Healing Family Patterns - Working with Human Systems

This is an experiential workshop in which everyone will participate, in some way, in every constellation. The day will include a guided meditation, discussion, and teaching, as well as about 5 or 6 constellations. Those who feel ready to do a piece of work will be invited to raise their hand. At lunchtime we will see how many people still wish to do their own constellation and if there are more than we have times for then names will be put into a hat and ‘issue holders’ selected randomly. So, please be clear that the opportunity to present your own issue is not guaranteed.

However, this process is deeply moving and everyone present will, in one way or another, have a powerful and illuminating experience. Whether you have brought the issue, participated as a representative, or held the space for the work in the outer circle. Constellation Work offers profound insight and new understanding for everyone in the group. We will of course reflect on each piece of work and our learning together.

This ‘Field-based’ approach to selecting the issue holders is the original way of holding a workshop. Later, in the late 1990s, it became fashionable to monetarise the issue holder place, which created a two-tier fee structure, and hierarchical levels of involvement. I have worked with both structures but have returned to the original way of working now because I prefer it when we meet as equals and trust the Field to provide what we, as a group, collectively need. In this way we respect the spirit of the work, even though some individuals may feel disappointed not to have been selected.

In my 30 years of involvement with Constellation Work, the two most impactful and personally life-changing constellations that I have done were both when I was a representative, not the issue holder. I will speak more about this at the workshop.

Joining Details

Subud hall can be found just off the A4176 road adjacent to the high street. Located in a very narrow street. There is a bright blue door with no 29 found on the front.

The workshop will be held upstairs in the Upper Hall of the venue.

Times

Arrive from 09:45 for tea and coffee

Workshop Starts: 10.00

Workshop Finishes: 17.30

If you are late, please TEXT Gaye on 07810 434 699, including your name in the text

Travel

Trains

If you book 2 weeks in advance you can get an off-peak return from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads for as low as £60 return. The journey is 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Train travel from Birmingham to Bristol costs roughly the same and takes 1 hour 30.

Train information can be found here (www.trainline.com).

Megabus

Travel from London Victoria coach station to Bristol bus station costs as little as £13.00 return and takes 2 hours 20 minutes. More information can be found here. (uk.megabus.com)

Local buses

Local First buses run from Bristol city centre (by the bus station or a short walk from the train station) to Subud Hall on White Ladies Road roughly every 5 minutes. Bus services 1, 2, 3, and 4 travel that way

Parking

All day parking in the immediate vicinity of the Subud Hall and Clifton in general is quite rare however you can park for 5 hours for free a very short walk away on the Downs. You can then move your car to a nearby road with similar rules at lunch time on the Thursday and Friday. The free parking areas on the Downs keep changing so do check the notices carefully. The local meters are free of charge on Saturdays.

Please also see ‘Just Park’ for parking options as these will be cheaper.

Important

Please be sure to let Gaye know of any physical or mental health issues that may affect your participation, before the workshop begins. In this way your needs can be met, and any concerns discussed. Your wellbeing is of upmost importance.

Refreshments and Lunch

Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided for our morning and afternoon breaks.

We will take a lunch break of about an hour at around 1pm – it is difficult to give a precise time. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby which cater for different dietary requirements.

Participants

The group will be kept to a maximum of 25 people. This may well include several constellation students who attend as representatives only. They come to support the group as part of their own constellation training.

What to bring

Please do bring some slippers or a thick pair of socks to wear during the day as this is a shoe-free zone.

It is advised to bring a thermal flask with a sealable lid for your hot drinks.

Cost

£135 per person

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation with more than one months’ notice – full refund given

Cancellation made within 2 – 4 weeks of the workshop – half the fee is refunded

Cancellations made with less than 2 weeks’ notice – no refund given

Please note: All refunds made via Eventbrite will incur an administration fee by the purchaser/ticket holder. The administration fee is non-refundable.

The Facilitator

Gaye Donaldson is a Systemic Constellations Practitioner with 30 years of experience of the work. She has training extensively in both family and organisational work in the UK and abroad.

Gaye is the Creative Director of the Centre for Systemic Constellations, the UK’s first Constellation School, established in 2000 (www.thecsc.net). She is also a member of the senior teaching faculty, offering core training, masterclasses and supervision to student Constellators.

Gaye offers systemic consultancy in organisations, and also works with the constellation approach in all aspects of film and theatre production. Having been an organic farmer for many years, Gaye works with land-based Constellations. For a number of years she was part of ‘Healing the Wounds of History’- an organisation that brings new perspectives to conflict resolution in the Middle East.

Gaye is a mother to five grown up children, and grandmother to three little ones. She lives in Bruton, Somerset, with her small herd of Icelandic horses.

The Workshop

Systemic Constellation Work is a solution-focused approach that enables us to explore complex, and sometimes seemingly intractable personal issues. These issues may arise from difficulties with family, relationships, health issues, career, or existential and spiritual difficulties. At the workshop we will explore how key events and traumas in our lives (which often include events from previous generations) influence us and may even have led to ‘entanglements’ or ‘hidden loyalties’ that unconsciously affect us in our life today.

What is a constellation?
A constellation begins with a conversation in which the ‘issue holder’ describes a difficulty or issue is affecting their life. The issue holder is then asked to select group members to ‘represent’ elements of the system under consideration. Aspects represented are typically known individuals, but may also include groups, organisations, countries, or abstract concepts.

These ‘representatives’ are asked to stand in a configuration called a Constellation which is form of ‘living map’ of the system under consideration. The facilitator gathers information that both contributes to a fuller understanding of the present difficulty, and also supports movements towards resolution. By creating a constellation of an issue we can begin to see what is stuck or blocking the solution that brings peace, and new possibilities for the whole system emerge.

The ‘system’ in question may of course be our family system, our relationships, our working environment, or our own health and wellbeing. The constellation approach can be used to explore any issue. There will be space to look at 5 or 6 issues during the day. As a result, please note that the opportunity to present your own issue is not guaranteed during the day.

Constellation work can be profound and deeply affecting. Please come prepared to participate in a spirit of openness and generosity.

If you would like further information about the constellation process, please go to www.kindredconstellations.com.