Group Constellations Exploring Race and Ethnicity

Join us for an in-depth exploration of the impact of transgenerational trauma and family history using Systemic Constellations. The workshop focuses on the experience of people of color and their families in the United States. The work will be primarily concentrated on healing and exploration through facilitated constellations, with multiple constellations offered each day to support opportunities for many.

We are aware that having a space that is for and centered on people of color can support deeply vulnerable, transformational connection and healing. In order to do so, we are reserving Friday, Saturday and Sunday for attendees who identify as people of color. On Monday, white-identified people will be invited to offer supportive presence and serve as representatives in the constellations of POC. We imagine they may be called on to represent the mixed lineages held by many POC, parts of us who assimilated and/or gathered strength and power/privilege from assimilating albeit at a high cost, split loyalties, tension between the outer masks/inner parts, oppressor parts and possibly our movements towards the loved ones from the dominant culture.

Each day will have a loose theme as follows:

Friday, 2/7  Family and Historical Trauma
Explore how the history of people of color, both in our families and as ethnic groups, has impacted how we move through the world. (POC only)

Saturday, 2/8  Internalized Oppression
Explore how the messages we receive about ourselves and about our groups impact how we view ourselves, how we relate to people in our groups, and the unconscious vows we make to survive. (POC only)

Sunday, 2/9  Relationships
Explore the impact of transgenerational trauma on all of our relationships - partner, parent/child, sibling, community, etc. (POC only)

Monday, 2/10  Reclaiming Our Power 
Explore the ways that we can reclaim our power as individuals, through interdependent relationships, and across group identities. Constellation seekers will be POC. Experienced white-identified folks will be invited to be in the space/available for the field. (POC, with support from invited white-identified people)

Constellation seekers (those selected to be the focus of individual constellations) will have an opportunity to reserve a constellation for an additional cost on a first-come, first served basis. Or, for no additional cost, seekers may be chosen by lottery from all those interested in having a constellation. In alignment with the intention of white-identified people being invited to support the work of POC, white-identified people who attend on Monday are invited to be witnesses and representatives, but will not be eligible to be constellation seekers.

ACCESS: There are 2 steps at the entrance of the home and 2 additional steps once inside to access the primary meeting space. The bathrooms are likely not wheelchair accessible.

Some members of our community have strong reactions to scents of all kinds (perfumes, essential oils, shampoo/conditioner, laundry detergent etc.). Symptoms can include headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing. To support ease for all in being in space together, please use unscented products. For more information on scent free practices, please check out: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/.

Facilitator:  Sarah Peyton
We have invited Sarah Peyton to facilitate this workshop. We know of no other highly experienced constellation facilitator of any ethnicity who can create the depth of healing Sarah does in her approach to family constellations that combines family constellations, Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) and  the healing potential of resonant prescence and language.  While we acknowledge there will be inevitable conscious and subconscious impacts of having a white-identified person as a facilitator for the constellations of people of color, from our personal experiences of Sarah as she presents her work and engages with issues of race, privilege and class, gives us strong faith that for most, the power of her facilitation will still offer potential for significant healing.

Who is Sarah? Sarah Peyton, CNVC Certified Trainer and international facilitator of family constellations, teaches and lectures internationally on the way that language heals the brain from emotional trauma.  Her special interest is the way that difficult events impact our automatic brain patterning, and how to transform our tendencies toward self-criticism into self-warmth. Her book, “Your Resonant Self: Guided Meditations and Exercises to Engage Your Brain’s Capacity for Healing,” was published by W.W. Norton Publishing internationally in September, 2017.

Requested Contribution:

Tuition fees:

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