Yesterday we had an event for the Infinite Constellations anthology. It was wonderful to gather in person to connect around the themes of the book. We took a deep dive into identity, culture, and communal connections in the anthology. At the event, we took time to have everyone introduce themselves. It was wonderful to hear so many different identities gathered in the space.

We read passages from pieces in the anthology, then shared writing prompts for people to reflect on their own identities and the constellations of their lives.  The reflections went deep. A prompt to look at villains from another light—from the perspective of the villain’s pain, losses and traumas, brought reflections on parents. A prompt on spellbinding and how we are transformed when we are spellbound led to reflections on areas in our lives that we want to hide from and not admit our frailties. A prompt on translating between spaces where we have skills and facility vs. spaces where we don’t have skills and facility led to a reflection on power dynamics and ego. A reflection on undergoing transitions that you’re not in control of led to reflections on the conflict between who you need to be for yourself vs. who others want you to be.

It all reminded me of the transformative power of writing—through journaling and reflecting on paper we can deepen our understanding of ourselves, release trauma, and expand our possibilities.

I invite you to use a piece of fiction or poetry as a prompt to explore the constellations of your life.

Onward

—K.