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Participants are supportingplayers who have chosento gain by osmosis and growthrough observation. Theycreate a circle of energy andhold the space for the work tobe done.Representatives serve as“stand ins” for family members.They gain an evenmore visceral understandingof the impact and import ofwhat happens to members ofa family system. Note: theymay not be family members.Constellation ProcessSummaryThe Client places Representatives(Reps) of variousfamily members inside thecircle. The layout describesthe dynamics currentlyoperating within the familysystem from the Client’sperspective.Reps are then askedwhat’s going on for them.New relationship patternsare explored until familymembers are reconnected inhealthier, more supportiveways that enable the familysystem to achieve greaterwholeness, loving andbalance.As we said at the beginning,do not expect to understandfrom the descriptionI’ve just given. You need tosee the process at work forall this to make good sense.Sometimes seeing the finallayout and experiencing there-configured family systemis enough to bring immediateresolution. More often ittakes a bit of time for newunderstandings to take rootand become fully integrated.Occasionally people findit difficult to absorb the newknowledge and act on thepossibilities presented, yetlater report having clearlybenefited.Origins of ConstellationsWhile not the originator ofFamily Constellations, BertHellinger, from Germany,is credited with developingthe concept into its currentform, and taking the processworld wide. His insightfulunderstanding of humanentanglements and how tobring about rapid resolutionis now being taught inover 25 countries. Hellingerbegan his career as a priest,was a missionary to the Zuluin Africa, became a psychotherapist,and studied familysystems and group dynamics.What’s most significantabout Hellinger’s Constellationwork is that it is basedon years of observation, seeingwhat is and how thingswork. He steadfastly avoidsintellectual theories, beliefsand assumptions. It is thisrevelatory approach that hasled to numerous surprisingdiscoveries about how toestablish healthy, supportiverelationships and releasehistorical disruptions thathave long been reverberatingthroughout your familysystem.Benefits to Client—the Focusof a Particular Constellation• Discover root causes forundermining patternsof thinking, feeling andbehaving.•Access information andstimulate deep, permanenthealing in ways nopsychotherapeutic systemcan provide, because themethod goes beyond intellectand mind, relying onSoul to guide.• Know you are healingmore than yourself. Minimally,you are positivelyimpacting your entirefamily system, going backseveral generations, andthrough your children aswell.Benefits to Participants—Supporting Players•Deepen your understandingof, and connectionwith, the person you havecome to support and otherparticipating players• Learn from someoneelse’s experience. You mayrecognize yourself or yoursituation in the work thatis unfolding, possibly seeingsomething you’ve notpreviously considered.• Participate in a fascinatingprocess. Enjoy sharinga powerfully meaningfulexperience with peacefullyloving people.• Know you are contributingto healing the world.Benefits to RepresentativesIn addition to all you gainas a Supporting Player, youalso:• Experience Soul speakingto you and through you.• May simultaneously healsomething similar withinyour own self or familysystem.• Savor the joy of being ofservice.Is this for you? Do youfeel called? If not, this maynot be the right time. If yes,what else do you need toknow?For more information about ConstellationsPlus—Healing to WholenessMutual Support Gatherings, contactAnn McGill: 703-262-0620 or DianeHetherington: 202- 257-8300.For Women, To Women, About Women13