Appreciate your contributions John, and Leslie. Though we deal with intense
topics, I generally address the reps by their own first name, "Jane, what's
going on with the mother?" This seems to remind everyone that we are dealing
with a phenomenon, but are all still present ourselves. Also, Don mentions the
"witness" and the "container". At times I have found that I want a big group of
reps for "all the ancestors" for instance, so I ask all but one of the people
in the circle to stand up, leaving one person in their chair, as I do feel it's
important that there be a witness - mostly this has provided enough of a
container.
Also, I have never been a fan of providing long-term therapy, thus was drawn
from the start to SCW. But then this demands new clients all the time. And my
skills are in treatment, not marketing. So I keep my day job.
Finally, I have never charged different fees for those who "work" or those who
don't for a number of reasons - nor do I agree that this is the norm. It's a
workshop, and the value of the workshop does not increase or decrease based on
whether you do your own piece or not. Some come with an urgency to work, and
then this dissipates after one or 2 constellations and the person has gotten
the piece they need. Or someone comes just to "observe" and is triggered by a
piece of work, and then feels an urgency to do a piece. Or some that want to
work, don't have the chance to do their own piece - there is a certain amount
of time and then it's over. I've found that a nice tool is to go around the
circle now and then and let people say what is going on with them - BRIEFLY -
and then sometimes one or 2 sentences from the facilitator gives them what they
need.
Just a few more thoughts. thanks, sheila
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 27, 2014, at 12:05, lynxdn@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
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
