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: Systemic and Family Constellations

Individual (One-on-one) Constellations Online

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Our visual perception is busy staring at screens

We communicate through a screen, surf the Internet, read texts, and watch broadcasts for a variety of purposes. Devices that display visual information are at the center of the field of perception for many. We are so involved in the context that we often fail to notice that much of what is so important to us would be inaccessible without the intense work of our visual perception.

Eyes get tired.

Enhance the quality of presence using this simple practice

This practice will help keep resources available, restore the state of your vision, and relieve feelings of increased tension. If performed regularly throughout the day, the practice will enhance the quality of presence in daily activities.

Note: The immediate effect may be a decrease in visual acuity: as the eye muscles relax, vision may become more blurred. Some time after the practice is completed, visual acuity will fully recover.

More practice: Stress Relief. Working With Head and Face

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Healing comes from different sources in trauma treatment and spirituality. 

In spirituality, the practice focuses on connecting with something outside of us. Whether it is a divine presence or grace, the spirit of a prophet or the wisdom of ancestors. Trauma healing, in turn, focuses on the healing and integration that is happening within the client. 

Many modern approaches, such as for example Richard Schwartz’ Internal Family Systems or Identity Oriented Psychotrauma Therapy of Franz Ruppert, describe traumatic split through the emergence of certain parts of personality. IFS names them as Managers and Firefighters. IOPT calls them Survival Strategies. These personality parts can be extremely functional in the context of survival. However, they may not be as useful in maintaining a normal life in a safe environment. Traumatized individual often feels trapped between these survival parts. Whether it is the inner voice that constantly criticizes or demeans, or their sub-products such as self-hatred or low self-esteem. 

It is for this reason that discipline-based approaches, even with a strong spiritual foundation, may not be helpful when applied in the context of trauma. Imposition of certain rules or strict requirements reinforces survival-related personality structures. Precisely the structures from which these rules are supposed to help release. Providing choices can help healing more than the constant imposition of a particular practice structure.

More about the principles and structure of continuous work.

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Proprioceptive signals that our nervous system sends from our skin, muscles and internal organs to our brain allow us to notice what happens to the body. When we are highly agitated or anxious, we literally stop feeling it. The exercise will help to return to a state of presence, calm the mind and somewhat pacify excessive emotionality. It will allow to physically feel the boundaries of the body and facilitate return to a normal sense of self.

Many people have certain issues with maintaining healthy boundaries nowadays. If done regularly this practice can help restore a more balanced present state, reduce the intensity of bodily impulses and reactions.

Recommendation: exercise everyday in the morning before entering into the daily routine. The effects will gradually increase after approximately 10-14 days of regular practice. Add more practice during the periods of acute stress or other situations when the feeling of center is lost or when feeling less grounded than usually.

Please refrain from practicing if you feel weakened or unwell. Choose rest instead.

More practices: Working With Head and Face

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We use face to maintain or avoid contact with others. When we are in a fight/flight or freeze state, our capacity to engage in meaningful communication, to comfortably accept the presence of others reduces significantly. By working with head and face we improve the sense of presence and feel more grounded, we facilitate the connection with ourselves and the outside world, as well as other people.

Recommendation: Practice once or twice a day for 10-15 days to make the body remember the process. After this period of learning the practice can be especially effective if used to cope with excessive activation or moments of distress. Practicing when you feel relatively well will help develop the positive feedback loop that facilitates the much needed change in the moments when you feel out of balance.

Please refrain from practicing if you feel unwell. Choose rest instead.

Read more: What’s Grounding?

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