Hi Randy,
One thing i do with large groups, ( apart from line-ups and positions,
belonging exercises) is this.
In a large group 'being involved' could also be observing and
reflecting, and some cultures like to watch others as well as doing
themselves. I ask for about 8 volunteers and name them as roles in an
Organisational Constellation. I have never done this in a demo for a
family Constellation, I work with the family field differently. So I
say to the volunteers 'you are the boss', customers, work etc, give
them each a role. Then I set them up in a very dysfunctional way,
back to back, hemmed in,
distance, as long as people are comfortable enough. First i ask those
watching what is it like, and coach them into, what is it like in
their bodies to observe this, just a few replies is enough. then ask
the people in the Constellation, get their responses. Then I ask the
representatives to be guided by their body, and usually they move to a
better structure, can breathe, see each other etc. Then I get the
responses of the observers and the representatives again, sometimes
you can do a little ritual as well, maybe ask a rep to say thankyou to
another rep, or what ever seems right at the time. Then, because I am
often doing Organisational/Management training, I ask "Do you think
this Organisation will be better run now or before, and then ask
'why?'. I find this exercise if good for showing how systems operate,
eg self-organisation, it is quite embodied, and is shows how we are
effected by the system, ie the observers are effected as well even
though they are not in the
constellation. It also looks like a 'normal' constellation as well.
This excercise takes about 10/15 minutes, but I have done it where I
don't name the roles (but I say it is an organisation/business) , but
just see what happens and that is very good, but takes much longer,
and maybe harder to hold for a less experienced group.
As for the ethical considersations on demonstrating constellations, I
think we have talked about that before, but a very interesting topic.
David Mathes, China and Australia.
