Note: Previous projects delayed as a result of the disruptions brought on during the eclipse window. Delayed, but not abandoned. In the meantime, here is a collective tarot spread that I've drawn for the post-eclipse energies but is also timeless. This means that whenever you encounter this post, these archetypal undercurrents are presently active in your experience.
Now that the dust has settled from April's eclipses, we stand at the threshold of a new chapter. The energy is shifting as we move from the fertile calm of Taurus season into the bright fervor of Leo season.
As a follow-up to the eclipse-season spread, we drew five new cards for the collective to explore the next phase of the journey. Each card corresponds to a specific focus – what is leaving, what is entering, what lies ahead, what will flourish, and energetic guidance – offering insight into our path.
1. What Is Leaving – Five of Wands
The Five of Wands traditionally depicts five figures brandishing wooden staves in chaotic unison – an image of conflict, competition, and scattered energy. In the position of what is leaving, this card signals that the recent period of strife and friction is finally winding down. The eclipse season may have stirred up tension and clashing agendas (everyone with their own wand in the fight), but now that storm of discord is beginning to subside. The crackle of conflict that dominated early spring is growing quieter, its intensity fading like echoes after thunder.
For many of us, this represents an end to struggles that have been wearing us out. Perhaps there were heated debates in the workplace, competing interests in a project, or simply internal turmoil about identity and direction. Some might have felt a creative chaos – too many ideas colliding at once – or experienced conflicts in relationships as old issues were stirred up. Whatever the source of the frenzy, it's losing its grip. The collective energy is moving away from petty fights and confusion. The dust is settling from those battles, clearing the air and making space for a calmer, more focused influence to take root next.
2. What Is Entering – King of Pentacles
The King of Pentacles sits upon a carved throne adorned with grapevines and bull motifs; a golden coin held securely in his hands. In what is entering, this regal figure brings an aura of stability, abundance, and practical wisdom. After the tumult of the Five of Wands, the King's presence is like rich soil after a storm – fertile, steady, and ready to nurture new growth. His arrival suggests that the coming weeks will be about grounding and consolidating. We're entering a phase where slow and steady progress is favored, and we can finally start building on solid foundations.
Collectively, we can expect a renewed focus on the material and physical aspects of life – in the most positive sense. Careers and finances may stabilize or even prosper under this influence; projects that felt shaky before now find firm footing. Opportunities for growth in business or work could present themselves, but the King of Pentacles teaches that success will come through patience and good planning, not rush or gamble. Many of us will feel inclined to invest in long-term security: Saving money, improving our home environment, or committing to routines that support our health and well-being. There's a sense of comfort and maturity entering the picture, encouraging us to take pleasure in gradual progress.
In relationships, this earthy energy fosters loyalty, support, and the strengthening of trust. It's a time when love can grow slowly and surely – partners showing up for each other in tangible ways, building a sense of safety together. Creative endeavors, too, benefit from this practical grounding. The wild ideas sparked earlier (those Five of Wands brainstorms) can now be turned into something real – think of finally completing that passion project or turning a hobby into a small business. Overall, what is entering is a calmer, more secure chapter of our lives. We are encouraged to enjoy life's simple pleasures (good food, warm sunlight, meaningful connections) and to remember that tending patiently to what we value most will naturally attract prosperity. This stable foundation will give us the confidence to take the next leap when the time comes.
3. What Lies Ahead – The Fool
Bright sunlight bathes the path ahead as The Fool steps forward with a white rose in hand and a small pack slung over his shoulder. In the what lies ahead position, The Fool heralds a new adventure and a leap of faith on the collective horizon. This card's appearance suggests that as we move from late spring into summer, we'll find ourselves standing at the edge of something unknown, feeling both excited and a bit vulnerable – much like the Fool gazing up at the wide-open sky. The Fool is numbered 0, the number of infinite potential, and indeed what lies ahead is a chapter brimming with possibility. There's a fresh breeze to this energy, a sense that anything can happen and we are ready to explore it.
For the collective, this indicates a period where fresh experiences abound and our spirits lighten. Having established some stability, many of us might feel the urge to branch out beyond familiar territory. This could manifest as a daring career move — perhaps stepping into a role we've never tried before or launching a project that calls to our soul. It might also mean opening our hearts in love or friendship, embracing someone or something that we never expected. There's a feeling of "finally, I can do this!" that comes after the practical groundwork of the previous phase. The Fool's energy encourages us to embrace spontaneity and trust: If an opportunity or idea gives you butterflies (the good kind), that may be exactly what lies ahead for you.
As the summer sun climbs higher, a playful, adventurous spirit is on the rise. The Fool invites us to rediscover our inner child – to be curious, take creative risks, and view the world with wonder. You might find yourself saying "yes" more often now: Yes to that impromptu road trip, yes to collaborating with new people, yes to learning a quirky new skill or diving into a creative hobby just for the joy of it. This is an excellent time for experimentation and exploration. Even if the future isn't fully mapped out (and it rarely is), The Fool reassures us that we are ready. The important thing is to approach what comes with optimism and an open heart. Ahead of us stretches a road that no one has ever walked in exactly the same way – and we get to courageously create that story as we go.
4. What Will Flourish – Six of Swords
In most depictions of the Six of Swords, a small boat carries a family across dim, glassy waters. The figures huddle quietly, leaving a rough and barren shore behind them as the ferryman guides them toward a land of gentler hills. In what will flourish, this poignant scene tells us that transitions and healing will thrive in the coming months. After taking that leap of faith with The Fool, the Six of Swords reassures us that our courageous moves won't be in vain – we truly will be moving on from past troubles and heading toward calmer times. This is a card of hopeful journeys. It suggests that our collective efforts to find peace and resolution will gain momentum and bear fruit as the season progresses.
In practical terms, this means that many of us will successfully put old struggles to rest. Emotional wounds from earlier in the year begin to mend as we find closure, forgiveness, or simply a new perspective. If you've felt stuck – be it in a thankless job, a toxic relationship, or a cycle of negative thinking – the Six of Swords indicates you'll finally have the strength and opportunity to move forward. Some may literally change their surroundings for the better: Relocating to a place that feels more like home, transitioning to a career that offers a healthier environment, or seeking out a community that supports you. Even if these changes involve leaving certain comforts or saying goodbye to a chapter of your life, know that they are guided by the promise of a more peaceful horizon ahead.
Creative and intellectual growth will also flourish under this energy of passage. Any lingering creative blocks or conflicts (remember that Five of Wands turmoil) are likely to ease as you distance yourself from sources of stress. With a clearer mind and heart, inspiration can flow more freely again. By mid-summer, we'll notice life smoothing out in many ways – as if the collective waters are calming. This flourishing isn't a sudden stroke of luck, but a gradual, earned relief. Day by day, as we travel further from the difficulties of the past, we regain confidence and optimism. The Six of Swords shows that our journey toward healing and stability is well underway, and that progress will continue to strengthen. It's the green shoots of recovery and forward movement, growing taller with each passing week in the summer sun.
5. Energetic Guidance – The Devil
In The Devil card, a horned figure typically looms above two people who appear chained to a block – a dramatic image, but one that carries an important lesson for us in the energetic guidance position. The Devil's presence here isn't a bad omen; rather, it comes as a wise warning and piece of advice. As we approach the peak of summer (under Leo's blazing sun), this card urges us to be mindful of our shadows – the fears, temptations, or old habits that could subtly undermine all the growth we've achieved. In the context of guidance, The Devil says: "Examine what might still be holding you captive, even as everything else moves forward."
After so much positive progress, we're reminded not to let our old demons sneak in through the back door. This is a call for honest self-reflection. Are there any lingering toxic patterns or attachments that you know you need to break? For some, it might be a tendency to overwork or a fixation on material success (the very chains that could turn the King of Pentacles' gift of prosperity into a burden of workaholism). For others, it could be a codependent relationship or the echo of self-doubt that arises just as you're about to step into that Fool's new opportunity. The Devil highlights these hidden challenges and asks us to name them. By bringing them to light, we start to loosen their hold. Remember, on the Rider–Waite card, the chains around the people's necks are loose (the noose, like the juice, is loose) – they can free themselves at any time. This is a message that we too have the power to free ourselves once we acknowledge what's binding us.
In essence, the Devil card's guidance is about empowerment through facing the shadow. We're encouraged to break free from entanglements that no longer serve our growth. This could mean finally setting a boundary with someone who drains your energy, practicing moderation where there's been excess, or releasing guilt and fear that don't belong in your new chapter. It's not about fighting ourselves or feeling ashamed of our doubts – it's about compassionately recognizing that we're human, and we carry some baggage.
The gift of the Devil appearing now is the chance to address these issues head-on. By doing so, we prevent them from tripping us up as we continue our journey. Confronting your inner shadows might feel uncomfortable at first, but it ultimately restores your freedom. It ensures that as you move through the height of summer, you're not weighed down by anything that could dim your light.
A Two-Part Journey Through Eclipse Season and Beyond
Looking at both spreads as one long arc — the eclipse season reading and the post-eclipse (spring into summer) fallout — the overall message is about a massive collective reset that begins with collapse and ends with liberation. The eclipse spread signaled a period of unavoidable upheaval and powerful transitions: The Tower set the tone, showing us that foundations built on illusion were being torn down. But even then, the presence of the Six of Swords offered early assurance that this chaos would eventually steer us toward a better place. That spread was about recognizing what must be surrendered (The Hanged Man), trusting our inner worth as we leap into something new (The Fool + Nine of Pentacles), and ultimately having the courage to walk away from what drains us so we can walk into the light of The Sun. It was a reading of rupture and reorientation — a call to make peace with endings so that truer beginnings could take form.
Now, the post-eclipse reading confirms that this wasn't just a flash in the pan — it was the start of a long-range transformation that is continuing to play out. The Five of Wands leaving shows that the inner and outer conflict stirred up by the eclipses is calming, making way for the King of Pentacles: groundedness, self-trust, real-world stability. The Fool reappears, not as a sudden jolt like before, but now in the central "what lies ahead" position — showing that the leap is actually happening. And what flourishes now is the Six of Swords again — echoing the previous reading's clarifier — telling us we are making that crossing, we are leaving the wreckage behind. The energetic guidance from The Devil reminds us that while we've made progress, we must stay vigilant not to slip back into patterns that once held us hostage.
The eclipses cracked the shell. Now comes the journey of growing into the self that was hidden inside it. The story is one of emergence — from confusion into clarity, from being stuck to stepping forward. What began as destruction becomes construction. What felt like loss is revealed as a clearing for new life. The message over both spreads is: The worst has passed — if you keep walking, keep trusting, keep letting go of what binds you, the summer ahead holds real freedom, joy, and creative rebirth.
