Intention and Phenomenology in Family Constellations
Apparently many facilitators believe that holding a "phenomenological stance" and "having no intention" in constellations allows them to see "only what is."
These can be confusing ideas even to people quite familiar with constellations--not to mention outsiders. What do we mean by these? Can we somehow language them so that what they mean is more easily understood?
"Phenomenology" Has Some Phenomenally Different Meanings
Wikipedia has 6 separate articles on different meanings of "phenomenology" in various areas. The philosophical article says trying to define it is "dangerous and even paradoxical," which may "disorient anyone" who wants to do so.
Still one theme is the study of structures of raw personal experience. Here, phenomenology agrees with psychology and cognitive science that these are always subjective. Basically, no one "sees only what is." Instead they rather see whatever a vast system of subconscious personal and cultural filters passes in to their awareness.
So isn't saying a "phenomen-ological stance" helps us see "only what is" in a constellation a contradiction? Phenomenology seems to say we can't do that.
If We Can't See "What Is," What Does "Have No Intention" Mean--And How Can that Possibly Help?
Again, this unqualified phrase is not helping us. Compare these three different "healers"
One who doesn't care at all whether what he does is helpful--he's worn out that day, or maybe just a charlatan to begin with
One who cares deeply that what she does be helpful to the client, but is:
Not trying to "rescue" the client
Not overly involved having her approach be right & create needed change
Not overly involved in being the right person to help
One who is bent on rescuing the client, or wedded to his approach being successful, or ego-involved in having the right stuff
Wouldn't most people say #2, who has a definite intention, is the person they want to work with?
What Happens if We Language This so That Everyone, Even Scientists, can Easily Understand?
We don't have to use these confusing phrases. What if we said the intake interview creates one or more "leads" or "hypotheses." And that the constellation itself can be best described as an "experiment," which may confirm, or else reshape, or even deny these leads or hypotheses.
In honest, empirical science, this is most often called "the method of multiple, working hypotheses."
The Leads or "Hypotheses" Don't Have to All be Conscious
Even the history of great science, they are not all conscious, but just as as often highly intuitive. The ring structure of benzene came when Kekule dreamt of a snake eating its tail.
"Phenomenological stance" can be understood as an open-minded, soft-focus attention to the whole system, and a willingness to patiently let previously unobserved patterns emerge. Even if these fly in the face of the leads currently in the conscious or subconscious working