Got the Itch? (How to Finally Scratch It)
How to Start a New Chapter in Life
“The soul knows when it is time to shed a skin. It will itch, ache, and whisper until you listen.”
— Clarissa Pinkola Estés
It starts with a slight itch. Like nothing quite feels right. Like when you have an itchy sweater on that you just NEED to take off… but once it’s off, the itch is still there.
That’s kind of what it feels like when you’re ready for a new chapter… but unsure how to cross the threshold.
Got the itch? Then keep reading—this is for you.
The “In-Between” Is a Real Place
I write this from a place of lived experience… and then some. I’ve changed directions many, many, MANY times (for my astrology peeps: hello, intercepted MC doing the most).
And that “in-between” space? It’s a REAL place.
Not only real, but tender…the kind of space where the old version of you is loosening (old routines, old roles, old identities)… but the new version hasn’t fully revealed herself yet.
And if you’re an empath (or just having a deeply feely human moment), it can sound like:
- “Why can’t I just decide already?”
- “Why am I emotional for no reason?”
- “Why do I want change… and also want to hide under a blanket forever?”
Oh yes. I know this place. I’ve been there more times than I can count.
My Spiral Path (Because Life Isn’t Linear)
And yet… there’s still that little piece of me -the girl who once wanted to be an actress… then an artist… then a restaurateur… then a naturopath.
Honestly? I used to pride myself on knowing exactly what I wanted, and sticking to it.
But life isn’t linear. It’s spirals and pivots. Plot twists and detours. Sometimes change is abrupt. Sometimes it’s slow. And sometimes it’s the most loving thing you can do for yourself… even when it feels like admitting defeat, or letting go of something you worked hard for.
Ever since high school, I’ve challenged the “pick one path and stay there forever” storyline.
Acting was my dream from age nine, until my twentieth year, when a spiritual awakening started shaking loose layers that weren’t really me. I could feel something deeper calling. I wanted to make an impact.
So I pivoted… and then pivoted again… and then pivoted again.
I moved from acting to teaching to art. And when I finished my Master’s of Fine Art at Pratt, I felt this bittersweet truth: I loved art… but the art world felt cold (and lonely).
I was reprimanded for being “too sentimental,” told not to bring spirituality in, when spirituality was the reason I found art in the first place.
So I slowly let that chapter close.
It was like watching a leaf float away in water. Beautiful… and sad… and also clearly meant to drift.
The Full-Circle Return (And the “Help Wanted” Problem)
And I got back up again… following that “itch” wherever it led.
Since then, I’ve worn many hats: graphic designer, bartender, manager, restaurateur, yoga instructor, massage therapist, health coach…
And now, in the most full-circle way, I’ve returned to that “spiritual bug” that first found me in college. This time as an intuitive guide working with Reiki, hypnosis, and tarot.
And here’s the reality:
There’s no “Help Wanted: Intuitive Guide” section in the classifieds.
Choosing this path meant building a business from scratch and becoming an entrepreneur. I came in with no real business experience in the spiritual space, only a little marketing knowledge, zero tech skills (which, post-2020, you definitely need), and no roadmap.
So I’ve learned as I go.
I’ve walked this road holding fear and doubt in one hand… and faith, excitement, and that delicious curiosity in the other…Whispering:
“Okay, Spirit… lead me.”
If You’re Starting Over, Read This
I’m sharing this for anyone starting over this year: especially if you feel like you should have it all figured out by now.
You’re not behind.
You’re not broken.
You’re not alone.
Beginning again comes with grief and fear sometimes… but it also comes with readiness. Excitement. Desire. Need.
And that itch…
When you scratch it (when you follow it)…oh, it feels so good.
So how do you actually move forward… when you’re not sure what step to take first?
It may be simple… but it’s not easy.
Starting over asks for three things: courage, a beginner’s mind, and letting go (with trust)
“Transformation is not a sudden leap but a long, quiet staying with oneself until the truth is ready to be lived.” May Sarton
1) Courage
Courage isn’t just for skydiving. It’s used far more in everyday moments.
It’s the bravery of telling the truth. Choosing yourself. Leaving what feels suffocating—even if it used to feel safe. Courage is required to stand up for yourself, to switch jobs, to end a relationship where you feel unfulfilled… to do the hard but necessary things.
I would never have been able to leave the safety net of my first marriage, or step out of what I knew to try something new, without courage.
Sometimes courage shows up the moment your comfort zone stops protecting you… and starts shrinking you.
So if you’re ready to step out and start over, open yourself up.
Take a few courageous steps forward.
2) A Beginner’s Mind
Once you have the courage to take the next step, you also need a beginner’s mind; a willingness to learn and start fresh.
The old ways won’t work anymore. You’re becoming someone new, and that requires new skills, new boundaries, new rhythms, and new ways of being with yourself.
Whether you’re learning new skills at a job, learning to be without someone, or learning how to become the best version of yourself yet… a new chapter demands new ways of being and doing.
And that beginner’s mind?
It’s enough to show you you can begin… and navigate what comes next.
3) Letting Go (and Trusting)
And then there’s letting go + trusting.
Releasing the labels you thought you had to be. The timeline you thought you had to follow. The version of you that was trying to make everyone feel safe.
Letting go of what you knew.
Letting go of what you thought you “had to be” by now.
Letting go of what it was all “meant to be.”
This might be the hardest part.
Because we identify so deeply with our labels, and it’s hard to imagine being something else.
And yes… being willing to “fail” a little as you figure it out.
Because growth is rarely a straight line.
Sometimes Spirit is asking:
Do you really want this?
Are you willing to keep going anyway?
The answer comes when you trust. When you move forward. When you follow your heart.
A Gentle Reminder
Starting a new chapter is never simple. And it can feel especially hard when you’ve been on this carousel before.
But you can begin again.
Simply by being brave enough to step into the unknown, staying curious as you learn, and trusting yourself enough to let go.
Trust in Spirit. Ask for guidance.
You will be amazed at what unfolds.
About Shana
Shana Heatley is an intuitive guide, hypnotherapist, Reiki Master, and seasoned tarot reader who helps empaths and sensitive souls navigate life transitions with clarity and calm. Through soul coaching, energy work, and subconscious healing, she supports you in releasing old identities, awakening your potential, and reconnecting with the inner guidance that strengthens your intuition. Her work is a blend of grounded support and quiet magic—helping you move forward with trust, courage, and soul-aligned direction.
Find her here:
Website: https://ahhtherapy.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ahhtherapy
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