What are Family Constellations?
Family Constellations is a therapeutic and phenomenological method created by German psychotherapist Bert Hellinger in the 1980s. This approach reveals the unconscious dynamics operating within family systems that may be causing suffering in present life.
The fundamental principle is that we belong to a "family field" that connects us with our ancestors across generations. Unresolved traumas, secrets, exclusions, and injustices can create "entanglements" that are transmitted from parents to children, manifesting as relationship problems, professional blocks, recurrent illnesses, or repetitive patterns.
The Orders of Love
Hellinger identified three universal principles that govern family systems:
- Belonging: All members of the system have the right to belong.
- Hierarchy: Those who came first have precedence over those who came later.
- Balance: There must be balance between giving and receiving in relationships.
When these orders are respected, love and harmony flow. When they are transgressed, symptoms and problems appear that we often don't understand.