Outdoor Family Constellation within Nature

Outdoor Summer Bristol Family & Systemic Constellation Circle

For one evening this August, my monthly Bristol Constellation Circle is moving outdoors.

For several years I've been holding monthly Family & Systemic Constellation Circles in Bristol. Many people return month after month, sometimes to bring an issue of their own, sometimes simply to represent and support the work of others.

This August, we're taking the circle into nature

If the fruit on a tree isn’t thriving, we don’t just examine the fruit.

We look at the whole tree.
The roots.
The soil.
The water.
The weather.
What is growing around it.

We understand this instinctively in nature.
An ecosystem is relational. When something is missing, struggling, displaced or no longer available, other parts of the system respond.

Yet when it comes to human beings, we so often look at the individual in isolation.

Family & Systemic Constellations asks us to widen the view.
What system does this person belong to?
What happened before them?
Who or what is missing?
Where has someone had to take a place that wasn’t originally theirs?
What has the system adapted to in order to survive?

The natural world has always influenced systemic thinking. Bert Hellinger, who developed Family Constellations, spent 16 years living and working among Zulu communities in South Africa. He later described the principles he observed in human relationships as the Orders of Love: belonging, order and the balance of giving and receiving.

This August I’m taking my monthly constellation circle out of the room and into the woods.
Not because nature is a nice backdrop.
Because we are nature too.

What to expect~
We'll gather together in a beautiful clearing in the woods of Nightingale Valley.
I chose this place deliberately.
Nightingale Valley follows Brislington Brook through old woodland, with ancient trees and a landscape whose history reaches back for centuries.

After a short introduction to Family & Systemic Constellations, we will work with one or two constellations , depending on what emerges during the evening and the needs of the group.

As always, there is no pressure to bring an issue. Many people attend simply to represent and are often surprised by what they experience and take away.
Places are intentionally limited to help create a safe, connected and held space.

Please bring

• A blanket or camping chair to sit on

• Warm layers and suitable outdoor clothing

• Waterproofs, just in case

• Any food and drinks you would like

• An open mind

Weather

This gathering is designed to take place outdoors and will go ahead in almost all weather.

It will only be cancelled or postponed if persistent rain or severe weather makes it unsafe or impractical to meet. If this happens, everyone who has booked will be notified by email.

Location

Location & Meeting Point

Meet at 4.30pm at the entrance to Nightingale Valley , on Wick Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 4HU , between Brooklea Health Centre and Wicklea Academy.

We'll walk together (approximately 5 minutes) to a quieter area within the woods where we'll hold the constellation.

Getting there

By car: Free on street parking is available on Wick Road and surrounding residential roads.

By bus: The nearest bus stop is Collin Road , just outside Brooklea Health Centre, approximately a 1 minute walk from the meeting point.

Accessibility

The walk into the woods is relatively flat, but the paths are uneven and may be muddy or slippery depending on the weather. Please wear suitable footwear and clothing.

Nightingale Valley is a public woodland. We've chosen a quieter area away from the main paths, however we cannot guarantee complete privacy and members of the public may occasionally walk past during the session.

Please arrive promptly at 4.30pm , as we'll walk into the woods together and won't be able to return to the entrance to meet late arrivals.

Exchange

This is a donation-based gathering with a suggested exchange of £15–£35.

Please contribute what feels right for you and what you are able to give. Your exchange helps support the continuation of these gatherings while keeping them accessible.

I look forward to welcoming you outdoors.