Dealing with illness differently by Brenda Henderson

Louise Owall, a Swedish yoga teacher living in rural France, issued an invitation to a one-day retreat for people living with chronic illness or physical health challenges, regardless of diagnosis.

She had lived with both brain cancer and MS and spent many years exploring different ways of relating to illness. Over time, her journey led her from constant inner struggle towards  a more peaceful relationship with her body and her health challenges.

In turn this inspired her to open a space where others could explore their own relationship with illness. It wasn’t about finding the right answers or following a specific path, but about creating a space for exploration, curiosity and new perspectives.

It was an invitation I couldn’t resist.

Louise, together with family constellation facilitator Marie, offered the opportunity to approach illness through family constellations work, movement, meditation, writing and shared  reflection. We explored what happened when we stopped fighting illness and began listening differently. What if symptoms had something to show us? How could we develop a different relationship with our bodies and our experience?

I wasn’t quite sure what family constellation work was. The nearest I could compare it to, was Gaby Burt’s ’The journey’. People in the latter  visualise sitting around a camp-fire together with their father, mother, supporter, older and younger self of the person going on the healing journey. I also understand that some drama work contains similar ideas but with different vocabulary and purpose.

There were seven of us on the French workshop day which was  held in a peaceful, converted barn in the beautiful sunshine of the Charente. Incidentally we were from five different countries of origin, amazing how that often seems to happen out here.

Andrea ( not her real name) chose to be the person who had an issue which needed healing. With the help of Marie,  Andrea related a health issue which was seriously  affecting her life. She was asked to choose someone in the group who  would represent her mother and another who would represent herself.

We had already been meditating together and the atmosphere immediately became very intense, with the chosen daughter bursting into tears practically straight away. A third person was brought in representing Andrea’s fears, then  a fourth (me) representing the ancestors and supporting the mother. Finally the last person in the group was brought in, all chosen for their roles by Andrea.

Under calm direction from Marie, mother and daughter moved in relation to each other and spoke certain key affirmations. As they did so different layers of awareness came to light, not just for Andrea, but through to all of us. Several were crying heart-racking sobs. I ended up rushing to the loo several times ‘eliminating’.

A safe healing space had been created.

Contact: contact@ louiseowall.com for information on further similar  events in France.