A Hidden Thread Between Your Childhood & Your Calling

An exploration on the Intersection of Family, Astrology, and Soul Growth

Our families shape us in ways we may not always realize.

Through both Family Constellations and Astrology, I’ve come to see a common thread—one that speaks to how our upbringing influences our soul’s path.

We each have a unique story, receiving teachings, conditioning, and worldviews from our families and early environments. These experiences imprint deeply, shaping our beliefs and behaviors. Some of these imprints may be nurturing, while others may challenge us. Either way, they all contribute to our growth.

A Gift, No Matter the Story

In Family Constellations, it’s said that no matter what your relationship with your mother was or is like—whether loving, painful, or complicated—the greatest gift she gave you was life itself.

Without this gift, you wouldn’t be here, experiencing the richness of life. And with this realization comes an opportunity: the opportunity for gratitude and transformation.

Our parents may have been our greatest inspirations, or they may have taught us what not to do. Either way, their influence serves as a launching pad. 

If we take the time to reflect, we can choose how we want to move forward.

The more challenging our family story, the more we have to offer the world. Once we heal, integrate, and find the wisdom within our experiences, we can use what we’ve learned to support others.

Life’s Cycles & The Wounded Healer

Growth doesn’t happen in a straight line. The universe moves in cycles—chaos and calm, birth and decay, highs and lows. It’s often in the most difficult times that we gain the deepest wisdom.

I love the concept of Chiron, the Wounded Healer, because it reminds us that our deepest wounds can transform into our greatest gifts. Our challenges aren’t just obstacles; they shape the way we show up in the world.

If we weren’t treated with kindness, we can choose to be the kindness we never received. If we grew up in chaos, we might long to create stability. If we experienced coldness, we may seek warmth in our relationships.

Astrology beautifully reflects this journey, mapping not just where we’ve come from but where we are meant to grow.

The IC and MC: Your Roots & Your Purpose

Our transformation—from our past to our purpose—is reflected in two key points in our birth chart:

🌿 The IC (Imum Coeli) – Found at the very bottom of the chart, the IC represents our emotional roots, childhood environment, and unconscious conditioning. It speaks to what feels familiar and safe, as well as ancestral influences that shape us.

🌟 The MC (Midheaven) – Found at the top of the chart, the MC represents our aspirations, purpose, and the legacy we’re here to build. It points to how we can contribute to the world and where we are meant to step into our greater calling.

Our soul growth happens when we honor where we’ve come from (IC), integrate its lessons, and use them as a foundation to step into our purpose (MC).

Examples of This Transformation Through All The Signs

To find the IC point (Imum Coeli) in your astrology chart, simply look for the point directly opposite the Midheaven (MC) on the chart; it will also be marked as the cusp of the 4th house in most house systems. In Martin Luther King J.r’s chart example below, I highlighted his IC point as a reference.

🌿 IC in Virgo → MC in Pisces: A childhood shaped by structure, perfectionism, or self-criticism may lead to a journey of learning to surrender and trust. The path forward is about embracing creativity, intuition, and flow.

🌊 IC in Cancer → MC in Capricorn: Deep emotional sensitivity and a strong connection to home life may evolve into a calling to build something solid and enduring—whether it’s a career, a legacy, or a way to support others in a grounded way.

🔥 IC in Scorpio → MC in Taurus: A childhood marked by intensity, transformation, or deep emotional undercurrents can lead to a desire for stability and abundance. The path forward is about learning to cultivate safety, pleasure, and a life of deep-rooted security.

🌍 IC in Sagittarius → MC in Gemini: A home life filled with exploration, big ideas, or constant movement may lead to a calling of refining and sharing knowledge in a clear, relatable way. The journey is about bringing wisdom down to earth and making it accessible to others.

🏔 IC in Capricorn → MC in Cancer: An early environment that emphasized discipline, responsibility, or emotional restraint can lead to a path of softening into emotional connection and nurturing others. The journey is about moving from rigidity to heart-centered leadership.

⚡️ IC in Aquarius → MC in Leo: A childhood shaped by intellectualism, detachment, or feeling like an outsider may lead to stepping into the spotlight and embracing authentic self-expression. The path forward is about learning to lead with passion, confidence, and individuality.

☁️ IC in Pisces → MC in Virgo: A dreamy, boundaryless, or spiritually infused home life can lead to a journey of bringing clarity and structure to healing work. The path forward is about grounding intuition into practical service and refining one’s craft.

🔥 IC in Aries → MC in Libra: A childhood focused on independence, action, or competition may lead to a path of cultivating harmony, collaboration, and relationships. The journey is about learning the power of balance and diplomacy.

🌿 IC in Taurus → MC in Scorpio: A home life rooted in stability, security, and material comfort may lead to a calling to explore depth, transformation, and the mysteries of life. The path forward is about embracing change and finding power in the unknown.

🌬 IC in Gemini → MC in Sagittarius: A childhood filled with curiosity, change, or intellectual stimulation may evolve into a calling to seek deeper meaning, travel, or explore expansive wisdom. The journey is about moving from scattered details to a broader vision.

🔥 IC in Leo → MC in Aquarius: A home life centered on personal identity, validation, or performance may lead to a greater calling in collective change and innovation. The journey is about moving from self-expression to community impact.

💫 IC in Libra → MC in Aries: A childhood that emphasized relationships, harmony, or keeping the peace may lead to a path of forging one’s own independent direction. The journey is about stepping into courageous leadership and trusting one’s instincts.

This is just a general guide as every birth chart is unique and other planetary influences add further depth to this journey. 

Think of your chart as a poem of your soul—a blueprint that can manifest in infinite ways.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Chart

Here’s an example of Martin Luther King Jr.’s chart, highlighting his IC in Cancer → MC in Capricorn (with the help of ChatGPT, thanks AI!). 

You can also see in the chart below where the MC is marked at the top (starting off the 10th house) and at the bottom of the chart I added the IC for you (which starts off the 4th house).

How this showed up in his life:

"Martin Luther King Jr. was born into a deeply rooted, emotionally rich family and community in the segregated South. His early home life (IC in Cancer) was filled with strong familial bonds, faith, and a sense of responsibility to his people. However, he also witnessed deep emotional suffering, racial injustice, and the struggles of his community, which shaped his sense of compassion and duty.

His MC in Capricorn reflects his destiny to take on a leadership role, not just for himself but for the collective. He channeled his emotional depth and personal connection to suffering into building a structured, disciplined, and highly organized movement for civil rights. Through perseverance, strategy, and an unwavering sense of responsibility, he created a lasting legacy—one that required him to step into the public sphere as a figure of authority and resilience.

His journey illustrates the IC Cancer to MC Capricorn path perfectly: moving from deep emotional sensitivity and a close-knit foundation to stepping into his role as a disciplined leader who carried the weight of a greater mission."

A Healing Sentence for Reflection

In Family Constellations, we use Healing Sentences—powerful truths that give voice to what has long been unspoken. These statements help untangle generational patterns and bring deep resolution.

One of my favorites is:
“I take everything you’ve given me and do something good with it.”

This sentence acknowledges both the pain and the gift. It doesn’t bypass what happened—it simply allows us to carry forward what serves us while releasing what doesn’t.

Exploring Your Story

As I continue to explore the powerful intersection between Astrology and Family Constellations, I’d love to support you in uncovering how your family story is shaping your soul’s journey.

If this resonates, I’d love to connect! Let’s explore together in a complimentary Embodied Soul Session. It’s a chance to dive into your unique story—whether through astrology, Family Constellations, embodiment work, or a combination of all of them—to see what healing insights we can uncover. This session is also an opportunity to explore how I can support you in your soul growth through this lens, helping you navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and trust.

🌿 Stay Connected & Keep Exploring 🌿

If you’re intrigued by the connection between Family Constellations, Astrology, and soul growth, I’d love to share more with you. Join my newsletter for insights, reflections, and tools to support your journey of embodiment and transformation.

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The Most Important Journey I Ever Made

I’ve experienced key moments in my life where I would describe it as being “popped out of a bubble.”

The first time was when I moved to the United States from Moscow at almost eight years old. I had to start my life all over again—learning English and adjusting to a whole new culture.

One moment, I was a little Russian girl surrounded by family and friends in a world that was simple, familiar, and safe. The next, I was watching the breaking down of a communist nation through my young eyes and seeing our friends and family spread themselves all around the world.

I started early navigating the unknown while eating Kentucky Fried Chicken and drinking Coca-Cola (we didn't have this in Russia) with my cousins in Kentucky and at the same time learning Hebrew and English (I didn't know I was Jewish until that point.)

That move planted the seeds of resilience and adaptability in me. I quickly became my family’s translator, navigating a new language and culture, wearing pass-me-down clothes, while watching them work minimum-wage jobs despite their college degrees. At the same time, I tried hard to fit in, often hiding my Russian identity. After a year and a half in Kentucky we moved to NJ, and my roots kept shifting as I skipped 4th grade.

Looking back, I see how lonely I felt in my younger years. Sports and art became my saviors, giving me outlets to channel my energy and create a sense of belonging.

The second bubble burst when I was 17 and went on a volleyball trip to Europe—the first time I’d left the country since immigrating. Meeting people from all over the world and immersing myself in different cultures awakened something in me.

For the first time, I felt truly at ease, and I realized that I had been trying so hard to fit into a world that didn’t fully resonate with me. I called it breaking out of the “NJ bubble.”

That trip sparked a lifelong love of travel. Since then, I’ve explored 38+ countries, backpacked solo through places like Europe, New Zealand and Central America, and stood in awe of breathtaking landscapes like Patagonia and Iceland. Travel fed my soul and I needed it to thrive to balance out the hard work I was putting into the NYC nine-to-five grind.

The third bubble that burst was my spiritual awakening in 2018 — which for the first time led me on a healing journey inward and to discover the magic beyond the mundane.

After my awakening, I came to realize that the journey inward was just as rich and fulfilling as any adventure I had experienced outwardly. The same deep yearning for exploration and discovery that I had sought through travel was now calling me to dive within. It became clear to me that the inner landscape is vast, filled with as much wonder and adventure as the external world.

Traveling the world taught me to marvel at the beauty, diversity, and mystery of life. Each new place felt like an invitation to expand my understanding, not just of others, but of myself. I became more adaptable, curious, and open to the unexpected.

There’s a profound synergy between external exploration and internal healing.

When we travel to a new place, we step out of our comfort zone and confront the unknown. It’s a practice of letting go—of routines, expectations, and even parts of our identity that no longer fit. Similarly, the journey inward asks us to let go of old patterns, beliefs, and inherited burdens that no longer serve us. Both journeys require courage, curiosity, and the willingness to be vulnerable.

There are so many tools that have helped me navigate my inner landscape and I want to share three of them here:

1) Astrology 2) Family Constellations 3) Somatic Healing

Tools for Inner Explorations

01 — Astrology 
A Map for Inner Exploration

I’ve always felt a deep pull to explore the world, but discovering astrology helped me understand why: my Moon is in the 9th house. 

In astrology, the 9th house represents travel, exploration, and the quest for meaning—all themes that resonate deeply with my life. With my Moon in this house, my emotional fulfillment has always been tied to seeking wisdom and understanding through both outer and inner journeys. I’m a lifelong learner.

The 9th house is ruled by Sagittarius—a sign that is said to be adventurous, honest, energetic, curious, and flexible. It’s also a sign of natural explorers with a desire to learn how the world works. I happen to have many planetary placements in the sign of Sag as well. The more I study astrology, the more I see how these placements shape my life and those of others. (Any of you Sag people relate for the quest of adventure?)

The Moon, in astrology, represents our emotional core and our needs—the part of us that craves fulfillment and security. It answers the question: What do I need to feel good?

For me, it helps me recognize that the same energy driving my desire to explore the world (including a quest for knowledge) urges me to explore myself—my emotions, my patterns, my deeper truths. 

The Moon is a powerful, unseen force. It operates in the background until we bring awareness to it.

What’s Your Moon Story?
Have you ever explored the placement of your Moon in your natal chart? Your Moon reveals what you need to feel emotionally fulfilled and secure. Take a moment to reflect:

• What do you instinctively turn to for comfort?

• Are there recurring patterns in your emotional world?

• How do you nurture your inner self?

• If you know your Moon’s sign and house, what insights does it offer about your unique needs and inner landscape?

In the near future, I’ll share some resources on the moon for those of you who are new to this. 

02 — Family Constellations
Exploring Your Inner World on the Outside

While astrology revealed patterns and a sense of alignment with my life’s path, Family Constellations opens the door to deeper truths: some of the challenges we face may be rooted in dynamics far beyond our own personal story. 

Family Constellations reveals how the unseen dynamics of our family systems influence our life in ways we don’t realize.

Immigration is a monumental act. It’s not just a physical move; it’s an energetic shift that ripples through generations. When a family leaves their homeland, they carry with them both the dreams that propelled them forward and the grief of what they left behind. As the first generation to grow up in a new country, I inherited that energetic mix of hope and loss without even realizing it.

The first time I participated in a Family Constellations session, the facilitator brought in a representative for Russia. It was like uncovering a hidden part of myself that I had long ignored. Through this process, I saw how much energy it had taken for my family to leave their roots behind, and I felt the weight of their sacrifices in a new way. But I also saw the immense love and support within my family—love that had often been obscured by the challenges of starting over.

This session allowed me to reconcile the pieces of my identity that had felt fragmented. I was able to honor the place I came from and acknowledge the strength it took for my family to create a new life. It also gave me a deeper sense of belonging—not just in the present, but across time and space, connected to the generations that came before me.

How Family Constellations Can Relate to Your Journey

If you’ve ever felt the pull of an unresolved inner story—whether tied to a significant life shift, a sense of displacement, or a loss of belonging—Family Constellations can illuminate the hidden dynamics shaping your experience.

Many of us unconsciously carry the weight of our family’s history: the unspoken grief of migration, the echoes of ancestral trauma, or the dreams passed down through generations. These burdens, while invisible, often influence the choices we make and the barriers we face in stepping fully into our lives. 

Family Constellations offers a path inward—a way to uncover and honor these patterns. By bringing awareness to these inherited dynamics, you can create a space for healing, release, and transformation. It’s a powerful way to reclaim your story and align more fully with the life you’re meant to live.

03 — Somatic Healing
Internal Travel Through the Body’s Wisdom

One of the most powerful tools I’ve found on my journey inward is somatic healing. The body holds so much wisdom—it carries the stories, emotions, and experiences of all the parts of us, often unseen or forgotten. Through embodiment practices, we learn to listen to the body, tuning into its sensations, subtle shifts, and deep knowing. It’s like embarking on an internal journey, where the landscape is made of our sensations and inner experiences, offering a map to the parts of us that need attention.

In many ways, internal travel through the body feels just like the external exploration I’ve always been drawn to. Just as traveling the world opens us up to new cultures, landscapes, and perspectives, traveling inward into our bodies invites us to discover uncharted territory, parts of us that we haven’t yet fully explored or understood. When we slow down and listen to what the body is communicating, we access a deeper kind of knowledge, one that goes beyond what we can see or analyze with the mind.

It may show up as tension in a certain area, a feeling of lightness or heaviness, or a sensation that invites us to move or breathe in a particular way. These subtle clues are like signposts guiding us through our own internal terrain. And just like the external world, our inner landscape is rich with layers—memories, emotions, and past experiences—that shape who we are today.

The body often holds unresolved experiences from different parts of us—whether from childhood, family patterns, or life events. Somatic practices help us release what no longer serves us while also honoring the parts of us that need healing or integration. It’s through this deep listening that we begin to reconnect with our bodies and the wisdom they carry, embracing the vast inner world that exists within.

 Internal travel through the body isn’t just about healing past wounds—it’s about discovering new dimensions of ourselves and connecting to the vastness of Source Energy that’s all around us by going inwards.

Every sensation, every breath, every movement becomes an opportunity to listen more deeply, to honor the parts of us that are asking to be seen, heard, and integrated. Just like an external journey can lead to profound transformation and understanding, traveling inward through somatic healing offers us the chance to explore and embrace all parts of our being.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

From moving countries and traveling the world, I’ve learned to embrace the unknown, to surrender to uncertainty, and to welcome new experiences with curiosity and awe. I’ve come to understand that those same qualities are required on the journey inward. These are some of the tools that have become my guides in navigating the terrain of my inner world. They have helped me uncover the stories, patterns, and parts of myself that were waiting to be seen, healed, and integrated.

Everytime we discover something new about ourselves, we experience a “popping of the bubble” as we journey into a new perspective of the world.

As you reflect on your own journey—both outward and inward—consider: What uncharted territory within yourself is calling for exploration? What parts of you are waiting to be seen, heard, and understood? Just as the outer world is full of wonders, the inner landscape is rich with opportunities for growth and transformation, always waiting for your attention and care.

As you take the next step on your own journey, may you have the courage to explore, heal, and embrace all parts of yourself. Because, in the end, the most important journey we ever make is the one back to ourselves.

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Stay Connected

If you’re drawn to exploring both your inner and outer landscapes, join my newsletter for reflections, tools, and insights to help you navigate your own journey of transformation. Sign up here!

The Magic of Gathering: Creating Spaces for Healing & Connection

As I mentioned in my previous post: there’s something I really love about intentional gatherings.

I’ve learned, through Focalizing (the somatic healing modality I offer and the practitioner training I co-teach) and through the teachings of its founder Michael Picucci, that when people come together with a shared intention: magic happens.

Each member of the group brings important pieces of the larger puzzle.

There’s a felt sense of expansion, flow, and each member becomes a conduit for the stream of information that arrives from the universe into the collective space. (This is certainly what actually happens during Family Constellations as well.) 

This is why I love holding ceremonies and workshops so much. These intentionally held spaces create opportunities for connection, transformation, and healing that ripple out into our lives.

The Power of Community

One of the most beautiful aspects of gathering in community is witnessing and supporting each other’s healing journeys. When we come together in a circle, we create a unique constellation that will never be repeated in exactly the same way. These moments stay with us, shaping who we are and how we move through the world.

With cacao, I’ve seen miracles unfold—from grieving losses and connecting with ancestors to hearing one’s higher self, healing childhood wounds, and discovering self-love. Here’s a testimonial to share such an experience:

“I want to share that doing this cacao ceremony was something I planned to connect with my mother who had passed during 2019 and it would have been her birthday. The spirit guide I met on my journeying was a combination of her essence, an indigenous woman, myself and goddess energy (divine feminine). I received profound messages including to trust that I can connect with her and this divine feminine energy whenever I want to. That I should trust my intuition when it comes to the method of this connection and to my own personal healing journey. Thank you (and cacao) for making this possible!” — Lyra

In Family Constellations, the healing goes even deeper as we witness family systems from a new perspective. By seeing the patterns that have shaped us, we gain the opportunity to release what no longer serves us, honor our lineage, and step into our most authentic selves.

​​Illuminating the Shadows

When we shine a light on the unconscious beliefs and inherited traumas held within us and our family systems, we begin to loosen their grip.

For many of us, it wasn’t safe to be ourselves growing up—to express emotions, make mistakes, follow our hearts, or speak our truth. These experiences often stem from generations of conditioning and survival patterns and are held deep in our bodies.

Our parents, grandparents, and generations beyond had very different generational upbringings that were even more restricted.

But this doesn’t have to define our future or our present. I truly believe that we’re part of an evolution. As we heal, we create new possibilities—not just for ourselves but for the generations that follow and the collective at large.

I imagine a future where families provide spaces for their children to grow without the weight of past traumas and conditioning.

A future where we’re free to be our authentic selves around our chosen family and friends. When we allow this, peace prevails.

This is the space that I always intend to hold and invite everyone to hold for each other.

Creating and holding safe spaces is my passion.

It took me years to feel safe speaking in groups. I was scared, but over time, I found my voice. That journey taught me how to lead and share my gifts with the world.

Now, I’m finding new edges to explore, like singing. For much of my life, I was too scared to sing. But lately, I’ve found myself in spaces where I can let my true voice out and learn. It’s humbling and liberating. These experiences remind me that we all deserve places where we can heal, grow, and express ourselves freely.

This is why I love creating immersive retreats and gatherings—spaces where we can explore our lineages, work with cacao, and step into deeper transformation together. Whether through Family Constellations, embodiment work, or cacao ceremony, these experiences allow us to heal in ways many of us didn’t experience growing up.

They offer a chance to illuminate shadows, release old patterns, and invite new possibilities into our lives. Deep, meaningful—and always filled with connection and joy.

Have you ever had a moment where a group experience changed you? I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment on this post.

Join my upcoming events

If you feel called to this kind of work, I’d love to welcome you into a future gathering.

To stay up to date with upcoming events and offerings, join my newsletter and connect with me on Instagram @freemasha . All upcoming events are also listed on my homepage!