In Spirit and Soul

A family constellation is a way of looking at a family or community system within and across generations. Family constellations help people to think about how to create individual change for themselves and the process also influences and sometimes has a direct impact on their families and communities. The purpose of a constellation is to seek a solution and/or resolution so that troublesome dynamics are not recycled into future generations. And it is a transgenerational therapeutic method with a healing edge. (add comment or quote) Family constellations theory and practice is interested in the deep level of ‘spirit and soul’. A main principle is that everyone in the family has a right to belong even those who have been excluded, forgotten or purposefully left out. If all of the members are acknowledged in their rightful place and take full responsibility for their decisions and actions in life, then love will be able to flow freely throughout the system and the later generations will feel loved, connected and free.

The Western constellations method developed by Bert Hellinger

Hellinger spent many years in Africa as a catholic priest and also headed a number of schools in Natal province, SA. He observed African Zulu family traditions and when he returned to Europe he integrated some of these experiences into the Western therapeutic model that is known as family constellations. Although he never talked about his experiences in South Africa after he returned to Europe, the results of his lived experience can be found in the family constellations method. The ‘classic’ family constellations model that Hellinger developed has grown and diversified into different schools of thought. Within this article and my own practice as a systemic constellations practitioner, I draw heavily on the original model as a therapeutic healing process that has deep roots in African traditional family beliefs and western systemic theory.

Indigenous Wisdom and Healing Ritual

Malidoma Some, Dagara Elder who has extensive experience of both family constellations and Indigenous African Wisdom says this about Family Constellations and Ritual.

“I do not know where the term Family Constellation comes from and my knowledge of the historicity of it is, at best spotty. However, I have had ample exposure to and involvement with the process to know that Family Constellations is one of the many faces of ritual.

We define ritual as the involvement with spirit in sacred space for our healing.” The traditional family constellations method uses a systemic approach to explore ‘relationship entanglements’, with the aim of restoring love back into the family. The healing ritual is part of the method, but somewhat hidden and not the main part of the process. Malidoma suggests that “Ritual seeks to decongest an energetic entanglement through a carefully choreographed release. While in it, a person experiences cathartic changes, some of which are permanent. To achieve as radical a release as possible is central to the purpose of ritual.“ I have been interested in bringing a more ‘Indigenous Wisdom’ perspective to my work as a group facilitator alongside a more ‘African-centred’ perspective. The Ancestral Constellations approach can be viewed as a healing-ritual with a therapeutic edge, on that acknowledges the role of community in family life, respect for cultural traditions and inclusion of ‘ancestors’ those who came before us. In mapping a constellation elders are given a place of respect and precedence is given to the order of family members.

In 2016 I was Invited to take Part if a Healing Study trip to Burkina Faso

The one month trip hosted by Malidoma Some took us to several cities and towns in Burkina Faso exploring traditional approaches to health and healing.  I jumped at the opportunity and was fascinated by the world of ritual that surrounded everyday life there. For example, where there are births and deaths the whole community is involved and plays a part. On my trip I could see ritual taking place around me, all the time. The family life-cycle birth and death and everything in-between takes place in community space.

When someone dies in the village

1. The community comes together for three days and nights of mourning. All of a sudden the drums start and continue, day and night.
2. Everyone in the community is part of the ritual and everyone at some point attends the funeral to pay their respects.
3. When a child is conceived, their gift and the purpose for which they have come into he world is known by the community.
4. As they move through childhood these gifts and purpose are remembered and their place in the community is held and supported.

Many of these traditions have been lost in modern western life

These traditions are increasingly being lost in the village as modern life takes over. Within the Ancestral Constellations method I am trying to provide a glimpse into the embodied process of healing-ritual in an approach that is adapted for contemporary Diaspora life. During the ‘mapping of a constellation in a Diaspora workshop, we come together in community in a supported therapeutic space. Here everyone is exploring their own ancestral family healing and working on behalf of others in the community who are also doing their own ancestral work. The Diaspora workshops take place several times a year. You can find out more HERE

Sonya WM Sonya Welch-Moring

Transgenerational Practice for Diaspora Communities of Colour