Constellations in the Field

When people inquire what I do, I always explain that it is best experienced in person, in real time. However, by way of introduction here, my name is Shivaun Woolfson and I have a diverse background as a counsellor, teacher, writer and historian. Currently I run a practice of Systemic Coaching with Horses at our small farm in Robertsbridge where I live with my partner Fran, our lovely dog Matzo and our herd of three rescue horses.

What is a Systemic Constellation?

Several years ago while struggling with a screenplay, I was introduced to Systemic Constellations, a therapeutic model developed by German philosopher and psychotherapist Bert Hellinger. It departs from mainstream therapies in that it recognises that individuals are part of ‘systems’ – within a family, at the workplace, or even cultural and tribal contexts. Systemic constellations also acknowledge ancestral legacies –loyalties and resources at the soul level.

Often, our challenges are not confined to our individual problems or circumstances alone, but are systemic and relational in nature, and sometimes, even inter-generational or historical. We are not always conscious of the gifts or burdens we carry from our ancestral line. Acknowledging what is not ours can free us, while gaining insight into the gifts bestowed upon us can help us embrace and manifest in powerful ways.

During a session, participants are guided to create a ‘living map’ of aspects or elements of the issues they are facing. This facilitated exploration brings to light the hidden dynamics, underlying entanglements and perhaps even unconscious ancestral legacies which lie at the root of the issue. As  an embodied, experience-based process, this allows us to tap into the ‘knowing field’ and our own body’s innate wisdom and to transcend the narratives that bind us and reveal deeper truths and opportunities for healing, insight and direction.

How does a horse-guided constellation work?

As herd animals, where survival is a priority, horses exist in an ongoing, ever-present state of ‘now,’ constantly assessing the potential threat presented by those who enter their space. Highly attuned to energies, vibrations and intentions, they offer a precise reflection of an individual’s levels of authenticity, presence and congruence, their reliability and safety as companions on the journey, or even as herd leaders. The horse’s response, sometimes nuanced, other times more overt, addresses not only the person standing before them, but also the entire system to which that person belongs, paying particular attention to distortions, disruptions or dissonances in that system. Thus, the observable interactions between horse and human can reveal underlying belief systems, behaviours and thought patterns, which may then be explored and presented for healing.

As an example of the above, a client presented in a state of overwhelming grief following the death of her father. One horse, in particular, attached herself to this client, shadowing her wherever she walked. Through gentle exploration, it emerged that the client’s family had been wiped out in the Holocaust. As she explained this in words, the horse let out a huge snort, by way of relief. I asked the client to pick up items — branches, stones, earth—to represent the grief that she was carrying for those who had been lost, and to lay them down wherever she saw fit. She collected the items as she walked and then stood before a giant oak tree and solemnly deposited them at its base, naming the family members for whom the items now stood. The horse, walked with her, step by step and as she placed the items and whispered the names, the mare lowered her head, each time, as if she too were laying them finally down to rest. The client did not ‘overcome’ her grief during the session. However, she was able to acknowledge that she was carrying, not only her own natural grief, in the aftermath of her father’s passing, but also that of her entire system in the wake of decimation. And through the actions of speaking aloud, walking, naming, laying down, the horse a companion to that journey, the load lightened just a little. She told me afterwards that the session had offered her a kind of warmth and comfort that she had not experienced since her father’s death. This is but one example of the kind of interaction that can occur.

Who benefits from these sessions?

While some people books sessions as a result of distress, trauma, loss or anxiety that they cannot overcome, for others interaction with a herd presents opportunities for deeper connection to nature, the environment self and others. Systemic coaching with horses is particularly effective for those experiencing blocks and uncertainty, for those wishing to understand their ancestral legacies and for those who might have exhausted the avenue of talking therapies.

Bookings now open for Horse-Guided Systemic Constellations Workshops Series

• Saturdays: Feb 22/March 21/April 25/May 23 – 12:30-3:30 pm
• Browns Farmhouse, Robertsbridge, TN32 5JG.
• www.creativeconstellation.net
• Phone 07872178315/email [email protected]

About Shivaun Woolfson

Shivaun is a published author and historian who has taught in both academic and community settings. She is also a trained counsellor, addictions specialist and certified Systemic Constellations practitioner (Centre for Systemic Constellations UK). She has a PHd in History (Sussex), a B.A. in Counselling and Social Work (Miami), training in Systemic Horse-Assisted Coaching (Wind Org, Netherlands) and in Equine Assisted Personal Development (Intuitive Horse UK). Registered member of Complementary Medical Association (CMA) and International Systemic Constellations Association (ISCA). Insured by Balens.