constellations

Abbey was certain of at least six past lives—five male, one female. In each, she recognized a pattern of failure, rendering her predecessors impotent, gullible, and incapable. The lone female, Kat, had been a slave worker turned potential entrepreneur. She had been utterly oppressed by the patriarchy of her time, which condemned her to a long, lonely life filled with waste, regret, and shame.

In this lifetime, Abbey enjoyed a charmed life of privilege, higher education, and countless possibilities. Yet, despite her efforts, she felt unworthy and incapable in financial matters. She called it the "wounded masculine," a part of her existence she had come to despise. Dark thoughts of ending her life to escape these lifetimes of despair haunted her, but she knew that would only perpetuate the cycle.

Determined to honor each of these lifetimes—one soul, one lesson—Abbey clearly saw them all: a Roman Empire citizen, a Venetian merchant, a 1920s shyster, a successful financier murdered after losing everything, and an arms dealer who lost his inventory to warring armies.

Overwhelmed by this knowledge, Abbey felt alarmed yet compelled to acknowledge their struggles. Her enthusiasm spent, her nervous system fried, and her vitality low, she had just emerged from a week in bed, immobilized by a deep despair associated with a loss of respect.
Rising from her malaise, Abbey gathered seven small, special rocks from her collection—six to represent her past lives, and one for herself. She added an eighth to symbolize failure. Arranging the six "souls" in a circle with herself and failure in the center, she stepped back to reflect.

In this moment of clarity, Abbey realized she was doing the right thing. She honored each person for carrying this familiar archetype of failure, assuring them they would no longer be forgotten or judged. Then, she had the courage to ask which one would offer a blessing for her future.

The Roman Empire stone called to her. Moving it before her own, Abbey heard his message: "You are the one, Abbey. You see us for what we were and what we tried to do. You know our castrated efforts, yet you have a future. I give you my blessing and permission to do it differently. Succeed where we could not, for us and for yourself."

Abbey placed all six stones behind her own, feeling their presence supporting her with appreciation, love, and enthusiasm for the unfamiliar path ahead. Looking forward, she felt both supported and lighter, beginning to sense what life might be like if she could attune to her higher self and leave the past behind with grace. With renewed purpose, Abbey dressed and began her day, embracing a freshness she had never known before.