Systemic Constellations

What are Systemic Constellations?

overview

Systemic Constellations or Family Constellations work, in part, is a practice of seeing things as they are, in a greater contextual story of intergenerational belonging. It opens our hearts and imaginations beyond how we have experienced the story of our life so far, from an individual perspective, and cultivates a collective and relationally orientated lens on intergenerational trauma, love, loss and longing.

In constellations work we use the terms “issue holder” as someone who is bringing an issue to be explored, and “representatives” as the people who attend a workshop to lend their bodies and energy to looking at, and potential resolving issues. It is solutions focused work, and these movements, occur both in the moments of a constellations workshop, as well as in our bodies and souls for a long time after.

Organisational Constellations uses the same process and methodology, to explore organisational issues or offer insight into complex dynamics and creative solutions. When we do organisational work, we often used experienced constellations practitioners to be representatives for different parts of the systems

This work can be done in groups or as a coaching practice.

Listen here to an interview about this work

Book a workshop

systemic constellations membership

In 2024, we will host 10 in person Systemic Constellations workshop. Places on these workshops are £135 per person. As systemic constellations is a practice over time, as well as one off insight into the dynamics at play within your life, we offer a membership (monthly/annual payment) that enables you to attend 4 workshops over a year.

If you are a trained practitioner with CSC or another school of systemic constellations, you are welcome to join all our in person workshops as a representative on the subscription rate. Please contact danica@jamiecolston.com.

How do I work?

group work

This is full form systemic constellations work. I work over 4-7 hours, which would usually be 2-5 constellations. The group size is 2-16 people and there are issue holders, people who will be working on a specific issue during the day, and representatives, who will be supporting issue holders to do the work. This is a learning environment for everyone and whether you are an issue holder or representative, all go home with some new insight into human relationships.

Constellations is a phenomenological, body based and solution orientated approach to resolving issues. If you are new to this work, it is hard to explain, using words how it happens. We invite you to experience it and at the beginning of each workshop, there will be clear instructions, some warm up somatic and connection practices and/or a meditation. We will always begin and end with a check in and check out in circle, and what is always said is that you begin the day as strangers and by the end you can’t quite believe how closely connected you have all become.

If you have already taken part in constellations work before and you are interested in deepening your experience or practice, I host a seven session ongoing group. In the group we will work with full form constellations, small group exercises, meditations and somatic exercises, to create a collective container for ongoing learning and development.

“Jamie helped me address and gain new and valuable perspective on an old problem. His use of constellations allowed me to gain deep and lasting insights.”

Nick, Solicitor

“Just to give Jamie a HUGE BIG PHAT shout out - we did a constellation today that turned into a deep, wide and beautiful ritual. It’s hugely impacted me and I’m really grateful.”

Zillah, mother

History of Family Constellations

one story of a history of the work

There are lots of perspectives on the story of this work, and this is one short version that stems from pieces I have heard from my teachers.

Bert Hellinger was a German, Christian Missionary in South Africa with the Zulu tribe. On returning, he resigned from priesthood and trained in various forms of therapeutic practice ranging from family therapy to NLP. He was a visionary and experimenter and in his experiments with others, he “stumbled” into the field of family constellations work. Hunter Beaumont, who had worked as a therapist for 30 years, and who co-wrote the book Love’s Hidden Symmetry with Bert, brought this work to the UK, working with Gestalt therapists. Within that initial field of UK based learners was Judith Hemming, Gaye Donaldson, Shiela McCarthy and others who I have learnt from since 2012.

Bert was influenced by the Zulu perspective of intergenerational resourcing, trauma and ancestoral healing and various global therapeutic and healing practices that don’t always get fully acknowledged in this work.

My training

my training and teachers in systemic constellations work

I began my journey in this work in 2011, after meeting Libby Lee, a head teacher at Ralph Allen School, who introduced me to Terry Ingham, Jane James and Judith Hemming. At that time, constellations work was being used by the school to explore systemic issues within the education system.

I began my training in Organisational Constellations in 2012 in the last COLPI (Community of Learning, Practice and Innovation) facilitated by Judith Hemming. Following on from this, I joined an ongoing practice group for a number of years. Over a period of 8 years, I continued my personal work through regular constellations with Gaye Donaldson.

In 2021 and 2022, I continued my learning and development by attending the Foundation and Applied, Family Constellations training hosted by The Centre for Systemic Constellations. As part of my ongoing learning and development, I work with Shiela McCarthy Dodd for supervision and therapy.

I have taken part in over 400 hours of professional training and development and have attending may days of personal constellations over ten years.

other elements that come into the work and spaces that are hosted by jamie

Over the years, I have been fortunate to come across many different lenses, including Vipassana Meditation, Non Violent Communication, Movement and 5 Rhythms Dance practices, Embodiment teachers, Race Resilence and Somatic Abolishment, Intergenerational youth climate justice work, creative facilitation practices, Art of Hosting and Harvesting meaning conversations, Participatory Leadership, Improvisational work and many mindfulness practices. I am grateful for all the teachers I have had, which include my parents, grandparents and children, who are in the presence of my learners mind and practice most days.

Conversations about Constellations

This youtube series of videos, named Roots & Ripples, is an attempt to illuminate more of what is important about the ways in which we facilitate constellations work. As practitioners we all found this work in different ways, and bring a whole host of other methodologies, world views and personal family histories along with us. It has always been my belief that we need to find the people that suit our needs best, and this is a way that you can meet me and other facilitators of this work based across the UK, with ease.

I hope you enjoy these conversations.