Líam Mac Gabhann, facilitator of 20th Dec Sunset Solstice ritual @ Dowth
Sacred Site / Family Constellation Opening Circle
Family constellations is soul work. In a group setting we create a safe and confidential space which then becomes a healing field.
This allows us to look at the harmful beliefs and patterns that we have dragged along with us throughout our lives and sometimes passed on to our children. Working together, using members of the group as representatives, we create a “living map” of the problem, dynamic or situation. Through this lens, simple but hidden truths can be revealed and understood, giving new insight and opportunities for change and movement.
We’ll be arriving at the Dubhadh (Dowth) sacred site to form an opening Sunset circle. A ritual where we can gently dive into the wisdom that this Sunset circle activates within us. A deeper, inner knowing:
How do we relate, belong and know our soul connections to each other and those we encounter?
What happens when we see, experience and understand ourselves in a live constellation circle?
This little ceremony is suitable for both Beginners and Advanced participants (no previous experience is necessary). If you are arriving later than the start please join gently, as an observer.
BACKGROUND, Liam Mac Gabhann
Líam has been a health practitioner for 35 years, with 15 years in traditional therapeutic roles as mental health nurse, counsellor and psychotherapist; I came to realise that these approaches were limited on their own in how they could help people heal from significant life challenges. This led to an exploration of and training in alternative healing approaches, such as Reiki, Shamanism, Tai Chi, Mindfulness and Body Work. It was inevitable that he would end up embracing constellations work as an all encompassing holistic approach to healing at the individual and systemic levels. I bring my history as a wounded healer; 15 years working alternatively with people experiencing trauma; a passionate connection to the land & nature’s energy and a curiosity about how we are all connected in some strange, wonderful way.
I am particularly drawn to ‘Community’ and ‘Nature’ constellations, where groups of people can open up an energetic field between them in relation to place, nature, culture, time, space and interrelated dimensions.
In doing so they can unfold hidden unconscious relationships providing a broader indigenous knowing and an acknowledgement of what is.
This sunset constellations ceremony will explore the place of winter solstice in our cultural psych’ rooted in the ancestral sacred sites of Dowth and Newgrange. From the energetic field of the participating group will come a systemic intention to be brought from darkness into light as the night unfolds.
Academic biography
In 1988 I qualified as a mental health nurse and headed off from Ireland with my new found insights to change the world.
Spending most of my early career in England with some brief sojourns in Australia and the Middle East. As a practitioner I have pretty consistently worked with people whom some would classify as having a serious psychotic illness, others as ‘having extraordinary experiences’ and more specifically concentrating on acute mental health care.
Other roles over time have varied with the common grounding of practice and healing at the centre of each one: as a researcher/practitioner; in practice/service development; in community development; and as a community activist.
Since my return to Ireland with my family in 2001 I now find myself somewhere between an ivory tower and lived experiences, as a lecturer in practice. I practice on an acute psychiatric admission ward and am consistently involved in developing interesting innovative courses and programmes to meet practice needs.
My methodological preferences lie in Participatory Inquiry, as generally my purpose is to both understand and transform the systems I research with.
My substantive research programme is around ‘transforming dialogues in mental health communities’ (DCU, Trialogue).
Much of this work centres around people reconciling their own experiences, perceptions and practices with other people/groups associated with mental health and using different approaches to improve these at individual, group, organisational and community level.
Examples of relevant areas include; where people have extraordinary experiences and beliefs; when people are disenfranchised by society and community; in the area of Understanding and Responding to Trauma; Dual Diagnosis; Capacity Building amongst People With Experience of Mental Health Difficulties and Families/Carers; and Developing Recovery College in the Community.
Approaches include cooperative learning, participative action, open dialogue and systemic family constellations work.
I recognised earlier on that one way to push the boundaries of health care practice was to seek academic pursuits in other areas. Beginning with grounding in Health Studies for my first degree and then going on to complete a Masters in Sociology of Health and Health Care.
…For my sins, returning to nursing and completing my Doctorate in Nursing Science.
Thankfully I have found new insights, lost some along the way and am still trying to change the world.
Research interests
Research interests predominantly lie in the areas of mental health practice and sociological inquiry and my preferred methodologies are those aligned with Participatory Inquiry.
Research projects include: national action research study examining the impact of a collaborative leadership programme and change management model on mental health services improvement; community development project co-leading the establishment of the Mental Health Trialogue Network Ireland.
Thank you.
