About Us
FELD INSTITUT Cologne is the nucleus of all FELD INSTITUTES led by our partners in the DACH region. Our vision is connection. Our mission is to connect. Our identity stems from the continuous application and experience of systemic intelligence in working with individuals, groups, and organizations.
Here you can learn a little more about our background.
Why are we called FELD INSTITUT?
In physics, fields describe interactions that are, firstly, not causal (i.e., one-dimensional, if-then) but complex. Secondly, they are not visible, yet they structure the movement, orientation, and behavior of particles. A field creates conditions under which certain possibilities become more probable than others.
Applied to humans and their social constructs such as families, groups, organizations, and societies, this means that these systems determine our movement, our orientation, and our behavior. We refer to these interactions as hidden dynamics.
The shaping of togetherness (with oneself and with others) therefore does not primarily begin with individuals or measures; it begins in the in-between, in the moments of connection (in communications) – and in the fields created by communication. If the field conditions then change (through new communications), the connections change, and with them, behavior, dynamics, and development possibilities.
Systemic work on FELD effects means making these invisible connections perceptible, visible, and tangible, and then consciously shaping them.
What does systemic intelligence mean at FELD INSTITUT?
In nature, there is no life and no development without connection. Connection is considered a fundamental condition for the emergence of life; it acts as an emergent impulse for everything that arises from the living and unfolds its potential from its core.
Organisms that individually would achieve little or, to be precise, nothing, are constantly engaged in creating something greater through connection with other organisms. This applies to ants as well as to humans. It applies to all organisms. Together, they create something that would be unthinkable for them alone. We are driven by this shared endeavor.
We want to connect to create something greater, something that would not exist without the connection. In the moment of this greater entity’s emergence through our connection, we become an inseparable part of it. It is henceforth our task to ensure that this greater system is maintained and can continue to develop. This applies to larger systems such as romantic relationships, friendships, families, football clubs, political parties, organizations, societies, and so on.
Our being is continuous becoming in an eternal symbiogenesis with all that exists. This symbiogenesis is based on principles that we understand as systemic intelligence.
Intelligence is composed of the Latin:
- inter = between
- legere = to read, collect, select, perceive
Literally, intellegere therefore means not only “to understand” but rather: to grasp what lies between, to recognize connections, to perceive differences.
Intelligence is therefore not based on knowledge and expertise, but on the ability to perceive and shape connections and their quality. In this respect, intelligence is always systemic; the combination is virtually a “double-whammy,” a tautology like a round sphere or a white horse.
The fact that we still add the adjective to intelligence is intended as a reference to the highly valued insights of the two metatheories, System and Gestalt, which are of fundamental value for our work with individuals, groups, and organizations. Furthermore, as our experience shows, everyone immediately understands the term, which, incidentally, was coined by our esteemed colleague Paul Zonneveld.
Founding Partners, Field Partners, Cooperation Partners
Stephanie Hartung founded FELD INSTITUT Cologne in 2018 as the successor organization to her consulting firm, with partners who are systemically oriented in their consulting fields. These included Jürgen Ziemann, Ulrich Wilke, and Wolfgang Spitta. Wilke and Spitta left FELD in 2023 and 2025 because they wanted to shift their focus and concentrate on other areas of consulting.
In 2024 and 2025, new partners with locations in Zurich, Vienna, and Hanover joined – Peter Eichenberger, Linda Syllaba, and Lars-Christian Börner.
Information about FELD Partners with their own FELD INSTITUTES in the DACH region can be found here.
Over the years, Stephanie and Jürgen have further developed and expanded the FELD INSTITUT brand, particularly achieving a unique selling proposition with a FOCUS on systemic further education and quality assurance in systemic consulting, to which Stephanie’s numerous publications in this area contributed to its recognition.
Click here to go to the page of Cologne FELD Partners Stephanie Hartung and Jürgen Ziemann.
At the same time, Stephanie and Jürgen, given their international commitments with their company CONSTELLATORS INTERNATIONAL (CI), wanted to expand the scope of FELD INSTITUT with a focus on quality assurance. You can learn more about CI below.
Openness and low-threshold access: Stephanie
In 2011, Stephanie, about 15 years after entering the systemic field of constellation work, offered the first open constellation evenings – in response to a situation where people in crisis found little, too late, or no support at all. Following the example of AA, she opened her rooms once a week in the evenings for people seeking togetherness, guidance, and support. The opportunity itself, and not least the significantly lower participation fee, ensured the rapid spread of the offering.
At that time, the offer was new in constellation circles, and quite a few colleagues reacted angrily to the pricing. Today, the format is the basis for many colleagues to build their practice.
Stephanie’s open constellation evenings still exist today. They take place more or less every two weeks and are a cornerstone of FELD INSTITUT Cologne. As a rule, appointments are booked out long in advance.
Click here to go directly to the dates for the constellation evenings
In addition to the constellation evenings, Stephanie offers regular events and weekends on topics related to self and personal development, as well as trauma – integration and healing.
Click here to go directly to an overview of the various intensive days/workshops
Through her international network in the context of the successful FELD spin-off of CONSTELLATORS INTERNATIONAL (CI, see below), Stephanie regularly invites colleagues from all over the world to Cologne to present their work. She is also a frequent and welcome guest at events and training courses of international colleagues.
In addition to her work as a systemic consultant, Stephanie writes books and essays on systemic topics, which you can find under the menu item Publications. Further information about Stephanie can be found under the menu item Stephanie Hartung under Cologne FELD Partners.
Systemic Intelligence Structurally Implemented: Jürgen
Jürgen now applies his expertise from 30 years as a top manager in the waste management industry in a structural-systemic way. As a consultant, he now deals with the organization and design of procurement and implementation of complex services for corporations.
Further information about Jürgen can also be found under the menu item Jürgen Ziemann under Cologne FELD Partners.
The FELD and CONSTELLATORS INTERNATIONAL
CONSTELLATORS INTERNATIONAL (CI) is a spin-off of FELD INSTITUT Cologne by Stephanie and Jürgen. The organization started in 2019 and is now the largest international community of systemic consultants. CI operates a platform where systemic consultants and therapists from all over the world can freely set up their professional profiles and publish information about their events and publications.
Furthermore, CI grants International Recognition for Constellation Facilitators, Trainers, and Training Programs. The recognition process was developed with an international team of recognized colleagues. CI operates its own book publishing house and organizes regular events such as the successful CI Congress in Malta, which takes place every two years.