Wonderful thread!
I will share my perspective as a committed representative who will not pursue
becoming a facilitator.
Some of the comments about the off-time ruminations of representatives are apt:
"Am I an imposter pushing my own stuff into the field?" "Strong feelings
emerged that I didn't understand." "I liked constellations, I guess, but I will
avoid doing that again." Etc.
There are other pieces as well. Representatives are asked to say and move about
under someone else's direction—that is, the facilitator will direct the actions
of the representatives. Maybe some people are not used to that degree of
deference, even if temporary?
I have a background with emergent social and psychological practices, such as
Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Open Space Technology. I also attend an
occasional improv acting class and am a regular fan of live theater.
One of the assumptions of theater (and movies, etc., even popular songs) is the
suspension of disbelief. I feel the same suspension when I attend
constellations. This may suggest a tact when introducing constellations to the
circle at the beginning.
I share this with a bit of hesitancy, as I find many introductory talks too
long and would prefer the facilitator break them up and intersperse the content
throughout the session. In the legit theater the expository parts used to be
all at the beginning when two characters gossiped in such a way as to bring the
audience up to date. Playwrights don't do that anymore, and I think
facilitators might take a cue from that.
It might not take more than a sentence or two about "suspending disbelief." In
a way, this is a counterweight to how families pass along psychological
distress—an experience is too vivid and chronically believeable.
John Perkins, Seattle, 206 524.4496
