Life Integration Process (LIP)
LIP is a constellation format based on a model of the evolution of consciousness – represented by the numbers from 1 to 7. These numbers stand for the particular stages through which the individual and collective evolution unfold. In other words, it represents the path in which the reality unfolds into awareness and thus initiates the growth:
| Stage | Individual evolution | Collective evolution |
| 1 | Unborn child consciousness | Symbiotic unity consciousness |
| 2 | Child consciousness | Group consciousness |
| 3 | Adolescent (or “I”) consciousness | Self-awareness |
| 4 | Adult consciousness | Self-consciousness |
| 5 | Mature adult consciousness | Spirit-consciousness |
| 6 | Elderly consciousness | Knowing unity consciousness |
| 7 | Death | Non- or All-consciousness |
During the LIP constellation, the client is placed in the position of the Adult consciousness, where he is looking at life up to now, from a distance. Unlike in the classical family constellations, the representatives in LIP do not move within the constellation field but remain in their original positions.
LIP or „Life Integration Process“ is a new approach to the constellation work, brought by the German therapist Dr.Wilfried Nelles. It methodically evolved from the classical family constellations but it is not dealing with the client´s position in a closed system – a family, workgroup, partner relationship or a society. It deals explicitly with the approach of an individual towards himself and his own life.
As if we dare to look closer, we would see that in truth we all actually have only one relationship. And that is the relationship to ourselves. The physical world is only a manifestation of our “inner world”. That being said, actually whatever issue we have with others or the world in general, deep down, goes back to the relationship to ourselves.
People experiencing Life Integration Process are given a chance to see what is hidden deep in the unconscious and thus what still forms our beliefs, desires, wishes and needs. Consequently, it is also what waits for the integration and what might one day enable us to radiate our true essence.
For me, the most important difference is that LIP does not deal with our past and it doesn’t want to change anything about it. On the contrary – regarding our past, the only intention is just to see and acknowledge everything that happened in the past and then accept it exactly as it was. Without any conditions. Not to “cut off”, “clean up” or “erase” anything from the past. This approach simultaneously casts doubt on every concept which considers the origin of our problems lie in the past – and presence to be only the causal effect of the past. For our problems maybe originate in the past, but they don’t lie in the past anymore. All that remained from the past is our relationship to the past. Therefore any engagement in the past (apart from its full acceptance) does not make any sense and leads nowhere.
What we need is an insight – a perspective from the present moment. Through which we can understand what is actually happening in the space of “here and now”. Because we mostly live in the space of the past or the future. Constantly engaged in what was or what will be. Groaning on account of something that we can never change and that nobody can ever bring back. And as our attention is constantly focused on something that already was – and does not exist anymore, we cannot see or feel what is here and now at all. We are actually blind, deaf and mute – like the three wise monkeys…