"Solutions usually arise when we allow a wider view. Instead of looking at only ourselves, at our desires and at what we consider to be our problems and injuries, or even our dreams, we look at our parents and our families, our kinship groups, and our antecedents. Suddenly we are bound up in something else, together with many others, and whatever it was that once seemed dreadful or caused us suffering, assumes its proper place within the greater whole".
(Hellinger, p.25, No Waves Without the Ocean)
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have been regarded as not worthy of membership for example because they are said to be a gambler or an alcoholic or a criminal or a homosexual or because their death was too painful (e.g. still birth).
This exclusion puts the family system out of balance and a need for compensation occurs. As a result the excluded member is represented by someone in a later generation without his/her knowing it.
Constellations accord excluded family members their rightful place, so that peace and harmony is restored and younger generations live freely.
Trauma creates 'disruptions' in Family Systems
"It made me aware of how closed off I can be. I was excited and nervous before hand wanting to feel close to my mother. I want to change my life and have been shown that it is possible".
(D.J. East Melbourne)
NOTE
One or more family members can attend, bearing in mind that a constellation is done for each family member separately, as each person participates uniquely in the family system.
"Great compassion. A feeling of gratitude for my strong lineage and my good life".
(M. F. Chadstone)
METHOD
Upon hearing from the seeker/client only one or two sentence descriptions of an issue and a few facts about the family history, the facilitator initiates the constellation by suggesting who will be represented e.g. one or more family members, abstract concepts etc. The client/seeker then chooses
people from the group to be representatives and arranges them according to what feels right at the time. The client/seeker then sits down and observes.
The facilitator then observes the responses of each of the representatives and makes the necessary adjustments, spatial and verbal, in order to create a healing movement based on the Orders of Love. The invisible bonds within a family system become visible in a constellation as representatives physically experience how the presence and proximity of each individual affects every other individual in a system. Observing this, and the subsequent image can have profound effects on the seeker and his/her entire family. Unlike with a psychodrama, the representatives do not act, pose or role-play.
The experience of being a representative can provide insight and healing in itself and even those in the holding circle can gain from the experience, simply by witnessing a constellation. Constellations have the effect of being emotionally relevant to anyone who attends.
NOTE
Not everyone will have the opportunity to set up their constellation, due to the time constraints, and usually not every participant will want to set up their constellation. Nevertheless participating in the holding circle and as a representative can give important insights and prepare one to do a family constellation at a future workshop.
"I found it to be an amazing experience. It gave me an insight into my family situation, which was sad and a little disturbing but nevertheless very real. It was amazing how clear I felt my intuition was when being a representative and also observing the other representatives in their roles. I felt the whole day was a great insight into the difficulties some families face and the huge illusion and distortion that can cover the reality and truth of the situation".
(T. T. - Box Hill)
"Before the workshop I thought about my issues and tried to select the most important one. During the workshop it became clear to me what it was. Then doing a constellation everything went out the door and something I had pushed away came up. Totally wonderful, overwhelming and amazing".
(L. Malvern)
1. Consider an issue that is most affecting you and how it affects your life and relationships.
2. Consider what it is that you are yearning for.
3. Consider what it would mean for you and your relationships if this issue were to be resolved.
4. Consider important events occurring in your family of origin (back 2-3 generations) including facts about premature deaths, migration, adoptions, illnesses, accidents, participation in war etc
NOTE The effects of doing a constellation can be very powerful and even bring on some overwhelming feelings. Who in your support network would you turn to, should powerful feelings takeover?
For more indepth information on the workshops please contact Catherine Ingram at
