I found the text of the Potsdam declaration and will just paste it below
the e-mail. It is really not so well known in the English speaking world.
You may recognize a lot of the themes that have been also touched on in the
current, very serious thread.
I believe the last point is at the crux of it all: to what extent does
access to allegedly objective metaphysical "orders" give Bert Hellinger (or
any facilitator modeling after him) a general inerrancy. Having such access
is not within the normal domain of counseling and therapeutic practices.
Religion is based on metaphysical revelation and not normally subject to
"maturation" or much self-reflection at all.
I agree with some of the comments that point out that the video is
specifically selected to show Hellinger in a bad light (it starts a bit too
much *in media res*, establishing no context). Those that understand
Russian can take a look at other selections under the same YouTube account,
adding to the same theme of distancing from Hellinger.
all the best
Heiki
---
"Potsdam Declaration on Systemic Constellation Work (revised)
The work with role-playing and constellations has a long tradition in
family and systemic therapy. Such work is rooted primarily in therapeutic
techniques as they were developed in Family Sculpture work or in
Psychodrama. In the form practiced by Bert Hellinger, it has achieved a
wider public recognition that it never had before.
Regrettably, Hellinger has increasingly distanced himself from his original
systemic work. But he is still to be given credit for his contributions in
strengthening constellation work.
Above all, he has developed new and innovative procedures that promise to
resolve the dynamics of entanglements.
However, today we have reached the point where, not only essential parts of
the practice of Bert Hellinger --- and many of his followers ---, but also
many of his statements and procedures are to be regarded explicitly as
incompatible with the fundamental premises of systemic therapy, namely:
* Neglecting to clarify statements and their related directives
* The application of mystifying and "self-immunizing" descriptions
("something greater", "taken into service of . . ." etc.)
* The unqualified use of generalized formulations and dogmatic
interpretations ("always when", "bad effect", "punished with death", "the
only way", "forfeit the right," etc.).
* Employing potentially humiliating interventions and submission rituals ?
* The allegedly compelling linkage of these interventions with specific
models of human types and their associated world views (e.g., regarding
gender issues, parenthood, dual nationalities, etc.)
* The idea that one person can reach a truth that is denied to the other
person. This leads to the use of absolutist terminology and implies that,
in a partnership, it is pointless to strive for cooperation in the
relationship.
By contrast, we validate many examples and permutations of constellation
work, all being done in the context of a systemic- constructivist
understanding of therapy, and within the framework of a competent and
responsible therapeutic relationship.
We understand these points as constructive attempts to develop further this
already proven therapeutic technique and also to submit it to more and more
scientific testing.
To that extent we also resist any vague or imprecise criticism of this kind
of practice.
Constellation work "beyond Hellinger" should be developed further as a
therapeutic instrument, but the close connection with his name is not to be
maintained any longer today.
*July 2004 *
This Declaration is supported by: (name, address, signature).
*English translation: courtesy by Thomas Mellett."*
On Thu, Apr 20, 2017 at 10:07 PM, Leslie Nipps lnipps@xxxxxxxxx
[ConstellationTalk] <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I think there’s a balance - isn’t there always? - between being clear and
honest and open about such things (that is, not being complicit with
silence and secrets), and avoiding moving into self-righteousness or
getting caught in polarizing perpetrator energy. We’ve seen it in the
response to Trump, and I find it’s a regular challenge in my own life, from
holding vendors accountable to working out intimate relationships. And it
get so hard when we are deep in our own loyalty trances, and so much seems
at stake (some of which is real, and some of which is not).
There’s no doubt the international constellations community has really
struggled with this one. Ah, the fate of having a complex, very human,
founder. It seems to be more the rule than the exception. ;-)
The Rev. Leslie Nipps
Convivium Constellations - Founder, Practitioner & Trainer
“Trust as a Way of Life…”
www.conviviumconstellations.com
"Hasten to that which supports." - The I Ching
On Apr 20, 2017, at 7:57 AM, Harrison Snow teambuilder@xxxxxxx
[ConstellationTalk] <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for your comment about whipping ourselves into a frenzy
I also have seen how self-righteousness can be so destructive when a group
goes into
a feeding frenzy of blaming and shaming based on assumptions and
projections.
Those who would protest or seek a dialogue are intimated into silence
fearful
of being scapegoated too.
This phenomena might tell us something about the intersection of personal
and collective
pain in the field. When it gets unleashed in a mixed up way can the
facilitator hold a big enough space
so people can see a gap between the present moment and the past or between
the wounded/survival child and the adult self?
In that gap resides the ability to test reality and make choices.
And if we are to see that gap we have to remember to slow down,
step back from the immediacy of the issue, breathe and look for it.
Thanks again
Harrison Snow
Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
Windows 10
From: Barbara Morgan theknowingfield@xxxxxxxxx [ConstellationTalk]<mailto:
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2017 5:10 PM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ConstellationTalk@
yahoogroups.com <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Fwd: Orders of love and trauma
I want to endorse the first two lines of Chuck's email. I think a note of
caution is needed when we are watching a video or listening to someone
else's second or third hand reporting of a situation. If we are not
actually in the field ourselves, how can we pass fair judgement on what
happened? As Leslie points out, we are at risk of whipping ourselves up
into some kind of frenzy and becoming perpetrators ourselves in our
criticism of the perceived 'perpetrators' and what we imagine has happened.
It is very difficult to pass judgement when we are not fully in the field
ourselves. I learnt this lesson myself a long time ago. The reporting of
Bert hitting someone in the chest is particularly difficult to make a
judgement on. Some kinds of trauma therapy do include hitting people in the
chest. I have seen that in the past. It activates a kind of energetic flow
in a previously dissociated or constricted client.
Looking at this video I would tentatively suggest that maybe Sophie got
caught in the field and was trying to force an issue which would not be
forced. And I think we're all at risk of getting caught in the field if we
are to be anything other than ineffectual facilitators afraid to do
anything that might upset the client or the group. Noticing when it happens
is the key here. Not easy.
Trauma is such a hot issue and the range of approaches to it is vast. I
don't claim to have the answers as to the best approach. We each do what we
can at the time and take care to continue to do our own personal work and
inform ourselves of various ways of dealing with it as best we can. Looking
back on my own personal journey with trauma I can see that I repeatedly
unwittingly stepped into a re-traumatising field. I will never know if
those experiences were helpful or not, but for sure they were not
permanently damaging to me. What I can say is that I am strengthened by all
of my experiences of both therapy and constellation work and some of the
most difficult and painful have been the greatest learnings for me.
I personally have worked 4 times with Bert and each time I found the
experience profound and extremely helpful. I haven't worked personally with
Sophie so I can't comment fully on her approach.
Anngwyn's words about 'individual discernment' were very helpful but how
do I learn to discern? For me, it's by stepping into those difficult places.
Good wishes to all
Barbara
On 19 April 2017 at 15:11, Chuck Cogliandro chuck@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:
chuck@xxxxxxxxxxx <chuck@xxxxxxxxxxx>> [ConstellationTalk] <
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>> wrote:
To be fair, not being present in the room with the field, the issue and
the teaching, as well as not speaking either of the languages, does not
support me understanding what’s taking place in the video.
That being said, I’ve never worked with an energy of confrontation like
this, nor have I seen such an approach be effective in healing. I have
experienced re-wounding and an amplification of my defenses when such an
approach was taken with me in a healing environment. I’ve also never seen
my teachers work in this way, and they trained with Hellinger and his first
generation of trainers.
While there have been times I’ve felt guided to invite the client in
different ways to consider that their healing is on the other side of their
resistance, and sometimes suggest ways they might approach gaining a new
perspective, I always trust that their soul knows how much they are capable
to move at any time. In my experience, invitation to movement leads to
lasting change better than does coercion.
peace,
Chuck Cogliandro
Decatur, GA U.S.
--
Barbara Morgan
Family Constellations Trainer, Supervisor & Practitioner
Editor of
The Knowing Field
International Constellations Journal
www.cominghome.org.uk<http://www.cominghome.org.uk>
www.theknowingfield.com<http://www.theknowingfield.com>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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