The Knowing Field Issue 8

The idea of using a Celtic knot design on the cover of this issue came originally from a wish to publicly acknowledge the community of constellators and trainers in Cork and Dublin in Ireland who have been immensely supportive of the journal in a quiet, unobtrusive way. And yet I found on investigation that it is not clear where Celtic knots actually originated or indeed what they represent. One interpretation I found which seems for me to fit with constellation work and systemic thinking is from Franklyn D. Garland: “To me the Celtic knot embodies the connection of everything, to everything. No matter how our lives may twist, turn and overlap they all fit together as part of the magnificent whole. No beginning. No End.” (www.celticknot.com) I have just returned from a second trip to Germany in a short space of time. My initial trip was to attend Albrecht and Brigitte Mahr’s Conference in Würzburg on Collective Wisdom, where we were challenged to move beyond constellation work alone and into the wider realm of system thinking.

I went from there to the Fifth International Intensive held this year at Closter Bernried near Munich which provided us with a nourishing oasis of learning and networking. Bert and Maria-Sophie Hellinger visited the Intensive for half a day and demonstrated their Movements of the Spirit which I have briefly reported on at the end of the journal. Bert advised us of the separate training organisation they have now formed. I felt my heart sink as I allowed the full impact of that separation to touch me. With the formation of this the knowing field separate group, Bert’s interview with Mitchell Jay Rabin on conscience and belonging in groups seems an appropriate addition to this issue. The second meeting in Germany was to do with preliminary steps towards the formation of an international association. Hunter Beaumont has kindly submitted an up-to-date report on progress so far.

Jane Peterson’s opinion piece raises some interesting questions for us to ponder when considering the possibility of forming ourselves into such a large body of constellators and demonstrates the need for us to acknowledge how vastly different not only the needs of every country and continent are, but also the traditions contained within those countries with regard to constellation work. As a demonstration of this difference, Francesca MasonBoring beautifully describes her Constellation as Ceremony and the ancient traditions that have been part of Native American and other cultures since the beginning of time. Given that much of the work we do is ‘borrowed’ from these traditions, such ways of working with constellations are an integral part of the constellating community and as such have much to teach the rest of us about respect and inclusion, rituals and honouring the ancestors and the ‘knowing field’.

The main theme of this issue of the journal is a scientific investigation into what constellations may be about. We have three such articles: Melissa Roussopoulos looking at the concept of electromagnetic fields, Jean Boulton linking constellation 2the knowing field work to the new physics and the origins of our separatist thinking, and finally a discussion between Franz Ruppert and Jen Altman on mirror neurons as a possible explanation on the neurophysiological level which is a development from Franz’s article in the previous issue. Henriette Katherina Lingg provides us with the first of a series of three articles looking at Management Constellations, an interesting extension of the use of systemic structural constellations within the organisational field. Alongside all these new developments, it is always a pleasure to be able to include some examples of constellations and Dan Booth Cohen’s article on working with prisoners and Ed Lynch’s short piece on the African-American who felt he had no place to belong anymore are both welcome additions to this issue.

Eva Madelung and Jakob Schneider take us back to some of the original thinking and ideas of Bert Hellinger regarding the orders of love. Eva challenges us to look at what Bert has actually said in terms of his controversial statements on the role of women and the feminine in constellation work, whilst Jakob, with touching examples reminds us of some of the orders with respect to couple work and how that relationship for many people is the cornerstone for the rest of their lives. June 2006 We have a welcome review of Bertold Ulsamer’s book ‘The Healing Power of the Past’ by Diane Yankelevitz, who sees it as a useful addition for all those wishing to keep in touch with the basics of constellation work.

It is my view that the journal should be a place of debate as well as input of knowledge and for this reason I am introducing two new regular features: ‘Letters to the Editor’ (which will include responses to articles) and a ‘News from around the World’ section which is designed to let the reader know what else is happening in the wider international community. The future of constellation work and indeed of The Knowing Field is an uncertain one. These are turbulent times. I feel heavy in my heart about all the difficult feelings there seem to be around the separation of Bert and Maria-Sophie from the rest of the constellation community in Germany. And I feel concern for what impact such a separation may have on the wider field. I just hope we will manage to find a way to ride the waves created by this turbulence. I

have missed the assistance of Carol Siederer this time who has been tied up with family matters but am grateful to others from the Advisory Board and Editorial team who stepped in to fill the gap.

Barbara Morgan