Will You Help Me Start Over?

the cost of staying true to yourself and your values.

A monthly community newsletter: The Altar Within—notes on life, magic, and liberation.(Exclusive offering for paid subscribers: learn more here)

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Friends,

I’m holding so many emotions as I write this. It’s taken me months to process all the shifts and changes in my life. Back in October of 2024, I shared on Instagram: “My life will never be the same.” I didn’t know then just how true those words would become.

Palestine did something to me. Years of activism and community work shaped me—but nothing ever shook my soul like this. Palestine broke me open. It undid me. Unveiled me and the world around me.

I didn’t expect to lose nearly everything. All but one friend. Partnerships, collaborations. Support from authors, communities, and people I believed cared for humanity the way I do. I was blacklisted, bullied, harassed, threaten, pushed to the edges of spaces I once called my own.

But what I also didn’t know then was that in losing all of that, I would be gifted something else: A clean slate. A chance to start over.

To rebuild a life infused with my whole heart, my values, my purpose—no more half-versions of myself. No more overextending myself. No more treading carefully. I’ve found new friends, new communities, new spaces where I feel seen, heard, and supported.

Many of you are still with me and I am forever grateful. Thank you my loves, my dear friends. And thank you to all the new people in my community who found me through my work and activism, I am incredibly blessed to have a community that sees right through the veils.

Before I share what’s changed and what’s the evolution of Juliet Diaz, I want to be clear… This isn’t a plea for pity. This is a reintroduction. An update on all the things with some tea spilled along the way. And yes, a real, honest request: Will you help me start over?

I’m proud of how I’ve shown up with the resources I had—for my community. From spreading awareness to organizing, protesting, educating, and doing the work behind the scenes. I’ve stayed committed to the fight for liberation, justice, and collective healing.

My hope in writing this is that it stirs something in you. That it inspires you to make the changes your spirit has been whispering to you about. That it gives you permission to listen to your gut, to follow where you’re being led—to trust in Spirit and do what it takes to protect your humanity, believe in yourself, and continue to dream.

May these words feel like honey to the hearts carrying fear, doubt, grief, or confusion in these uncertain times.

This isn’t just about Palestine.

It’s about Sudan, Hawai’i, Congo, Cuba, Borikén (Puerto Rico), Haiti, Native communities across Turtle Island—it’s about every Indigenous and oppressed people who have endured, resisted, and continued to rise despite centuries of colonial violence.

It’s about my Ancestors. The Taino.

Watching a live genocide unfold—while so many turned away—shook something deep in me. It triggered ancestral memory. A knowing. A wound. My people have endured genocide. And across generations, we have continued to struggle against systems of erasure and oppression.

It’s about how people of color have always warned of what’s to come, have always been on the frontlines—risking safety, livelihood, and reputation to protect and uphold the truth.

It’s about the exhaustion of performative activism and allyship.

The kind that shows up when it’s convenient. The kind that centers optics instead of impact.

It’s about uprooting all of it—and choosing to rebuild. Together.

Intentionally.

Mindfully.

The work of collective liberation requires us to reimagine, reindigenize, decolonize, and heal.

Not just personally—but communally, spiritually.

When I wrote The Altar Within in 2022, I poured all of this into its pages. The book holds these truths. But when it first came out, it was met with resistance—especially from European American readers who couldn’t (or wouldn’t) understand what liberation and decolonization meant. Many couldn’t see how these calls applied to them too. Now, these words, liberation, decolonization—are everywhere. And while I’m glad they’re part of the collective conversation, I also see the trend of it. The way some co-opt and capitalize without honoring the roots, the real work, or the people who’ve lived and taught this work for years.

Which brings me to my book, The Altar Within—and the truth about its publisher, the imprint, and what really happened behind the scenes.

Let’s start there.

Back in 2021, I made the decision to leave Hay House. I had gone public about the lack of diversity—both in the company and in how they supported authors of color. I found out we were being paid less in both advances and royalties than our white counterparts.

I was also invited to join a coaching initiative meant to support aspiring authors of color—but quickly saw the cracks. Most of the coaches were white, and in the very first meeting, many of them were openly complaining about past participants. It was clear they lacked the experience and cultural awareness to truly support BIPOC writers. I spoke up, then left the program.

Shortly after, I was invited to speak with the CEO. He opened by congratulating me on my sales and asking what they could do. I told him the coaching program was performative, and that it needed a real overhaul—with actual people of color leading and mentoring. I wasn’t heard. I was spoken to, not with. I was gaslit.

So I did the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my publishing career, I asked to be released. I told them our values don’t align. I couldn’t stay. Not when my spirit was screaming at me to leave. I was a rising author with two successful books, and I knew this decision could cost me everything. But I couldn’t be complicit in a system that underpaid, dismissed, and tokenized people like me. My community deserved better.

To my surprise, they agreed. Please continue to support Witchery and Plant Witchery, —I do still receive royalties from their sales.

I was heartbroken, terrified, and unsure of what would come next.

Not long after leaving Hay House, I was approached by the two founders of Row House—both of whom had also left Hay House. They shared a vision that deeply resonated with me: a publishing house dedicated to raising the volume on marginalized voices, offering fair pay, real support, and true community. I believed in that vision. I saw my values reflected in it.

I wrote The Altar Within. Everything moved fast. The book released in 2022 and quickly flew off the shelves. During that time, I was promoting the book, helping them with fundraising, and working on what would become my own imprint.

They agreed to partner with me. Spirit Bound Press, an imprint I would creatively lead, with their support on logistics like printing, publication, and editorial. I had no financial backing of my own to invest, and that was clearly understood from the beginning—this was never meant to be a financial burden on me.

Because of legal limitations, I can’t speak on the specifics.
But what I can share is this:

By September 2024, after two incredibly difficult years, I made the decision to pursue legal action. My mental health had deteriorated. I was physically exhausted. I had lost all my savings. My chronic illness had worsened. The Altar Within was out of print for a year and during that time, I was receiving no income from it.

Before pulling my imprint, I had writers lined up to publish through Spirit Bound Press. I worked with my lawyer to terminate contracts and ensure the writers under Spirit Bound Press were released and had full rights to their book titles again. That process took months. I spent every last bit of money I had on legal fees to protect them and make sure they could move forward.

And I had to do it while also showing up for Palestine, continuing my advocacy, and navigating intense public backlash.

The only author I wasn’t able to release was Kimberly Rodriguez, whose book had already entered production. That title, Incantations Embodied, is still tied to my brand, but it is under Row House’s management. They have full control over it, including finances and printing.

During this time, my mental health plummeted.
I would cry uncontrollably, my body breaking down without warning.
In 2024 alone, I was hospitalized eight times from how badly my chronic illness flared.

During that time, Rockpool was there—offering the support they could. They helped me understand the language of publishing, the legal loopholes, the red flags. They gave me the confidence to trust my decisions.

I already had an existing relationship with Rockpool—they’re the publisher of my internationally bestselling Seasons of the Witch oracle deck series.

When I finally got the rights to The Altar Within back, I prayed constantly. I asked for clarity, direction, and to be placed on a path guided by spirit and aligned with people whose values matched their actions.

I needed to surrender to what Spirit needed me to do. I needed to trust that I would land just where I was meant to.

I am not lost, I am simply coming back to myself.

I will survive this.

I will heal.

I will gather my bones from the ground and rise up one more time.

Spirit, lead the way.

I’m happy to share that The Altar Within is returning—reborn.

The second edition of my book will be released this September with Rockpool Publishing, and it’s available for pre-order now.

And now, I need your help reclaiming my path as an author. So much rides on the success of this re-release—especially the pre-orders.

Even if you already own the first edition, I promise this one is worth it. It’s not just a reprint—it’s a restoration. A reclaiming. A deeper offering.

This second edition is a realignment of the original iteration of this book.

To give this book new life, I have refocused and made some much-needed changes and additions. This book has been highly recommended by therapists and has served as an invaluable tool for healers, social justice organizations, and activists alike. In response to its widespread use as both an educational and healing resource, I have carefully revised the layout and framework for a more cohesive flow, making it easier for readers to engage deeply with the material.

These changes were made with the intention of supporting those who are actively using this work in their personal and professional practices, in community settings, and within social movements.

Recognizing the need for continued growth and reflection, I’ve also expanded the content significantly.

Psst… check out who wrote the foreword.

Starting over is both exciting and terrifying.

I’m working on healing my nervous system, slowing down, reclaiming my mental health, opening my heart, and learning to trust again.

Through that process, I’ve been refining, readjusting, and reimagining what my work looks like when it’s in full alignment with my values and how I truly want to serve my community.

Like many others, I’ve deleted all meta apps & TikTok (over 400k followers) But for me, it’s also personal: Meta, AI and LibGen stole my books. I’m currently part of two class-action lawsuits because of it.

My Substack newsletter and my website will now be the home for all of my work.

Writing has helped me return to myself. It’s how I found clarity again and again.

It helped me strip away the noise and remember my truth. It’s how I’ve always healed, discovered, reclaimed, and connected to my magic and Spirit. By going inward. By making space for deep introspection.

Since January, I’ve rested more than I ever have in my life.

I’ve let go of what was weighing me down and harming me.

I’ve reimagined a life where I can still dream, still serve, still create magic—while also being present to the realities of this world.

A life rooted in purpose, intention, care, and community.

It wasn’t easy to get here. But I’m here.

And I want you to know—it’s possible.

And I would love nothing more than to help you get here too.

How can you help me start over?

Below you’ll find the ways I’m showing up right now and what I’m offering.

Here’s how you can support me, sustain this community space, and walk with me on this next part of the journey:

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Consider becoming a paid subscriber

What You’ll Receive: You get all of the free benefits +

• exclusive practices (journal prompts, rituals, spells, embodied practices)

• virtual gatherings

• access to my workshops

• access to the community mutual aid fund

•access my community chat room (access the chat through the substack website or app)

• Join a safe and inclusive space where I share behind-the-scenes, insights, and thoughtful notes. This is the only community space I have where we can interact, share, and connect more intimately.

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To learn about the services I am offering on my website

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To learn about the current course “ The Craft of Publishing” Write Your Book With Us: A Liberatory & Decolonial Approach to Storytelling and Publishing. Develop your voice, craft a compelling manuscript, and build the foundation for publishing success.

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If you prefer to support a subscription outside of my newsletter, I have subscriptions set up in my “Buy Me A Coffee” app.

https://buymeacoffee.com/iamjulietdiaz

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Thank you for taking the time to read through. If you want to see me continue my work these are the best ways to support it. I am deeply grateful for your support.

With love, Juliet