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The Systemic Constellations Method Applied to Agriculture
of Constellations in different professional felds. Through facilitating exploratory Constellations on
a range of issues involving human and ecological systems, she developed her approach. Over a similar period, an international group of Constellators began to explore using Systemic Constellations
with nature. They conducted experiential research in many domains including: domesticated animals, forest management, the healing properties of plants and international environmental issues
(Mason Boring, 2007). The frst book about what have come to be known as Nature Constellations
(NCs) features 14 practitioners working in 5 countries, the common thread being the inclusion of
other-than-humans in their Constellations (Mason Boring and Sloan, 2013).
SELECTED CASE STUDIES TO EXPLORE THE METHOD
Since 2014, and inspired by collaborations with academics in the agricultural sector, the author
has been formally researching some of the NCs she facilitates: obtaining informed consent, audio
recording NCs and interviewing clients afterwards to track the impacts. Case studies from this
work are presented below to illustrate the method, investigate the questions it raises and assess its
potential to address agroecological issues. (Unless otherwise stated, all NCs described were run by
the author and names have been changed.)
Case Study 1: A Home for a Horse
Phoebe and her mother owned and cared for a horse, Mascot. When her mother died, Phoebe had
to choose where Mascot would live. At the time he was staying with a woman who kept him as a
companion for her own horse, but Phoebe felt she would be letting her mother down if she did not
look after Mascot herself. She undertook a NC to help her decide.
Phoebe chose a rep to be Mascot and he reported that he felt pain in his right wrist. When she
set up a rep for herself (P), P described having a heavy, burdened feeling in their belly area. When
P tested how it would be to have Mascot living with her, as an option within the NC, P burst into
tears saying ‘I’m in crisis, I can’t take on any more’. At some point Mascot’s rep said ‘I want to be
with other horses’.
The best outcome was shown to be for Mascot to be with another horse and not living with Phoebe.
Attention was also paid to Phoebe’s feelings of letting her mother down and to resolving these.
During the follow-up interview, Phoebe revealed that she had been sceptical about the method to
start with. Thus, when Mascot’s rep had reported pain in his right wrist, she had been shocked.
Mascot had navicular syndrome, a degenerative disease in his right front fetlock – equivalent to
where the rep had experienced pain in his body – and Phoebe had not said anything about this to
the group. For Phoebe, this was an ‘a-ha’ moment and helped her to trust what was unfolding. It also
transpired that Phoebe had a medical condition in her belly (also unmentioned), the same area her
rep had felt heavy and burdened.
At the time of the NC, Phoebe was caring for various members of her family and was not well
herself. Had Mascot been moved to live with her, it would have added a considerable burden in
terms of time and energy, particularly as she would have had to take on a second horse to keep him
company. Phoebe later explained that she has a strong tendency to take on too much responsibility,
without realising the negative impacts on herself: ‘so it was very powerful to see someone representing me go in and just have a complete melt down and say “I can’t cope”’.
Phoebe reported that the NC had helped her decide to keep Mascot where he was and ‘I…
stopped beating myself up about the horse being with someone else’. Five years later, she is clear
that her life has been easier through not having had to look after him and Mascot is thriving with
his caretaker and horse companion.
The Systemic Constellations Method Applied to Agriculture
of Constellations in different professional felds. Through facilitating exploratory Constellations on
a range of issues involving human and ecological systems, she developed her approach. Over a similar period, an international group of Constellators began to explore using Systemic Constellations
with nature. They conducted experiential research in many domains including: domesticated animals, forest management, the healing properties of plants and international environmental issues
(Mason Boring, 2007). The frst book about what have come to be known as Nature Constellations
(NCs) features 14 practitioners working in 5 countries, the common thread being the inclusion of
other-than-humans in their Constellations (Mason Boring and Sloan, 2013).
SELECTED CASE STUDIES TO EXPLORE THE METHOD
Since 2014, and inspired by collaborations with academics in the agricultural sector, the author
has been formally researching some of the NCs she facilitates: obtaining informed consent, audio
recording NCs and interviewing clients afterwards to track the impacts. Case studies from this
work are presented below to illustrate the method, investigate the questions it raises and assess its
potential to address agroecological issues. (Unless otherwise stated, all NCs described were run by
the author and names have been changed.)
Case Study 1: A Home for a Horse
Phoebe and her mother owned and cared for a horse, Mascot. When her mother died, Phoebe had
to choose where Mascot would live. At the time he was staying with a woman who kept him as a
companion for her own horse, but Phoebe felt she would be letting her mother down if she did not
look after Mascot herself. She undertook a NC to help her decide.
Phoebe chose a rep to be Mascot and he reported that he felt pain in his right wrist. When she
set up a rep for herself (P), P described having a heavy, burdened feeling in their belly area. When
P tested how it would be to have Mascot living with her, as an option within the NC, P burst into
tears saying ‘I’m in crisis, I can’t take on any more’. At some point Mascot’s rep said ‘I want to be
with other horses’.
The best outcome was shown to be for Mascot to be with another horse and not living with Phoebe.
Attention was also paid to Phoebe’s feelings of letting her mother down and to resolving these.
During the follow-up interview, Phoebe revealed that she had been sceptical about the method to
start with. Thus, when Mascot’s rep had reported pain in his right wrist, she had been shocked.
Mascot had navicular syndrome, a degenerative disease in his right front fetlock – equivalent to
where the rep had experienced pain in his body – and Phoebe had not said anything about this to
the group. For Phoebe, this was an ‘a-ha’ moment and helped her to trust what was unfolding. It also
transpired that Phoebe had a medical condition in her belly (also unmentioned), the same area her
rep had felt heavy and burdened.
At the time of the NC, Phoebe was caring for various members of her family and was not well
herself. Had Mascot been moved to live with her, it would have added a considerable burden in
terms of time and energy, particularly as she would have had to take on a second horse to keep him
company. Phoebe later explained that she has a strong tendency to take on too much responsibility,
without realising the negative impacts on herself: ‘so it was very powerful to see someone representing me go in and just have a complete melt down and say “I can’t cope”’.
Phoebe reported that the NC had helped her decide to keep Mascot where he was and ‘I…
stopped beating myself up about the horse being with someone else’. Five years later, she is clear
that her life has been easier through not having had to look after him and Mascot is thriving with
his caretaker and horse companion.