Hellinger has observed that traumatic events, such as the premature death of a parent, sibling or child, abandonment, abuse, crime or suicide, can exert a powerful force that affects later generations. Entangled with unhappiness from the past, family members often continue patterns of anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, fear, chronic illness or unfulfilled relationships.
Common themes are: sad mother – sad daughter… alcoholic father – alcoholic son…, relationship difficulties of parents – mirrored by the children. Hidden entanglements of this kind underlie most of the personal and even professional challenges we face.
When this trans–generational influence is acknowledged, the “blind love” it contains, can be transformed into “enlightened love” and emotional and physical suffering can be gently and compassionately transformed into a healthy way of being.
Constellation work does not need the whole families to be present; it is enough for one member to be present to initiate change.
In a constellation, an individual can see the hidden dynamics behind one’s issue and inside oneself in a kind of role play. A constellation creates a picture of the family energy field that allows us to deeply explore and understand our family roots.
When we realise that we are deeply connected to our family’s soul, and understand that neither time nor distance can alter that, we become capable of exploring the complexities of our family’s past.
Looking openly at our family origins provides us with the opportunity to see the good and the bad, uncover beliefs, and investigate the lost and the unexplained. Unconscious connections and unhealthy behaviour through past generations can be shown. Possibilities for change and moving on, even in chronically tangled situations, can be found.
Workshop participants are frequently amazed and deeply touched when the hidden love connections and entanglements within their systems are revealed. An insightful self-awareness process and experience for one person will also have a positive effect on everyone else in the room. This is the reason why people get so much out of a constellation seminar even if they personally did not get the opportunity to set up their own constellation.
Most importantly, one learns to gain strength from a more meaningful conscious connection to their families. This strength helps with our emotional and spiritual development as we re-channel the energetic force used to distance ourselves from the realities of our family of origin, into our personal growth and gives us the opportunity to release long held limiting patterns and beliefs.
