Hello all, a few thoughts with regard to the constellation Chris led re: obesity and the physical challenges that manifested. First of all it sounds like the constellation progressed perfectly. As for the physical distress experienced by the reps - something I learned from Bertold Ulsamer: Sometimes I check in with the rep: "Can you hold it?" when physical symptoms are revealed. Just asking this acknowledges their effort and indicates that I am there with them, aware of what is happening. Sometimes this is enough. Another invaluable tool is distance: Sometimes you can move her further from the other rep(s)- distance often provides safety and a greater ability to see what is going on for the rep- "Yes, this is better, I can see her from here..." That alone sometimes diminishes severe physical (and emotional) symptoms and gives the rep time to take in the situation. We are so used to reps "getting" things so quickly that we sometimes forget that we don't know all of the facts at the start and the situation may be quite heave and intense, as was the case here. It is gratifying to hear of the shifts that Mary has experienced as a result of the constellation.
more on other VERY interesting emails coming through anon. All the best! sheila
Sheila Saunders, RN, MFT Systemic Family Solutions sheila@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.systemicfamilysolutions.com Great Smokies Medical Center of Asheville 1312 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC. 28806 >From: "Chris Walsh" >Subject: [ConstellationTalk] obesity constellation >Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 21:48:37 +1000 > >The following constellation raises issues of: >1. Safety for representatives · With distress & chest pain which could have been a heart attack. >· With communication in a second language. >2 Holding the group when a crisis occurs in the constellation. >3 The practice of replacing a representative. >4 Displacement of symptoms from one representative (the sister) to another (Mary). > >(False names are used and the people discussed have both given their permission for me to publish this experience.) > >Mary asked to do a constellation regarding her issue of obesity. She was clearly distressed about this issue. Firstly she could not control her eating and secondly she could not accept her obesity. After an interview by myself and Libby Nottle, we decided to set up one representative for Mary and another representative for nourishment. The representative for Mary(Carmen) had not been a representative before. She only had basic English language skills, her first language being Spanish. Mary asked to do a constellation regarding her issue of obesity. > >Libby began facilitating the constellation. As it progressed, it became clear that the representative for nourishment was moving like a little girl. I asked Mary if she had a younger sister. She said "yes". The representative for nourishment stated it was very clear that she was in fact the sister. Once this was affirmed Mary's representative immediately became very distressed and started speaking Spanish. Fortunately as I'm able to speak Spanish I was able to get a history from her. She was complaining of a heavy chest pain, which was consistent with the pain people get with angina or heart attack. So I removed her from the constellation and attended to her distress and pain. At the same time Libby selected an experienced participant to take over the role of Mary's representative and continued on facilitating the constellation. > >Very soon after Carmen was removed from the roll as Mary's representative her chest pain and distress disappeared. I reported this back to the group as soon as possible so that they would not be distracted by their concerns for Carmen. > >When the new representative took that position in the constellation, she started to experience quite severe pain in her throat. At this point Mary volunteered that her younger sister had almost died from swallowing turpentine when she was only a toddler. Mary felt responsible for her younger sister at the time this occurred. Mary brought her sister's plight to the attention of their mother who then took her sister to hospital where she was treated. As soon as this was mentioned, the symptoms experienced by Mary's representative started to settle. It became clear that Mary was carrying the physical pain and the fear of death for her sister. A representative for the mother was introduced and the constellation eventually reached a good resolution. > >As the constellation proceeded Carmen returned to the holding circle. After the constellation, she reported that when she had to leave the constellation she felt weak for leaving and ashamed of this weakness. This however settled as she was reassured and brought back into the holding circle. Mary reported this feeling of weakness and the shame about this weakness were feelings she had struggled with for a large part of her life. > >Since the constellation Mary reports that she has much less craving for sweet food, her chronic feeling of depression has lifted & the world literally looks as if it has more light in it. She also states she feels a sense of inner peace that she had never experienced before. Carmen reports that she is much more aware of the cost to herself and others of continually taking on other people's suffering, something she has done for most of her life. > >I would be interested to hear anyone's comments or related experiences in regard to this constellation & the issues it raises > >hasta la vista >Chris Walsh > >An Australian Constellation Website: >www.constellationflow.com