Have you ever walked into a room just after an argument has ended? Even if everyone is sitting in silence, you can often feel the tension hanging in the air. We’ve all experienced these “invisible atmospheres,” but in Family Constellations, we take this observation a step further to look at the stories written into our very DNA.
In Family Constellations, we often refer to the “Knowing Field.” It’s that invisible space where, during a workshop, a representative can suddenly feel an emotion or a physical sensation that belongs to someone else’s family history—even without knowing the facts. To someone witnessing it for the first time, it can feel like magic. However, many practitioners find a beautiful, grounded parallel in the work of the biologist Rupert Sheldrake.
The Connection to Morphic Resonance
Sheldrake proposed a theory called Morphic Resonance, which suggests that nature has a memory. He speaks about Morphic Fields—invisible organising patterns that connect members of a group, whether it’s a flock of birds moving as one or a human family system.
Think of a murmuration of starlings at dusk. When one bird turns, the whole flock turns in a seamless wave. They aren’t following a single leader or looking at a map; they are responding to a shared field of information. Our families operate in a similar way. When a “knot” or a trauma occurs three generations ago, the “flock” of the family still feels that vibration today. We may find ourselves “turning” in a certain direction—perhaps toward sadness, or away from success—without ever knowing why.
How this relates to Family Constellations work:
- The Family Field: Just as a species of bird “knows” how to migrate based on the collective experience of its ancestors, our families carry a field of information. We inherit more than just eye color; we inherit the unresolved stories of the system.
- Tapping In: In a workshop, we aren’t just “pretending.” By setting up a constellation, we are essentially tuning into that specific family’s morphic field. This is why representatives can feel truths that were never spoken aloud.
- Healing the Pattern: When we find a resolution in a constellation—perhaps by acknowledging a forgotten ancestor—we aren’t just shifting our own minds. We are introducing a new “frequency” of peace into the field itself.
In our circles, when that balance is restored, you can often feel a physical shift in the room—a collective exhale. It is as if the field has finally found its equilibrium.
“Morphic resonance is the influence of previous structures of activity on subsequent similar structures… it allows a collective memory to be passed on.” — Rupert Sheldrake
By acknowledging these invisible threads, we stop being victims of “random” bad luck or repeating patterns. We start to see that we are simply part of a larger, living system that is seeking to come back into balance.
During our Family Constellations work, I hold space for you to see the field, so you have the opportunity to step into a movement of your own.
Warmly,
Martyna