Dear Stephen -
Most of my Constellations these days are by phone or Skype for people spread
around the world. After an interview and silent meditation, I set up a
Constellation with myself standing for all the representatives and the
client feeling along eyes closed.
Usually, I begin by representing the client. What I have frequently noticed
is that when I stand in the client's place and tune into "depression," I am
not actually the client, but one of the client's grandparents. Using your
example, say I stood in William Styron's place in the Constellation. Within
a minute, I would feel the darkness of depression descending. Then I ask,
"Who is this?" Perhaps one of his mother's parents or grandparents.
Sometimes, I ask the client to place her/himself in the Constellation again,
the first figure representing the ancestor and the new figure the actual
client. From this, the client recognizes that "depression" is actually the
resonance of another person imbedded within. There are many factual
sources, but most have to do with a young child losing one or both parents.
Hope is lost and despair takes its place. Generations later, it is labeled
depression.
Of course, there are many cases where the Constellation does not follow this
or any familiar pattern. We always need to be cautious about not using
Constellations like we are following a recipe.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Stephen Campbell
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 8:49 PM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ConstellationTalk] Clinical Depression
Friends and colleagues,
I just finished reading William Styron's *Darkness Visible *A Memoir of
Madness. It is one man's expression of his personal experience with Clinical
Depression. If you have any interest in the subject and want to read a
marvelously well written book, I highly recommend it. Styron is a Pulitzer
Prize winning author and his artistry with the English language makes this
read a delight.
In the book he speaks of the possible roots of this depression. He tells of
his mother's death when he was a young child. I was wondering what your
individual and collective experiences are when Clinical Depression shows up
in a Systemic Family Constellation?
Your comments and insights are gratefully welcome.
Fondly,
Stephen
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