What is Family Constellations?

Disclaimer: At Ancestral Healing Institute, we facilitate a form of Family Constellations rooted in the shamanic elements which largely inspired its creation. This is atypical and sometimes discredited amongst the broader Constellations community, as most current applications of Constellations are in clinical psychotherapeutic contexts, where the shamanic roots of the modality are omitted and/or not acknowledged.

An Unorthodox History
Family Constellations is a therapeutic modality developed in the 1970s. Its creation is mainly credited to Bert Hellinger, though many other therapists and psychotherapeutic modalities have contributed to its creation and ongoing development. Click here for a conservative overview of Bert’s background.

In the early 1950’s, Hellinger traveled to Zimbabwe as a Catholic priest, assigned with the mission to convert the Zulu people. In his 16 years there, Hellinger developed deep connections with the ancestral healers, rituals, and shamanic practices of the Zulu of Zimbabwe, who are masters of practical divination & mediumship. They eventually converted Hellinger to African Shamanism.

Simply put, Hellinger witnessed the clear and profound resolution that these ancient practices brought to interpersonal conflicts, dysfunctional family dynamics, ancestral wounds, etc. He learned and participated in the foundations of these practices, and eventually returned to Germany where he developed a modality accessible to “Western” people, yet deeply rooted in natural intuitive practices long-forgotten in the modernized world. What was created is now known as Family Constellations, Ancestral Healing, Movements of the Soul, and other names.

How it Works
Family Constellations shares some similarities with Gestalt Therapy and Internal Family Systems, but is very unique in its approach.

Family Constellations is a profound practice to connect with our ancestral roots and form healthier relationships with ourselves and our inter-generational energies. We explore the origin of a specific mental pattern, subconscious belief, protective mechanism, dysfunctional behavior or troublesome relationship, and communicate directly with those involved in the dynamics experienced. We do this through a kind of cosmic role-play, in which people from the group temporarily embody a person’s family members, ancestors, emotions, and other relevant energies. Often, patterns and beliefs are learned and/or passed down through our lineages.

The dynamics shown in a constellation help us find the positive intentions underlying the pattern, belief, etc.. By acknowledging and honoring the positive intention behind a dysfunctional experience, we open opportunities to fulfill that positive intention in new, healthier ways. This brings forth great clarity and deep healing, both for the individual receiving the constellation, and for the group as a whole.

Each ceremony starts with a connection practice, a guided group meditation to set healing intentions and speak with ancestors, then we dive into the Constellation divination practice.