The Power of the Circle
“The many see what the one cannot” Bert Hellinger said this to describe something remarkable that happens in a Constellations circle. One person alone can only see their own perspective, their own memories, their own version of the story. But when a group gathers, something wider becomes available. The system itself begins to speak.
If you’ve ever been in a Constellation workshop, you’ll know that representatives often sense things the seeker or client has never said out loud. They may feel a pull toward someone, a heaviness in the chest, a sudden sadness, or an urge to turn away. These movements aren’t guesses or acting. They come from what Hellinger called the “Knowing Field”, a kind of shared, systemic consciousness that holds the truth of the whole family or organisation.
And this is the magic of group work. The group sees what the individual cannot see alone. It reveals what has been hidden, forgotten, or carried in silence. It brings light to the places where love got tangled or interrupted.
The more people who come and lend their support, the deeper the work can go, because it is shared.
This I was working in a lady’s yoga studio one summer, with the garden doors wide open. My client was telling me how terrified she was of cats, and that her Grandma had been involved in witch-work, magic. Just then a black cat wandered in, and lay down in the middle of the circle. Others were smiling and laughing. I checked my person and she was mesmerised, but not scared it seemed. The laughter and smiles of others was a calming energy for her. I asked them all to just watch, and see. The cat was now part of the constellation. Rolling, resting, very present. As my person spoke about her grandmother’s magic, the owner of the studio said, the cat’s name is Magic. Wow!
In a circle, we don’t push for answers. We watch. We listen. We let the field show us what wants to be seen. Often the smallest movement from a representative can shift the entire system. A glance. A breath. A softening. A step toward someone who has been excluded. As the facilitator I offer healing sentences to try and restore even a little movement, by helping all those present know who they are, and what their relationship is to each other.
If you’ve been curious about Constellations, or if you’ve experienced them and want to go deeper, I’d love you to join me for my upcoming workshop: Group Constellations Workshops – all welcome
Group Constellations: The Power of the Circle A space to witness, to participate, and to feel the strength of the many.
Because sometimes the truth we need is waiting in the eyes, bodies, and hearts of others. And when the circle sees it, something in us recognises it too.
Part of our trauma is living in the shadows, keeping secrets or feeling shame. So the group experience is really helpful to unshame us, when we share our stories we learn how relatable it is for others. There is always an overlap between others work and our own. Many people have their most powerful Ah ha moments witnessing others work. Whilst they may bring the focus for our work, the healing is available to us all.