Understanding Conscience through Systemic Constellation (Part 1)

Systemic constellation is a continuously evolving discipline, a living field of study that does not originate from academia. Mr. Hellinger simply shared the insights he gained from the constellation field with others; he never turned the knowledge of systemic constellation into a rigid theory. Therefore, systemic constellation is not a specific theoretical knowledge but a life science that can be directly experienced. Through systemic constellation, important life principles are collectively revealed by Mr. Hellinger, thousands of outstanding systemic constellation practitioners and participants worldwide. Systemic constellation continue to progress and develop, as Mr. Hellinger once said, 'Realization comes from participation.'

The Insight into 'conscience' is a key element in shaping the contributions of Mr. Hellinger to this discipline. The 'conscience' he observed differs from what we commonly refer to as 'moral conscience' in daily life; he describes it as a subtle yet profoundly influential psychological state. I'll simplify it as follows:

Humans are social mammals, similar to lions, wolf packs, zebras, and more. Deep in the biological memory, being separated from the group signifies danger. For example, even the fiercest lion, when alone, could be preyed upon by a wolf pack. Therefore, one's ability to coexist appropriately within their group might impact their survival. When a person's behavior jeopardizes their relationship with the group, an internal alarm sounds, 'Beep beep beep,' conveying the message, 'Your behavior is endangering your relationship with this group!' This alarm is conscience, and the uncomfortable feeling people experience is 'guilt.'

When individuals adjust their behavior to avoid endangering their relationship with the group, the conscience alarm signals another message: 'You are now safe!' This comfortable feeling is clarity and ‘innocence.' So, conscience serves as an alarm, informing us about our relationship status with a person or group, and whether our actions affect our sense of belonging.

Guilt and Innocence

Conscience continuously conducts our actions in relationships: 'Will doing this harm or nurture the connection?' When actions harm the relationship, we experience 'guilt' and 'regret.' Conversely, when actions nurture the relationship, we experience purity, 'innocence' and 'peace of mind.' To sustain this relationship, guilt compels us to change our behavior, while innocence makes us feel accepted and enables us to move forward with peace of mind.

However, the conscience of guilt or innocence is not necessarily tied to true morality. For instance, in a community of thieves, a thief may feel uneasy for not stealing something. Even many brutal and unjust behaviors often disguise themselves as 'innocence' or 'righteousness".

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Understanding Conscience through Systemic Constellation (Part 2)