Individual Constellation Work
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Individual Constellation Work is the one-to-one version of Family Constellation work, a process created by Bert Hellinger in the 1970's. Family Constellation work occurs in a room with a group of people, with "representatives" who volunteer to play roles within the family system. Individual Constellations occur between a client and a facilitator, in-person or on-line. I've come to think of it as a "spontaneous play", an elegant way of looking at our current life situation and relationships from a systemic and inter-generational place.
I was fascinated to learn more about this work because I've always felt a deep connection to my ancestors. Even as a child, I would often ask my parents to tell me stories about their parents, grandparents, great uncles and aunts, fascinated by all the interconnections and how things changed with each generation. |
I first learned about this beautiful, healing work during a Craniosacral Therapy Training in 2010. In 2015, I attended local Family Constellation circles in the Bay Area and then I completed the Individual Constellation training with Leslie Nipps in July 2019. As I participated in the constellations the same question would always come - How can such deep, generational work happen in a such a simple and efficient way?
One way this happens is by paying attention to the "Orders of Love":
- Acknowledging What Is
- Belonging
- Seniority amongst family members, i.e. sibling order
- Balance of Giving and Taking
- Taking Responsibility and Addressing Transgressions
"Energy goes where attention flows." James Redfield
How does it work?
In an Individual Constellation, the client is asked to set an intention and then place symbolic objects representing their family member on a tableau. With mindfulness and observing the "Orders of Love", the facilitator guides the client through an internal process in which family dynamics become clear and entanglements, both conscious and unconscious, are brought to the surface. By bringing these entanglements into the conscious realm it becomes easier to understand and release them. This creates a shift not only in the client, but within the entire family system resulting in new ways of being in relationship with ourselves and others.
A few questions to consider if this work calls to you:
Are you tired of repeating the same patterns? Are you looking for deep change within yourself, in your relationships and within your community?
If so, I encourage you to explore this work.
In an Individual Constellation, the client is asked to set an intention and then place symbolic objects representing their family member on a tableau. With mindfulness and observing the "Orders of Love", the facilitator guides the client through an internal process in which family dynamics become clear and entanglements, both conscious and unconscious, are brought to the surface. By bringing these entanglements into the conscious realm it becomes easier to understand and release them. This creates a shift not only in the client, but within the entire family system resulting in new ways of being in relationship with ourselves and others.
A few questions to consider if this work calls to you:
Are you tired of repeating the same patterns? Are you looking for deep change within yourself, in your relationships and within your community?
If so, I encourage you to explore this work.
An Individual Constellation includes:
Cost: $175
- Free Phone Consult: A time to ask questions about Constellation work, and see if we're a good fit for each other.
- 90-Min Constellation: An on-line session held in the comfort of your own home.
- Follow-up appointment: 3-4 weeks later. A time to get clarity and integrate the constellation session.
In their own words:
"I was excited to learn that Tomi was offering Family Constellations, as she was already a meaningful Craniosacral practitioner whose talents had brought me deep healing. I knew very little about Family Constellations but deeply trust Tomi’s wisdom and energetic gifts. Tomi guided the session in a way that felt easy to engage in. We set an intention for the session around what I had hoped to learn or discover. We made a map of my family dynamics based off feeling, intuition and history by making a map with symbolic stones. From there, Tomi was able to tune into each of my family members on the map to further explore the energies around that relationship. I couldn’t believe how spot on each of their explorations were - they were exact! We then looked at the map from different angles and Tomi pointed out the patterns they saw - these were also incredibly accurate. At the end of the session we came back to my intention, and what I realized was the map of my family connections had echoed across all of my adult relationships. It’s as if I had taken my family patterns and re-created them over and over again. I was excited to learn that this work helps shift the family dynamics as well. Over the following weeks I had many “realizations” as the “map” we had made came to life before my eyes. I witnessed dynamics become clearer and my personal life shifted into a deeper understanding and perspective. Tomi Knutson is a talented energetic practitioner and healer and their new offering, Family Constellations, is an additional layer to their magic." L.F. 4/20
"I had a constellation with Tomi's during a time when I was feeling stuck in a certain area of my life. I had spent time talking about it with friends, therapists, etc., but nothing seemed to shift, nor was I able to access any further wisdom about it. The constellation helped me to get a whole new perspective on the internal dynamic I had been stagnant in. I had expected this much, but what I didn't expect was just how much that new perspective would open up connections to areas of my life (and past) I had no idea were connected to my present circumstances. It was truly a transformative experience, and I felt very tangible shifts come about as a result - some of which, if you had asked me before, I wouldn't have believed were possible. Of course, none of this would have taken place without Tomi's ability to create a safe container. Tomi is an intuitive healer who was able to carefully travel with me as we touched upon memories and sensitive emotions, many from years past. I am not a person who shares such things easily, and I tend to be suspicious of these kinds of practices, but I felt held throughout the experience, and really felt how sacredly Tomi holds this kind of work. I'm still benefiting even all these months later. I'd love to do it again someday!" S.C. 5/20
"I came to Tomi for a constellation because I wanted to heal the wound of my mother leaving when I was a child that played out in co-dependency in romantic partnership. I knew that I wanted to heal my family, and myself, and learn to love in a more coherent way. My session with Tomi was so powerful--I could feel the shifts in my body and in the field each step of the way. During the integration period I had an increasing sense of a deeper sense of self emerging, and then after our integration session it was like a lock clicking open. Almost every day now I have a moment where I can see and feel access to choice--choice to not abandon myself while also staying in loving, clear connection with the other people in my life. Constellation work is a gentle yet potent and elegant way to transform fundamental patterns of harm into choice and love."
Ursula Ferreira, 9/2020
"I was excited to learn that Tomi was offering Family Constellations, as she was already a meaningful Craniosacral practitioner whose talents had brought me deep healing. I knew very little about Family Constellations but deeply trust Tomi’s wisdom and energetic gifts. Tomi guided the session in a way that felt easy to engage in. We set an intention for the session around what I had hoped to learn or discover. We made a map of my family dynamics based off feeling, intuition and history by making a map with symbolic stones. From there, Tomi was able to tune into each of my family members on the map to further explore the energies around that relationship. I couldn’t believe how spot on each of their explorations were - they were exact! We then looked at the map from different angles and Tomi pointed out the patterns they saw - these were also incredibly accurate. At the end of the session we came back to my intention, and what I realized was the map of my family connections had echoed across all of my adult relationships. It’s as if I had taken my family patterns and re-created them over and over again. I was excited to learn that this work helps shift the family dynamics as well. Over the following weeks I had many “realizations” as the “map” we had made came to life before my eyes. I witnessed dynamics become clearer and my personal life shifted into a deeper understanding and perspective. Tomi Knutson is a talented energetic practitioner and healer and their new offering, Family Constellations, is an additional layer to their magic." L.F. 4/20
"I had a constellation with Tomi's during a time when I was feeling stuck in a certain area of my life. I had spent time talking about it with friends, therapists, etc., but nothing seemed to shift, nor was I able to access any further wisdom about it. The constellation helped me to get a whole new perspective on the internal dynamic I had been stagnant in. I had expected this much, but what I didn't expect was just how much that new perspective would open up connections to areas of my life (and past) I had no idea were connected to my present circumstances. It was truly a transformative experience, and I felt very tangible shifts come about as a result - some of which, if you had asked me before, I wouldn't have believed were possible. Of course, none of this would have taken place without Tomi's ability to create a safe container. Tomi is an intuitive healer who was able to carefully travel with me as we touched upon memories and sensitive emotions, many from years past. I am not a person who shares such things easily, and I tend to be suspicious of these kinds of practices, but I felt held throughout the experience, and really felt how sacredly Tomi holds this kind of work. I'm still benefiting even all these months later. I'd love to do it again someday!" S.C. 5/20
"I came to Tomi for a constellation because I wanted to heal the wound of my mother leaving when I was a child that played out in co-dependency in romantic partnership. I knew that I wanted to heal my family, and myself, and learn to love in a more coherent way. My session with Tomi was so powerful--I could feel the shifts in my body and in the field each step of the way. During the integration period I had an increasing sense of a deeper sense of self emerging, and then after our integration session it was like a lock clicking open. Almost every day now I have a moment where I can see and feel access to choice--choice to not abandon myself while also staying in loving, clear connection with the other people in my life. Constellation work is a gentle yet potent and elegant way to transform fundamental patterns of harm into choice and love."
Ursula Ferreira, 9/2020