Where Sacred Theatre meet the systemic constellations

My journey with systemic & family constellations therapy began in 2008. Since then, I have attended numerous workshops and trainings. Participating in workshops is essential to understanding systemic constellations, but having a strong theoretical foundation is also crucial for observing systemic laws in play during a session.

I have a long-standing involvement in theater, which began in my small hometown in France and continued through my time in London and New York City. Concurrently, I have been exploring the therapeutic practice of systemic constellations as part of my healing journey. Through this exploration, I observed that while systemic constellations can provide healing for certain issues, they often fall short in addressing problems related to suppressed emotions such as sadness, anger, resentment, and fear. These emotions tend to remain unresolved and may even become further repressed during traditional constellations workshops.

A successful constellation typically brings awareness to the root cause of an issue. However, it is important to note that awareness alone is not equivalent to healing. In some cases, the awareness can be so profound that it prompts action, such as leaving a toxic job or relationship. It is this action, spurred by newfound awareness, that constitutes the healing step.

In family constellations, it is often said that the effects can take years to manifest. This can be confusing! It is also recommended to forget the constellation session after attending it to prevent the mind from interfering with the soul's process. Despite this advice, I began to question the effectiveness of handling specific issues when multiple constellations for the same problem did not bring resolution.

Creating a space for intense emotions is challenging, which is why art remains an excellent outlet. The more whole a person is, the better artist they become. An actor, for example, can only play a dark character by tapping into their darkest shadow, as Heath Ledger did in "The Dark Knight." A true art teacher helps students unleash their hidden parts in a safe space, ensuring things don’t get out of hand.

A helper can only assist as much as they have resolved their own intense emotional issues. Helpers who haven't dealt with such issues tend to keep things very monotone and polite, where people feel they have to tiptoe and sugarcoat everything. In this context, systemic constellations are invaluable for revealing hidden dynamics in families or organizations. However, while the morphic field (see Theories of Rupert Sheldrake) of the constellations reveals these dynamics (50%), facilitating a resolution is the facilitator's responsibility (the other 50%). The morphic field does a lot but not all. Saying "thank you for my life" to parents too soon can be counterproductive and dismissive of the client's pain. Some emotions demand direct expression, and art—whether painting, writing, or another medium—provides a successful way to express and release them.

My approach combines the powerful work of systemic constellations with my passion for expression through theater. This enables people to have more space and a safe environment to express what might seem unacceptable to the outer world. This work is serious but also playful, allowing the inner child within us to express and play. 

My method is particularly beneficial for individuals who have engaged in various healing methods for an extended period and still feel stuck. These individuals often have a deep understanding of their issues but wonder why their lives have not changed. While bringing awareness to stuck emotions can provide relief, true healing requires engaging the inner world through symbolic action within a safe environment. 

Warmly, Mariem ☀️