What is Family Systemic Constellations? How does it work?

Family Systemic Constellations is a somatic and systemic healing modality that works with the hidden dynamics of family and ancestral systems. It was developed by Bert Hellinger, with roots in Zulu traditions, and has since been expanded by many practitioners and lineages around the world.

In a constellation, we enter the living field of your family system and follow what is actually there beneath the surface: who was excluded, what was never grieved, where love became entangled with loyalty, where belonging came at a cost. Through this process, hidden dynamics are made visible, and what has been carried unconsciously can begin to shift.

Constellation work is not talk therapy. It works at the level of the body, the field, and the ancestral system. People often describe feeling a shift not just intellectually but in their nervous system, their relationships, and the choices they make without knowing why. One example of what this can look like can be found in pop culture on an episode of Sex, Love, and Goop.

Is this work trauma-informed?

Trauma-informed care is a framework developed in clinical settings that emphasizes recognizing the presence of trauma and avoiding re-traumatization. It is widely used in therapeutic and medical contexts.

Trauma-aware goes a step further. It means understanding trauma not just as something that happened to an individual but as something that moves through systems, families, and generations. It means working with the body, not just the mind, and recognizing that healing rarely happens in a straight line. Our work is trauma-aware: we follow the pace of the nervous system, we honor what the body knows, and we never push toward resolution faster than the field is ready to move.

Why is there a prerequisite to the ceremony?

The Ancestral Reconnection & Repair ceremony is a deep container. The two constellation sessions that precede it are preparation. In those sessions, we begin to map your ancestral field, build trust and relational safety, and surface what is ready to be tended. By the time we enter the ceremony together, the ground has been prepared, and the work can go to its roots.

This sequencing also protects the integrity of the ceremony itself. We have found that people who arrive prepared receive something fundamentally different from those who do not. The two sessions open the door for ancestral connection; the ceremony anchors it.

Does Ancestral Weavings work from a particular lineage or tradition?

Our work draws from multiple lineages and traditions, held with deep respect and reciprocity. Sarah has trained extensively in family systemic constellations, psychedelic-assisted healing, grief tending, and ceremonial practice, and has been initiated into several Indigenous lineages, including the Tzutujil Maya lineage and the Mibanji Pygmy Iboga tradition of Gabon. They also integrate traditional elements from their Sicilian and Jewish ancestry into the work.

We do not appropriate or claim ownership of any tradition. We work in ongoing relationship with the teachers, elders, and lineage holders who have entrusted us with this knowledge, and we endeavor to give back in kind. You can read more on this in reciprocity.

Is this therapy?

Ancestral Weavings is not a licensed clinical therapy practice. While there are almost always therapeutic benefits that may be accessed in our sessions, it is important to understand the differences in training and licensure between healing practitioners and licensed therapists or psychologists. If you are currently working with a therapist, we welcome and encourage that relationship alongside this work.

We do not encourage or condone any illegal activities, including the purchase, sale, transfer, or use of any illegal substances.

Do you offer financial assistance or scholarships?

Sessions are priced to reflect the depth of training, presence, and care that go into this work. I reserve a limited number of discounted sessions or packages each month for those experiencing financial hardship or systemic barriers. Ancestral Reconnection & Repair Ceremonies are offered through reciprocity. The suggested contribution reflects what those with similar training and ceremonial experience receive. An initial offering is made at the first preparation session, with the option to offer more after the ceremony, if moved to do so. 25% of all contributions for ceremonies are redistributed to Indigenous-led organizations and community efforts that steward the medicines, traditions, and values this work draws upon. More information about these partnerships can be found here. Payment is due at the time of service unless other arrangements are made. Payment plans may be discussed upon request.

What is your cancellation and refund policy?

For one-on-one sessions, cancellations made with more than 48 hours’ notice may be rescheduled or canceled with a partial refund. If canceled more than two weeks in advance, a full refund may be provided. Within 48 hours, sessions are non-refundable except in cases of emergency or illness. For ceremonies, there is no deposit; contributions are given in the spirit of reciprocity. Because funds are distributed to Indigenous and community efforts, no refunds are available.

What is your policy for Retreats, Trainings, & Pilgrimages?

For all retreats, trainings, and pilgrimages, the payment of the final balance of the retreat price is due 30 days prior to the retreat start date in the currency advertised. If a booking is made within less than 45 days, your deposit will be required at your initial sign-up. If the final balance is not received by the due date and there is no concise reason as to why, Ancestral Weavings will treat the Client’s booking as cancelled.

Any cancellation by a participant must be made in writing (via email) and must be acknowledged by Ancestral Weavings in writing (via email). If you cancel your booking 90 days or more before the start date, we will refund the full cost of your trip, with the exception of your deposit and potential costs. The deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another participant. If you cancel your booking 60 days or more before the start date, we can refund 50% of your trip payments (minus the non-refundable deposit). If you cancel your booking less than 45 days before the start date, unfortunately, we cannot refund your trip, nor can we offer you any credit towards future retreats or training. An exception can be made to this if you find someone else to take your spot or if there is a medical emergency.