A few years ago, I attended a Family Constellations retreat in Upstate New York with my teacher and colleague, Nick Werber.
I was living in NYC at the time and desperately needed a getaway.
I had done Family Constellation work before, but what I experienced that weekend was beyond anything I could have imagined—it was deep, powerful, emotional, and unexpectedly joyful. Doing this work in a multi-day retreat offered space to drop in, stay open, and truly experience the magic of this work, while connecting deeply with others.
Since then, I’ve become a Family Constellations Facilitator myself and have been drawn to offer this work in person—through workshops, retreats, and circles—because I’ve seen again and again how transformational it can be, especially when we gather this way.
I realize many people are new to Family Constellations, so if this is unfamiliar territory, you’re not alone. That’s part of why I love creating opportunities to experience it firsthand.
Constellation work is soulful and healing. It can stir something ancient in you. And while it can be energetically intense, it can also be light, inspiring, and even playful. It’s a modality that honors the mystery—while giving us a way to step into it, together.
A Story From My First Retreat
Constellations begin with an intention. At that first retreat, I remember struggling to decide what to focus my constellation on. My indecision itself became the theme—something I had wrestled with my whole life but didn’t know how to shift.
I’d have to look back in my journal to recall all the details, but I do remember that my constellation ended up involving everyone in the room—it was the largest of the weekend. At one point, a line of women from my ancestry stood before me, and I had to go person by person, receiving what they had to offer before moving forward. When I reached my grandmother, I was overcome with emotion. She had passed away the year before, and in that moment, it felt like I was seeing her again for the first time.
Now, years later, I can tell you—I’m no longer indecisive. I’ve learned how to listen to my intuition and body to make choices that are aligned for me. And I deeply believe that being able to make soul-aligned decisions is one of the most liberating things we can do for ourselves.
4 Reasons Why In-Person Family Constellations Are So Special and Transformative
Each time I hold an in-person workshop or retreat, I’m reminded of how rare and beautiful this kind of space is. Here’s why it continues to be so meaningful—for me and so many others:
1 — A Rare Space to Deeply Explore Our Intentions
A person’s constellation can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. In my 2.5-hour monthly workshops, we typically have time for just 2–3 constellations. That’s totally fine and normal and beautiful in its own way (because see point #3!)—but longer in-person gatherings allow us to sink into the work more deeply, with time to open, process, and integrate.
What I love most about retreats or multi-day constellations is the chance to hold space for many people’s intentions. Each constellation becomes part of a larger story, and the field deepens with every person’s sharing. There’s a collective unfolding that starts to happen—you’re not just healing your own lineage, you’re witnessing and resonating with others in ways that often reflect your own life, even when it seems unrelated at first.
You start to see how the work isn’t isolated—it’s interconnected.
That’s also why I offer monthly constellation workshops: to give people an opportunity to return to the field again and again. Healing doesn’t happen all at once. By showing up regularly, you begin to build a relationship with this work, with your body, and with the unseen forces that support you and that support others. Each time, something new is revealed, like an onion peeling back layers.
These workshops reconnect us to the mystery of life and take us out of the mundane, where we can get stuck sometimes.
2 — A larger group means a more powerful field
Family Constellations are rarely done in large groups in the U.S.—it’s more common in places like Germany and Austria, where this modality originated, or even in Brazil, where it's been integrated into the court system as a tool for resolving conflicts like divorce. The truth is, there simply aren’t that many in-person facilitators. I often have to pinch myself that I get to do this work—that I get to share it with others. I absolutely love it. There’s real transformative magic that happens in these workshops.
While 1:1 constellations can be incredibly potent, there’s something uniquely powerful about working in a collective field. A heart-centered group brings an extra layer of depth, resonance, and mystery to the experience.
Of course, there are also online constellations. But in a world where many of us feel increasingly isolated behind screens, gathering in person offers something that can’t be replicated. It’s the energy in the room, the subtle moments before and after, the shared presence that holds its own kind of healing.
Even if you’re not the one having a constellation, just being in the space—witnessing, holding, representing—can shift something in you. People often realize they’re receiving healing from stories that weren’t “theirs”… because at some level, they are.
3 — You walk away touched, moved, and inspired; creating ripples of change in your life, your ancestors, and the world.
In times of deep global transformation, our personal healing is more important than ever. When we shift internally, the world around us begins to change.
Even if you’re not the one having a constellation, simply witnessing or representing in someone else’s can be just as profound. This work is phenomenological, meaning it’s something you have to experience rather than just learn about. It creates lasting shifts in perspective, often in ways we can’t anticipate.
Here’s a testimonial from my friend Cat, who beautifully captures this:
“I have been wanting to do Family Constellations in person for a long time. I knew the experience would be life-changing, but I thought I would have to travel overseas to experience it.
Then it happened, right here in my hometown. A friend told me about Masha’s upcoming event, and I registered right away.
I was right—live Family Constellation sessions are life-changing, especially with a facilitator who is intuitive, caring, and so gifted.
I continue to attend Masha’s sessions because whether I have my own constellation or participate in someone else’s, the transformation is always there.
I could keep trying to explain the value of these live sessions, but the best way to understand them is to attend one—and thank me later.”
If you’re curious to hear more, Cat and I recorded a podcast episode together where we talked about embodiment, constellations, and healing in community.
4 — There’s space for play, too
Constellations don’t have to be long or heavy to offer profound insight. We often weave in rapid constellations and experiential practices in pairs and small groups.
We might explore archetypes, goddesses, or ascended masters—assigning unknown roles to participants and revealing them only at the end. In my facilitator training, we once constellated the Israel–Palestine conflict, and it was incredibly moving.
I’ve also facilitated cacao ceremonies where we constellated what people were “releasing” under the full moon—and it was so spot on, so moving, and honestly… so cool. Even in the midst of deep processing, there’s room for joy, surprise, and laughter.
A Living, Breathing Practice
This work is for the courageous, yes—but also for the curious, for the seekers, for the ones who long to understand themselves more fully. Those who are ready to break cycles in their families. It’s a doorway into healing, not only for ourselves but for our ancestors and descendants.
I continue to offer in-person Family Constellation retreats and workshops throughout the year. Each one is unique. Each one is guided by the group, the moment, and the field.
If your heart feels stirred, I’d love to welcome you into this experience someday.
You can join my email list here to stay in the loop about upcoming gatherings, check my homepage for upcoming events, or reach out if you’re feeling the call and want to learn more about how Constellations can support your journey.
To learn more about constellations, visit: www.freemasha.com/family-constellations