In the Family Constellation process, constructing a family tree becomes an important tool that helps us uncover the family of origin. The family tree can help us see with greater clarity any possible lines of entanglement and identification between family members.
The type of information we look for in a family tree drawn for a Family Constellation is slightly different from a more traditional family tree: It includes less and more at the same time. It is very important to pay close attention to these distinctions if we are to use this tool to its full potential.
From the perspective of the Family Constellation, we first look at the family of origin which consists of:
• Brothers and sisters, including stillbirths or miscarriages, as well as any children given away to other families for adoption.
• Half-brothers and half-sisters
• Father and mother.
• Former partners of parents.
• Uncles and aunts.
• Grandparents.
• Brothers and sisters of grandparents.
• Former partners of grandparents.
• Great-grandparents.
Once we create a family tree, we look for the significant tragic and unusual events that have happened to these individuals and not so much for their character and characteristics. For example, it is less important whether the father was dominant or weak, but rather, to know whether he was physically handicapped, or if he was an alcoholic, or had lost his father in early childhood.
Such significant events could be:
• Serious illnesses, handicaps, both physical and mental
• Addictions.
• Surviving a life threatening situation.
• Early death of anyone in the family of origin
• Any women that died during or after giving birth
• Any children given away for adoption
• Any illegitimate children
• Accidents.
• War veterans.
• Anyone that entered a convent or monastery
• Anyone of Jewish descent
• Anyone that emigrated overseas
• Any incest or sexual abuse
• Crime (especially war crime or witnessing war crime)
• Anyone who illegally acquired an inheritance
• Any suicide or murder
• Parents that emigrated froma different country
• Family secrets
