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June 30, 2008
Family constellations
I recently went to a "Family Constellations" weekend workshop conducted at the Chiron Centre in Ealing and based on the work of Bert Hellinger. What an amazing process. We were a group of 12 people, virtually all strangers to each other. The workshop was led by Alun Reynolds, who facilitated all 12 constellations in a very astute and sensitive way.
Each of us brought some specific personal issue that we wanted to explore or resolve, ranging from relationships with men to difficulties with a sibling or parent. When it was our turn, we selected members from the group to represent different members of our family, who were usually ancestors. We even chose geographical locations or the presenting issue itself to be represented, as these, of course, have a significant bearing on our existence and history.
On each occasion, what was amazing was how the representatives engaged with their sensory responses as they stood within the constellation and found words and feeling that seemed to resonate from the past – and through this process enabled each of us somehow to let go of or release or replace the issue where it belonged, sometimes with past family members, rather than continuing to carry it for ourselves.
I feel this is a rather superficial description of what for me was a very powerful experience, both as a representative in another's constellation and when watching my own develop.
As many of you may have already experienced, this approach is being adapted and applied in the organisational and coaching arenas, and its power as a change intervention is exciting. For me, I wanted to live my own personal constellation before moving on to learn how and when it can be best applied in the organisational setting.
Posted by Alison at June 30, 2008 03:35 PM
