Men’s Constellation Day
What does it mean to be a man in 21st Century Britain? Are men having a tougher time now? Are men going through a crisis of confidence or an identity crisis? How well are men supported in negotiating a transition in society as regards gender roles?
The good news is that there have been significant changes and developments in masculinity – if a group of men from the 1950’s or indeed the 1970’s were transported into the middle of a park on a Sunday afternoon in 2023, they’d surely be surprised to see the number of men pushing prams or playing with their children. Fathers are far more involved with their children now, much more affectionate and tactile then they were then. However, it is a shifting landscape and there is a way to go.
We are living at a time in which the behaviour of men is under tremendous scrutiny. And rightly so. Much of the discourse in the public domain is to do with the power men wield and the transgressions committed by men in positions of power. Whether incidences have increased of late or whether it is better reported can be debated. However, the issue is very alive and topical. Hardly a day goes by without yet another exposé related to sexual abuse or violence doesn’t appear in the media. Though those that commit such transgressions must be challenged, there must be more engagement in an intelligent debate about what may actually be going on underneath all this, rather than merely demonize the perpetrators. Is it appropriate that as a society we relate to perpetrators as criminals? Or might there be another way to engage with them? We must face both the perpetrator and victim inside of ourselves
Who is it for?
This workshop does not require any previous knowledge or experience of constellation work. It is an opportunity for a group of men to come together and explore issues such as identity, maleness, the emotional life, relationships, sexuality, mental health and spirituality amongst others, using this powerful medium. It is a different kind of men-only space to the ones more prevalent in modern day culture and it offers an opportunity for men to express and to explore powerful and maybe uncomfortable undercurrents in a safe space.
What will you be able to explore?
Our experience is that it is predominantly women who take advantage of therapeutically-orientated workshops. We believe that if more men were able to partake in such groups then they would, in time, become better equipped with an emotional vocabulary and develop a confidence with which to engage with difficulties arising in their lives, and particularly in their relationships, which in turn will radiate out to touch other men.
Perhaps men participating in this way may slowly begin to embody the reality that vulnerabilities are a legitimate part of being human and not a sign of weakness or a source of shame. That deeply engaging with them is not the sole domain of just one gender. And that it can be strengthening and resourcing rather than weakening or shaming.
Rather than looking at ourselves as separate individual men, we will the systemic model to look at the web of relationship of the wider system, along with significant events and ideologies that have impacted the family and its members. This provides a fuller picture of the individual as part of a larger set of systems and allows us to see and understand the unseen dynamics operating within the system, and to find a healthy and respectful place for all members of the system in question. Everyone who feels connected to the question is also included in the constellation in a personal way.
Such men-only workshops could form perhaps just a small part of the mosaic of responses to this unfolding and rather disturbing situation. A movement which brings us a step closer to a world in which each gender is equally respected and gender differences are celebrated and a world in which this painful distance between the genders is made smaller.
Costs
There is no deposit required for this course; please pay the full fee to secure your place. We are offering the course at an Early Bird Price of £95 if booked by 31st July 2023. After that the Full Price is £125.
Please note: CSC is a Not for Profit organisation and does not, therefore, charge VAT.
Workshop Dates
This Workshop will be held on Saturday, 30th September 2023, from 9.30 am-5.30 pm.
How to book your place
To book a place please complete the booking process by clicking the ‘Booking’ button. You will then receive an email confirming your place. If this does not arrive, please contact the office at [email protected], as your booking may not have gone through.
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Venue and Directions
St Anne’s Settlement Hall
40 Harleyford Road
Vauxhall
SE11 5AY
Station: Vauxhall
Buses: 2, 36, 77, 87, 88, 156, 185, 195, 344, 360 & 436
