What Is Aufstellung? Mapping the Unseen Layers of Your Story
- Arielle Schmidt
- Oct 26
- 3 min read
Have you ever felt like something in your life doesn’t quite belong to you—like grief, guilt, or emotional heaviness that you can’t explain? Sometimes, what we carry didn’t start with us. These inherited patterns often live beneath the surface of our awareness, silently shaping how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us.
This is where Aufstellung, also known as Family Constellation Work, offers something truly unique.
What Is Aufstellung?
Aufstellung is a German word meaning “placement” or “constellation.” It’s a therapeutic approach that reveals hidden dynamics within family systems, ancestral lines, or inner parts of self that may be influencing your current life experience.
Through this process, you may begin to see:
Why certain patterns or relationships feel stuck or repetitive
Where you're holding grief, guilt, or responsibility that isn't truly yours
How generational trauma may be showing up in the present
What unresolved family dynamics need recognition or release
Aufstellung invites you into a space of deep witnessing—not analysis or problem-solving, but simply allowing truth to be seen.
How an Aufstellung Session Works at Tranquility Rising
Unlike many other modalities, Aufstellung at Tranquility Rising is not bodywork. There is no physical touch or movement required. Instead, you’ll remain fully clothed and seated comfortably on the couch. Your role is to observe, breathe, and stay connected to your body as the session unfolds.
Using intuition, grounded presence, and training in systemic constellations, your practitioner (Arielle) will represent elements of your constellation in real time. These may include:
Family members (living or ancestral)
Emotions like shame, fear, or love
Internal parts of self
Events, timelines, or unknown influences
This representation often includes movement, posture shifts, orientation in the room, or spoken observations to reflect the dynamic relationships between these elements. As you watch, you may begin to feel emotional shifts, clarity, or internal resolutions taking shape within your own system.
You’re encouraged to take notes, stay grounded through breath, and simply witness what arises. Sometimes the greatest healing comes not from doing—but from allowing what has long been hidden to be seen.
Why Someone Might Choose Aufstellung
This gentle, intuitive process can be especially helpful if:
You feel weighed down by emotions or responsibilities that aren’t yours
You sense something is “off” in your family or relational patterns, but can’t name it
You’re experiencing emotional burnout, fertility struggles, or chronic symptoms without a clear root
You’re curious about how intergenerational trauma or family loyalties might be influencing your choices
By giving voice to the unseen, Aufstellung can bring a quiet but powerful sense of alignment and permission to move forward.
An Optional Layer of Insight
At Tranquility Rising, Aufstellung is offered as a stand-alone session or as an additional layer woven into Thai Yoga Therapy, womb work, or somatic coaching. It does not replace those services but adds depth—allowing you to explore not just your personal experiences, but the wider relational and ancestral fields you're part of.
Whether you’re in the midst of emotional healing, physical tension, or life transitions, this work invites you to step outside your linear story and experience the multidimensional nature of healing.
Ready to See What’s Been Unspoken?
If you're curious about what your body or lineage has been holding—and how you might move forward with more freedom—Aufstellung offers a space to begin that journey with compassion and clarity.
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