The terms "family constellation" or "systemic constellation" have a kind of
poetry that I can appreciate, but as every constellator knows, they still need
further explanation to be fully understood.
I've been seeking a term that would be self-explanatory, or at least closer to
describing the unique phenomena of a constellation. I have tried "field
consciousness," and heard Dan Booth Cohen talk about "representative
perception," but the language that I like the most and have started using in my
explanations is "embodied perception".
Embodied Perception is a term that is currently used in the field of cognitive
science to describe the way the body affects our interpretation of the world.
For example, as described in the wikipedia entry on embodied cognition, when a
pencil is held between a persons teeth creating a "smile", pleasant sentences
are understood faster than unpleasant ones.This holds true in reverse: a
"frown" increases the time it takes to comprehend pleasant sentences.
However, this particular use of the term still places the knowing inside the
mind. It can even be interpreted as "when the body is experiencing this, it
warps our perception like this."
Embodied perception in constellation work locates the body as the source of
knowing, and the mind as a tool for interpretation.
The term embodied perception is a generalization of Dan's term "representative
perception." I consider it a description of the sense perception that Eugene
Gendlin describes in his focusing work, which also has a variety of terms to
describe it: "bodily felt sense," "embodied knowing," or just "embodiment". I
don't know how many focusers are also constellators, but I would be curious to
know Gendlin's reaction to the fact that the felt sense can be picked up by
others as representative perception.
Being new to constellation work, I have not been privy to the evolution of the
language of this field. Perhaps some of you use this very term. However, if
these thoughts are helpful to anyone, it is a privilege to share them.
May you all be well,
Alison
