Family and Nature Constellations
We are all wounded in some way, and we are all our own most powerful healers.
Finding harmony in relationship with ourselves, our fellow humans, and with the rest of Nature, starts by examining how we learned to relate in early childhood, and what dynamics we have inherited in our family systems.
If we don’t do this, unhealthy dynamics can manifest in ways that we are not always aware of, and can cause mental and physical illness, and relationship problems of all kinds.
Constellations are often a helpful facilitation tool in exploring and helping to heal the wounds underneath or behind such dynamics.
What are constellations?
Constellations have nothing to do with the stars, at least not directly! In short, a constellation is the creation of a living map that allows the facilitator and the client to tune in and visualise and explore the relationship dynamics of a system, and start to heal the wounds.
The primary aim of constellations is to see what needs to be seen, so that the whole system can benefit and find balance.
Often the parts of a system that are blocked, excluded or hidden are the ones that are likely to start looking for attention, and if they are not acknowledged (and ideally included or healed) they can start to cause physical, mental, emotional problems in one’s own life, and sometimes even elsewhere in one’s family system, romantic relationship, friendships, and even professional/ financial life, or career.
Constellations are based on a systemic methodology that evolved from the work of German family psychotherapist Bert Hellinger in the 1970s. The methodology was originally called familienaufstellungen, which can be translated as ‘family set-ups’ (more info here).
They evolved from being used to heal dysfunctional family systems through representing living people and ancestors, to also include internal parts of the human psyche. While modern facilitators don’t always credit the methodology being rooted in ancestral rituals and shamanic approaches drawn from multiple traditional African medicine lineages, constellations are essentially sacred spaces, where the invisible is given attention and space to express.
“The greater soul moves in only one direction… to bring into union that which has been made separate” – Bert Hellinger
Later, this methodology was adapted to understand relationship dynamics in organisations and businesses. More recently, it has also been used to explore the relationships between humans and the rest of Nature, and can offer a powerful opportunity for people to experience embodying an aspect of Nature. There are few who I am aware of who pioneer Nature Constellations through research and practice as well as Melissa Roussopoulos does, who introduced me to constellations in 2014.
How could a constellation help you?
A constellation can be incredibly powerful in addressing an issue or question in your life that you want some insight into it, whether it feels urgent or not. This can be anything, such as:
feeling blocked, or not knowing which choice to make in your life path,
mental and/or physical health problems, which could be the result of inherited trauma,
understanding and resolving a difficult relationship (e.g. family member, partner, friend, pet), or
experiencing how your pet, garden or piece of land feels and what it wants to tell you.
All of these are aspects of relating, and are just some of the kinds of starting points a constellation can use to find the heart of the question or issue.
“Everybody can benefit from exploring their relationships with family members. So often we feel things that we are not aware of, or how much they impact our wellbeing, and we can’t let them go.” - Insight from a previous client
How do constellations happen?
A constellation can happen in person or online. Using either human representatives or objects, different people and/or elements in a system can be placed in the ‘field’ being created, so that the relationships between them can be visualised and worked with. The facilitator observes, intuitively feels, and interprets what is happening with the representatives, as they find a position and/or posture and report the sensations, feelings and thoughts that arise.
I have found that energetic safety and psychic boundaries are crucial for this work, which means that the constellation is set up consciously in co-creation with the deeper wisdom of Nature, and with permission of those being represented, especially if they are still alive. The ‘field’ created in a constellation supports work at the pace and level that the client, facilitator and representatives can handle, and has an intelligence that is wise and very forgiving, if set up in an energetically safe way. So, if the question being asked by a client at the beginning of a constellation is about one particular topic, the topic might change and what most urgently wants to be seen will make itself known, if the client is ready for it.
A facilitator may suggest sentences and/or movements for the client and/or representatives, which can be followed if they feel true to say/do. These can be small and simple, but can bring about deeply powerful shifts in the system being represented, in profound and immeasurable ways. The effects of a constellation can sometimes be felt immediately, or it can continue to be impactful for many years. For example, I often still find myself thinking back to one particular constellation that was done for me 8 years ago.
It often takes years of training, peer-group work and supervision for a facilitator to be considered proficient, and I believe additional training is needed in energetic hygeine for the field to be truly safe for all involved. However, the client and representatives need no prior experience of constellations, and there is no deliberate altering of the state of consciousness.
Ultimately, I’ve found that the best way to understand more about a constellation, and how it can be helpful, is to experience one for yourself.
Book a constellation
Online and in-person constellations are up to 2 hours long. This includes creating a safe energetic container for the session, an interview with you at the beginning to find out more about your enquiry for the session, the constellation itself, and facilitation at the end to help you integrate the outcome of the constellation.
Constellation sessions are £140/ €170/ $180/ R2900.
Payment is made in advance to secure a booking.
For constellations in-person, I may need to charge for travel time plus petrol costs, and this is at my discretion depending on distance needed to travel.
Payments are made via Ko-Fi, Wise, Bank transfer, PayPal, or cryptocurrency.
Using Wise and bank transfer are the best systems because of low fees. Wise is an international multi-currency transfer system with zero exchange fees for the payer (you). Please contact me at saskia(at)ecofluency.org for my account details in your country.
Please get in touch if you have any questions.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“Saskia facilitated a nature constellation workshop for our wellness estate in February 2020, to listen to the land and find out how my vision for its future could be harmoniously interwoven with what the land itself wants.
It was a magical experience, and many practical recommendations could be drawn from it. And in the weeks that followed, I observed much more varied wildlife returning to the estate. The estate has certainly now become a place ‘of nature’.”
“Saskia took communication to a whole new level for me, delving deep into my mind and using symbolic artefacts.
I look at things very differently now.
The session with her was the basis of The One and Only Electron.”
“The constellation was powerful and insightful. Saskia’s approach helped me see my situation from new angles that I hadn’t considered, and unpack things that I was previously unable to do alone.
She provided tremendous support, compassion, and understanding. I appreciated the space she provided to explore things on my own, as well as her gentle guidance, and helpful questions.
It exceeded my expectations, and I look back upon it with my goals met. I highly recommend Saskia and her constellation work.””
“I felt so comfortable and safe talking to Saskia. My aim was to dig deeper and heal my relationship with my dad, to understand and forgive.
She guided me and helped me understand where my anger with my dad was coming from, and helped me look at my family relationships from a more gentle angle. I was able to let go of that anger and adopt compassion instead. It was a beautiful experience.
I highly recommend you book a session with Saskia!””
“Empowering, insightful, and alchemizing, constellations and other sessions with Saskia are always pivotal experiences for me, in shifting energy, trusting my own path and deepening in co-creation with all of nature.
I regularly receive affirmations of this from nature with synchronicities and different animals appearing to me.
After our last two sessions, my sugar and chocolate cravings even disappeared, showing me again that my own energy is flowing stronger and clearer.
Skilled, kind, compassionate, and fearless, I highly recommend her services.”