Why the term “Systemic” is often used in relation to Family Constellations?
Family – the original focus of the method
Initially Family Constellations were only applied to the family context, as the name of the method itself suggests. No ancestors or other figures (e.g. nations, countries, women of the lineage, men who survived an event etc.) were involved in the method as it was presented originally.
Same dynamics are present in other systems
It was discovered later that processes and dynamics that are seen in families are just as present in other systems. Such as: organizations, professional groups, or larger structures – communities, gender figures. Also, the ancestral field was introduced into the Family Constellation method.
The view expanded to include larger systems. Today, Constellations are done on subjects like decision making, or for example, inner personality parts. Beautiful works and deep insights are often achieved when the Constellations method is applied to social systems or businesses and organizations.
With this in mind, it’s more relevant to use the term “Systemic”. Talking about Constellations, we no longer speak only about the family context.
More about the development of the method
To know more about the evolution of the conceptual views of Bert Hellinger himself and the method of Family Constellations: an article by Wilfried Nelles on the website of ISCA, International Systemic Constellations Association: Classical Family Constellations, Movements of the Soul, Movements of the “SpiritMind”: Where is Constellation Work Heading to?
Read more: Family and Systemic Constellations