What are Family Systemic Constellations?
Systemic Constellations are a form of somatic and phenomenologically oriented therapy work, often practiced in groups as well as in one-to-one sessions. The best way to describe a constellation is to imagine a crossroads between a spiritual ritual and a living-map of a family tree in story form. The classic Family Constellations practice was founded by Bert Hellinger in the 1980's, inspired in part by his time spent in the Zulu culture (South Africa) in the 1950's and 1960's, alongside the work of the Palo Alto Group, Virginia Satir, Hunter Beaumont, Jacob L. Moreno and several others. His practice later came to be known as the Movements of the Soul. In our facilitation of constellation work we follow the work’s founding principles of building healthy relationship in life and encouraging the journey towards occupying one's rightful place. This journey, oftentimes called the Orders of Love, sometimes encounters obstacles and is transgressed, leading to imbalances, symptoms, diseases, and recurring patterns of behaviour that come knocking at each generations' door until the original breach in contact is restored. Constellations help us bring kindness and compassion to the complex systems that we belong to by bringing that which is hidden into the light. They restore balance to our relationships with our families of origin, and they offer ancestral healing with a deeper connection to the land and ecosystems we operate in and from. Through the cases we will work through, we will gain better understandings of how our unresolved family stories continue to affect our present-day lives and how we may open ourselves to the fullness that life has available for us.
How does a Constellation work?
The group will be limited to 24 people, including the facilitators. We will work with 3 stories throughout the day, stories of the so-called "issue-holders" as they are known in classic family constellations, or story holders as we like to call them, possibly 4 if we have enough time. Each story holder will be asked to give a brief outline of what needs attention to the facilitators while being witnessed by the rest of the group. This should include the bare bones, key events and facts of the family story. What then follows, is a live movement ritual where participants from the group are asked to represent and embody the different elements and characters from the story, slowly bringing the map to life. We will bear witness to what arises and offer interventions to resource and to help that which is stuck to unravel, supporting the system to re-establish its wholeness and flow.
Are you a Representative or an Issue-Holder?
We equally value the role of both representation and story-holding and as such choose not to differentiate pricing between the two forms of participation in the workshop. Some of the most profound experiences happen when asked to represent in someone else’s story. One is often deeply moved by the feelings and sensations received in these moments along with the insights and gifts one gets offered in reflection of their personal life and story. Whether you see yourself as a story-holder, a representative, or are simply curious, we welcome you. We invite you to bring your openness to feel and participate in an emotionally and intellectually stimulating day with a creative focus on belonging.
If you feel that you are at a point in your life where you feel ready to offer a personal or family issue, then take some time to meditate and reflect on what it is that you currently long for? What is your deepest heart's desire? What is the movement within that you seek?
Please send us an email to heldfromtwoends [@] gmail [.] com with a couple of paragraphs describing what it is that you would like to work with, by the 10th of September, so that we may hold your story in our awareness in the time leading up to the workshop.
We take seriously the safety of the container that we are building as a community so please rest assured that we will hold whatever you send to us with the utmost respect, care, and confidentiality.
Concessionary Tickets
We have a limited number of concessionary tickets available for this workshop. If you would like to apply for one, please send a brief email to heldfromtwoends [@] gmail [.] com explaining what your current economic circumstances are and why it is important for you to take part in a constellation at this given time. Please take into consideration the following questions when applying: What is your access to income and financial wealth, both current and anticipated? How easily could you earn more income compared to others in your locality/country? Do you have retirement savings and/or a pension? Do you expect to receive an inheritance? Are there other people counting on your financial livelihood, including dependents and community members? What are the socio-economic conditions of your locale, relative to other places in your country of residence?
Accessibility
If you have any physical or mental health accessibility requirements that may affect your ability to participate in the workshop, please feel free to let us know by email at heldfromtwoends [@] gmail [.] com. In this way we will do our best to meet your needs and discuss any questions or concerns that you may have. All participants are asked to be mindful of the content presented throughout the day and agree to absolute confidentiality so that we may work in a generous and safe environment.
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will be given to any cancellations made with more than one month's notice. Half the fee will be refunded to any cancellations made within 3 weeks of the workshop. No refund will be given to cancellations made within less than 2 weeks' notice.
Getting to the Studios
Siobhan Davies Studios has been part of the contemporary dance landscape since the 1980s. The studios have historically represented a place to play, question and experiment within the field of contemporary dance. The studios were built in 2006 by British award-winning architect Sarah Wigglesworth, and the unique design was awarded a prestigious RIBA award in 2006. Our constellation workshop will take place in the stunning Roof Studio on the 2nd level of the building.
By public transport
Nearest tube: Elephant & Castle, London South Bank University exit.
Follow directions to the Imperial War Museum.
By bus: All to Elephant & Castle: 12, 53, 148, 344, 360, 453 or C10 to Imperial War Museum
The studios are also walking distance from Lambeth North and Waterloo stations.
Cycling/Santander Cycle Hire
There are two docking stations near our Studios – on Geraldine Street, and St George’s Road between Garden Row and Gaywood Street.
There are good cycle routes to and from Elephant and Castle and our Studios. Visit the Transport for London website to help plan your cycle route to our Studios. Additionally, the studios provide an area to the side of our building for visitors to lock their bikes securely while at the Studios.
Accessibility
Siobhan Davies Studios is mostly accessible to wheelchair users, with lifts to all floors. Please note that the main door is not power assisted.
There are two accessible parking spaces available on site which can be booked in advance. Blue Badge parking is also available nearby on West Square and Garden Row (for a full map visit the Southwark Council website).
Amenities at the studios include:
-Changing facilities*
-Communal showers*
-Lockers
-Toilets / wheelchair accessible toilets on the ground floor and first floor*
-Kitchen: tea and coffee making, fridge, dishwasher and a not fully accessible microwave
* Please note that the disabled toilets may not be suitable for all users (the toilets in the disabled toilets are 42cm high) and the changing facilities and showers are not fully accessible. The closest publicly available and fully accessible changing facility is at The Castle Centre, a leisure centre 0.3 miles away from the studios. You can find full details of their features here.
If you would like to talk about your access requirements in advance of visiting please call Siobhan Davies Studios on 0207 091 9650.
We look forward to welcoming you to the space, to the collective field that we will hold, and dive into constellation work together.
Stefan + Mahab