The news is awash in stories of teachers who have betrayed their students. The worst stories are, of course, about ‘false gurus,’ the ones who intentionally manipulate the idealism and love of their followers to profit financially and get their own personal needs met at the expense of the students.
It’s powerful stuff. We all deeply desire love, purpose, work that heals or builds, and to belong to something larger than ourselves that is good.
In this way, students or followers are giving an enormous gift to their teachers: their trust (as well as their money, time, and effort). It’s a precious contract, one the teacher needs to respect and honor.
If that happens, the exchange can go both ways: the respect of the teacher is reciprocated with respect from the students. At its best, it can be such a relief to relax into basic trust, and simply teach or learn something we value.
This is what I hope for myself as a constellations teacher, and for my students as learners. Because of course, the idea is that through learning constellations, they will themselves become facilitators, leaders, and maybe even teachers.
So, no “miracle cures.” To support that grounded way of acquiring expertise, I invite my students to avoid thinking about constellations (or any healing modality or spirituality) in this way.
Please don’t get me wrong: I think constellations work is a remarkably powerful modality. I am convinced it is often the missing element in our reach for healing and wholeness: an awareness of how our personal issues are part of the larger systems that we belong to, especially our ancestors.
My clients often see it that way, too. How often have I heard “I never thought of it that way! And it makes all the difference, now that I’ve honored the lost suffering of my ancestors. Now I can be myself, and move forward.” I’ve even seen a few “miracles cures” — where someone has a change that is immediate and deep.
And like most healing work, that’s the exception. Life is one long healing journey, hopefully, and something like constellations takes a really good place in that. I want my students to become masterful practitioners, committed to ethical practice, enjoying their own unique “take” on the work (often different from mine!), and skilled at discerning the Field and honoring the Ancestors.
It won’t be perfect — the “human element” is also part of the work, and every practitioner knows the humility and courage needed to risk the vulnerbaility that comes with offering oneself as a healing professional.
If this vision attracts you, I invite you to one of the following actions:
1) Take a look at my upcoming training — maybe this is the next step you’ve been looking for. If so, now is the time to check it out, to see if the dates, prices, and other details work. I’d be delighted to talk about it more with you!
2) Reach out to me for personal work, knowing that I’d welcome you as a fellow journeyer and peer, offering my best skills.
3) Or, since I know many of you are healing professionals, perhaps in other fields, I encourage you to reflect on your own leadership path, and be encouraged by this vision of humble, yet highly skilled, service.
What is your experience of healing leadership, yours or others, good and not-so good? Please share on my blog, below.
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