  Instead of actually doing something like exercising or cooking or even meditating, I will spend hours losing myself on the computer.  Sometimes having too much of a good thing is not so good.

I think the 10 of Pentacles is trying to remind me that happiness is not dependent upon material possessions or financial status.  It does not require having a home filled with "things".  It's about being happy with who you are and where you are in your life.  It's about having a sense of security and being surrounded by those we love and who love and care about us in return.  Instead of focusing on what I want or don't already have in my life, maybe it's time to focus on the happiness and blessings that do fill my life.  It's certainly a much more pleasant prospect.