When It's Time to Walk Away...
And BLOOM
I was becoming overwhelmed… so much STUFF. My closet was jammed with everything from my San Francisco closet AND my Sonoma closet. Each area demanded a different style of wardrobe… (Sonoma called for lovely flowing sundresses in the summer, and San Francisco calls for SWEATERS AND SCARVES in the summer!!!)
A clean-out HAD to happen. Neither of these closets could coexist in my space.
When Change is Demanded
And then I pulled the reversed 8 of cups from my Tarot deck.
This revealed that something was definitely not working anymore, even if it had before. It’s the quiet ache of holding on too long. It’s when you’re giving energy to something, and not getting what you need back.
So I hauled out 6 bags of cast-offs, and reorganized the space.
Then I felt like I could breathe in my closet.
(Funny, but my dream is to have a capsule wardrobe… 20 pieces that I just wear till they fall apart or the season changes and I swap those 20 out for a different set… but the weather in San Francisco is so odd… summer weather comes when I’m supposed to be wearing fall clothes and I need my fall items all summer with the cold fog. A conundrum! )
Anyway, the voice in my head wasn’t giving me a quiet nudge that a change was necessary– it was more like a dramatic SHOVE… Something wasn’t working anymore and change was demanded by my sense of overwhelm.
Leaving The Comfort Zone
It’s not always easy to leave what is familiar— even when it drains you. But when the 8 of cups shows up, it’s an invitation to trust your inner knowing. There is something better waiting. But first, you have to be brave enough to release what’s safe, stagnant, or expected. (Whether it’s old shoes, or your mate… there comes a time to move on… And moving on can be as simple as releasing an old mindset… you don’t have to go to extremes… )
The Empress Shows the Way
When we walk AWAY from what drains us, we walk TOWARD what nourished us.
Next I pulled the Empress card. She is the woman I am becoming. When she shows up it’s like getting a deep hug. Her message is that when we walk AWAY from what drains us, we walk TOWARD what nourished us. She’s not chasing anything. She RECEIVES. She knows her worth and is comfortable with herself. She surrounds herself with like-minded people and her space reflects her self-worth.
This message is bold. For those of us who have been care-takers, over-givers, or approval-seekers for too long, it’s time to let go of:
Roles that no longer light you up
Habits of hiding or playing small
Relationships where you do all the emotional labor
The belief you must earn your rest or your joy.
It’s time to turn the page and start a new chapter. Why not start today?
The Challenge
Take a moment and check in with your heart:
What am I holding onto that’s no longer serving me?
What would I walk away from if I trusted something better was waiting?
What would it look like to honor my Empress energy right now?
This is your season to walk away from dry cups and return to your garden. You are made to create beauty. To rest. To RECEIVE.
You are allowed to step into a life that feels lush, aligned, and deeply yours.
And you don’t have to explain why.
You’re stepping into your Empress Era. And this is just the beginning.
Thank you for reading my Substack. Alicia's Boudoir Banter is the go-to space for bold, intelligent, and curious women who are ready to explore the unspoken sides of life. We take the taboo, the hush-hush, and the "I-can't-believe-we're-talking-about this" topics -- money, sex, relationships, dating, and reinvention -- and bring them into the light with humor, wisdom, and zero shame. Here, we embrace tarot, transformation, confidence, and the kind of real talk that fuels bold living.