Systemic Healing
In Masters of the Living Energy by Joan Parisi Wilcox, Puma a Andean
paqo says that healing has become much more difficult because people
come as individuals. Long ago, healing was done with the entire family
or community. There is the recognition that while we are individuals,
we are also part of a greater whole and are influenced this family
system, just as the system is influenced by us. How can we heal on a
deeper level without systemic healing for our family, lineage and our
communities?
Our family and ancestors impact our lives in powerful and subtle ways
that are sometimes apparent, and often hidden. The living may carry a
burden for another, stand for someone who has been forgotten, sacrifice
living fully out of loyalty to another, or follow someone who died
prematurely, without ever knowing on a conscious level. If an issue
is passed on through the generations, it might be seen as patterns like
alcoholism, early deaths, men leaving the family, or mental issues that
run through the family. When the flow of love and strength has been
blocked, even in generations past, subsequent generations can experience
problems with relationships, health, emotions, etc. A few examples of
love being severed would be immigration when a grandparent was cut
off from their family or home land; when there was a famine, epidemic,
or war; when someone was missing like with and early death or mental
illness; or events that became family secrets.
I've found the work of systemic constellations, to be a profound way of
healing systemic issues which can manifest as physical, emotional,
mental, spiritual difficulties. Constellations and shamanism are both
phenomenological, and both function outside of space and time.
Both can have a deep impact and support healing changes in a short period
of time, and beyond the healer facilitating movement, the healing is
between the client and spirit.
In his book Images of the Soul- The Workings of the Soul in Shamanic
Rituals and Family Constellations by Daan van Kampenhout he speaks to
the similarities and differences between shamanism and constellations,
and describes how he integrates the two. Francesca Mason Boring is a
Shohone ceremonialist, who also facilitates constellations. She
describes constellations as an extension of ceremony, which has been
around for thousands of years.
Constellations is usually facilitated with a large group of people,
where individuals stand as representative for a member of the family,
or other group system like the workplace. I've found it integrating
into my healing practice when I am called to work on a systemic issue
with individuals. Instead of using people as representatives, I use
stones or other objects, guided visualizations, or see a healing
ceremony for someone's lineage in a journey.
Once when tracking what I thought was a spirit attachment, it turned
out to be a soul-fragment from the client's mother, who is still alive.
The client had taken on her anger and depression, which had come from
being disconnected with her family when immigrating to this country.
What was called for was not an extraction, but a reconnection to those
who were left behind, and to the motherland to whom they were deeply
rooted. This source of strength and support had been lost. By using
the tool of guided imagery, the client was liberated from anger and
depression, and able to move forward in his life in a new way.
As we heal, restoring balance and harmony within, we also effect healing
and harmony without and with the generations past, present and future.
Like the Butterfly Effect, where the flapping of a butterfly's wings in
Japan can effect the weather in Texas, so can the power of one person
effect the whole. As we heal ourselves, we also contribute to healing
the Web of Life, that which connects and influences everyone and
everything.
more about shamanic healing...
