What is Family Constellation or Family Energetics Work?
Family Constellation (aka Family Energetics) work involves freeing bound up energy blocking the flow of love in the "Family Soul." The flow of love in a family generational line can be blocked when an ancestral family unit experienced difficulties that overwhelmed the capacity of the family to handle the ensuing emotions that resulted from those difficult events. In Family Constellation/Energetic Work, something occurred in the family setting somewhere back in the generational line that was not adequately addressed, processed, accepted, or that was completely ignored. This resulted in a loss of the flow of love in the Family System, and this imbalance in the Family Soul may continue until it is resolved through proper acknowledgement and processing. (It doesn't necessarily need to be ancestral though--if your own family had difficulties that weren't addressed you may benefit from Family Constellation work so it isn't passed on to your children. )
For example, those who do emotional/psychological work understand that if there is unfinished emotional business in an individual who dies, it can be passed on to that individual's children (manifest in many ways, physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.) The same is true of the Family Soul: unfinished business may get passed on through the Family Soul, and a perceptive child in the family may take on that energy as their own in an attempt to help the Family Soul heal. In most cases of Family Constellation or Energetics work, the individual really did not need to take that disruptive energy on--which can cause them all kinds of difficulties. In other cases it seems the individual takes on the energy by "calling, or assignment", and one of their underlying subconscious life goals is to help heal the Family Soul. (I have found this to explain "past life" and inexplicable personal issues in ways that make so much sense.!) But Family Constellation issues can be cleared--and that's great news!!!!
I have found Family Constellation/Energetic work to be very freeing. It releases a ton of pent up energy and seems to allow individuals to have much greater access to the love and help that their deceased family members want to give them. Something interesting to note is that people outside of the family who did things to affect the flow of love in the family become part of the family constellation (even though they aren't family members.) I find this very interesting because it underscores how important forgiveness is to the Family Soul--and the beauty of the Atonement on a whole new level.
What are some events that can create the need for Family Constellation (Energetics) Work?
1. Attachment Issues: Failures in childhood attachment bonding (for various reasons) of someone in the Family Constellation---this could go back several generations if the lack of attachment effected the family from that point on. It is well-understood in Attachment Theory, that the unhealthy attachment affects relationships in a family system for a lifetime if not healed.
2. Parent/Child Seniority Switching: If for some reason the parent is unavailable (physically or emotionally) and a child becomes the parent's "parent" or "spouse." This can create a block of a healthy flow of love in the family dynamics and create the need for Family Constellation Work.
3. Former Partner or Lovers excluded: This can be about unresolved emotions for a first love, a former spouse, etc. that blocks the flow of love in the family. Small children have keen emotional sensitivities and can pick up on these things if their parents (or grandparents) still have attachment to former lovers, the ex, etc. This can potentially block the flow of love in the family.
4. Major Injustices in the Family: This injustice can go either way--if a grandparent (great-grandparent, etc.) was unjust with someone , or if someone was unjust towards them (i.e. a land swap that turns out to be unjust, plantation owners, arsonist who gets money for the fires they create, etc.) This may affect the flow of love in the family, especially if the family hangs onto it with anger and unforgiveness. (Note: Remember, the need for work is only there if the injustice was not processed in a complete way--again, forgiveness is huge!)
5. Tragic Suffering in the Family: These can be things like miscarriages, stillbirths, abortions, untimely deaths, suicides, murders, crippling long-term illness, forced emigrations, birth defects, etc.
6. Catastrophic Events: This can be combat remorse for veterans, natural disasters, war, survivor guilt of members who survive terrible events (like the holocaust), etc.
7. Perpetrator-Victim Abuse: Abuse in it's many forms. This can be from a one-time experience or an ongoing abuse situation. Family members down the constellation line may feel the need to atone for the actions of the perpetrator, or the victim may have carried wounds they found impossible to process. So remember, the abuser and the victim are both part of the constellation because of how it affected the flow of love in the Family Soul. Also know that this can include forms of "ill-gotten gain" if you had an ancestor involved in dishonest or immoral gain (like slavery, immoral business dealings, etc.), or visa versa.
If we did Family Constellation (Energetics) Work with you, remember that we acknowledge their suffering, thank them deeply for all they've faced, all they have done for the family, and we gratefully free it and give it to the Lord (or the universe), or back to them. Hopefully we can give it to the Lord, but some aren't ready for that.
Good Reads:
Family Energetics by Deborah H. Donndelinger
The Healing of Individuals, Families and Nations by John L. Payne
Health, Happiness and Family Constellations: How Ancestors, Family Systems, and Hidden Loyalties Shape Your Life and What You Can Do About It
This blog should not be taken as medical advice.
