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Constellations by yourself
Taking notes
If you are doing a constellation by yourself, without a facilitator, I recommend that you write down everything each time you tune in, and actually even more often than that. When you are on your own, there is no one to remind you to check this or that again. Otherwise, you will not remember.
Writing things down also helps you to observe properly. You find yourself in a constellation and not everything is immediately obvious. Have a pen and paper to hand. When I tune in, I stand in a place in the room, which is usually not at the table. I walk to the table all the time when I notice something that comes to mind or that I do, and write it down immediately. Each time, I walk back to the piece of paper on which I have written down what I am tuning into, and pick up the stone that is resting on it.
Adding stones
When working with constellations, I like to use stones, placing one on each piece of paper. If you are working on your own, this is particularly valuable because it is a great source of information. What do you do with the stone? Everyone will probably have a neutral "I'm holding the stone" attitude. But what if you do something else with it? That has meaning. What you do with the stone also has meaning in other constellations, which is why I always like to have a stone with me. For everything you represent or tune in, you take a separate stone. Afterwards, you release the stone from its task and thank it.
When you hold the stone, remember that your heart chakra is located at your heart and not at the location of your third chakra. That is just below it, closer to the diaphragm. That location represents your self. When you hold the stone there, you know that you are strengthening your self. These are things that happen without thinking. The intention is that you notice them.
As I said, I write everything down. I do this all the time in between. So I calmly walk away from a place ten to twelve times to take notes. I notice that sometimes I take the stone with me and sometimes I put it down in its place when I go to take notes. When I take the stone with me to take notes, there is still quite a bit of tension. When the situation becomes more relaxed, I put the stone down on the paper when I go to take a note. When I relax even more, I also put the stone on the paper when I tune in. I no longer hold it. But perhaps these movements have a different meaning when you do them.
Ample time
If you are doing a constellation on your own with multiple elements that together form a system, it is a good idea to set aside at least a certain amount of time for it. An example of this would be a constellation with the five bodies. I also offer other layouts for you to set yourself up.
The more positions you can take in a constellation, the more rounds there are and the longer it takes. With four or five positions with a theme, a constellation can easily take two to two and a half hours. Everything you observe, experience or do is important. By agreeing on a time with yourself, you prevent yourself from stopping too quickly. It takes time. Keep returning after you have written something down and continue observing in the same place. Only when you really feel that "nothing new is coming up here" should you move on to the next place. And when you have been to all the places, do the whole round again, just as carefully. Because when you constellate alone, there is a chance that energies will be less pronounced. These are subtle energies that may express themselves less, due to the absence of a facilitator who brings them to the fore. Then you will see them through what you do and feel in yourself and within yourself. By doing several rounds, you will gradually begin to see a process. So give it time.
Looking around and other 'distractions'
It is also significant if you look at something, or if something catches your eye. It matters if you or your pet accidentally turns over a piece of paper or knocks a stone out of place. That is all part of the constellation. For instance, at the start of a constellation, Ingeborg’s cat immediately knocked two stones off their paper. Message: in the constellation, these are not important. The focus was indeed on one person whose stone the cat had left in place. This is just an example. Ingeborg’s cat was very active in that particular constellation involving the body being. But go and discover your own magic, if you wish.
No role for reflection
What is also important when you set up a constellation on your own is that you don’t switch to thinking about it: “What does that mean?” I find that a challenge myself. I ask myself that immediately about everything. Often I do have a sense of which direction something is heading. But sometimes not at all. Then I only see it later, after the constellation. Because it’s about the relationships and movements of energies, it’s not so much about whether you understand it as it is about the fact that it happens. The process regulates itself. ‘Understanding’ or ‘grasping’ isn’t quite the right word either. It’s about sensing what’s happening. More is understood through feeling than through the mind. If you work with constellations a bit more, this probably isn’t as difficult as it sounds and you’ll be able to follow the movements that occur.
Inner processing
Most of it happens inwardly. This doesn’t necessarily take place on a level that is clearly perceptible to us. As I progress further into a constellation, I notice that all sorts of things are still happening in the positions that I am not really aware of myself. I naturally remain standing there and close my eyes. Especially at the beginning of a constellation, I often have my eyes open in the positions and am aware that I am looking at something. And off I go to make a note. Then back to the paper with the stone and on with the tuning in. And so on. Gradually, I keep my eyes closed more, I’m more focused on what’s happening inside and I’m no longer looking outwards so much. Then my system takes it in inwardly and the processing begins.
Round for integration and healing
Once a sense of calm has settled in, I do another round for healing and further integration. When something is truly ready, I’ll step out of it naturally. Just let the system take its course and don’t think: “Is it ready now?” When it’s ready, it will make itself known.
Enough is enough
That doesn’t mean you have to carry on if you feel that it’s actually enough for you. Follow your own needs in this. That’s always okay. Then pick up the constellation again next time. You’ll then set out the positions anew, however they wish to be set out.