Sunday, November 27 – December 2, 2011
David Key & Mary-Jayne Rust
This course is open for bookings.
If we are to survive, we must align who we think we are with the ecological reality of what we are: our psychology must fit our ecology. To achieve this, we need a revolution in our sense of self, and in how we relate to planet earth – our home.
Ecopsychology has a fundamental role to play in our responses to our current social and ecological challenges. From denial to inspired action, our motivations are governed by our emotions and what we believe about our place in the web of life. Unless we understand the stories that we live by at a deeper level there is a danger that we do new things in old ways.
Through this course participants will explore the ecological self, the ecology of the unconscious, and anthropocentrism – the perceived hierarchies of power and control that influence our relationships to each other and the rest of nature.
A central theme of the week is to look at some of the archetypal myths which underlie industrial growth culture. How might these hidden narratives influence our definitions of success, our choices about change – our very identities even? If psychology has been used by the media and advertising industry to tap into such myths and thereby influence our consumer behaviour, what might this tell us about ways out of our ‘addiction to consumerism’?
In the past few years, a range of innovative projects and movements have been emerging which draw on psychological wisdom, such as the WWF Scotland Natural Change Project, and Inner Transition. We ask what theories and practices inform these projects, how do they work, how are they facilitated? How do we work indoors and outdoors, with communities, organisations and individuals? What are the advantages and limitations of putting Ecopsychology into practice?
Accessing psychological wisdom helps us to understand the process and nature of change. This can help with communications, conflict resolution within groups and communities working towards change, guarding against burn out, and the cultivation of resilience.
Throughout the week we pay close attention to ways the unfolding group process informs our thoughts and subject of study. We support each person to find their own authentic voice and ways to language a new narrative of change.
We aim to offer an experience of embodied learning which combines talks and discussion with experiential group and individual work, as well as time outdoors. Crucially we try to create a learning community where participants feel safe and nourished by the whole environment, in order to face, feel and think deeply about the crisis we are in – and ways to respond to it.
This course offers a chance to step back, to find the touchstones of our own experience, and to critically learn from Ecopsychology theory and practice.
David Key is an internationally qualified outdoor leader with over 15 years experience working with groups in wild places to facilitate change. He is a fellow of the Centre for Human Ecology and co-led the postgraduate Ecopsychology module at the University of Strathclyde for seven years. He was a founding director of Footprint Consulting Limited where he worked extensively with organisational change. He now facilitates the WWF Natural Change Project with Margaret Kerr, while training as a psychotherapist.
Mary-Jayne Rust is a Jungian analyst and an art therapist. Her many years of working in the area of eating problems has informed a wider interest in the cultural roots of consumerism and the links between gender and culture, soul and the land. Alongside private practice, she lectures and teaches in a variety of settings, as well as contributing to books and journals on the subject of ecopsychology. She has worked for two green NGOs. She grew up by the sea, and living beside water remains a source of great nourishment. See www.mjrust.net
Mary-Jayne Rust – Ecopsychology – Shadow and Transformation
David Key – Applied Ecopsychology
£750
All course fees include accommodation, food, field trips and all teaching sessions.
For further information about Schumacher College please see About the College
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We will hold the place for five working days for reservations – three weeks before a course or earlier. After five days we will automatically offer your place to someone else if we have not received your application.
