Here in the first of a regular section in the bulletin which will give a perspective from the course itself, current MSc student Sylvan Argo eloquently describes the journey she and her colleagues are taking at the moment...

Spring awakens, slowly stretching

Radiant, glowing –

Sunlight lifts smiling petals

On dancing wings

Of hope.

All about Glasgow, window boxes are waking up, green shoots peeking tentatively through before unfurling in splashes of purple, yellow, white, red. Trees are blossoming, soft pink petals reaching up to an increasingly blue sky. Slowly, Spring spreads her tender warmth throughout our city… As I walk these urban streets, drinking in the pockets of cheerful growth and rejuvenating color, I can’t help but smile.
 
These last few months of our MSc journey have been challenging and stimulating in myriad ways. January found us exploring the wind-swept landscape and warm heart-scapes of Falkland, finding our own creative voices while hearing and sharing stories of transformation from each other as well as the local community. My perception of that intensive weekend was an opening of our hearts to new possibilities. As we made our various ways home, we were holding within us the challenge of cultivating our own creativity – a fearful prospect for some, a welcome prospect for others. Yet for all, I believe it was a period of discovery and growth.
 
February brought us together again – a happy and warm reunion of people and ideas. Moving from the head and heart spaces of past workshops, this last weekend together served to focus our energy and ideas on the 'hand' - how to take action, apply all our ideas and passions in daily practice. Our challenge now is our Action Inquiry, where, with the support of group members as ‘critical friends’, we are all reflecting on our actions, our inter-actions, learning by doing, and delving deeper into what it means to truly engage with the practice of Human Ecology.
 
Many of you reading this will have been on that particular journey for quite some time; this last weekend also offered the opportunity to hear stories from past graduates, gleaning wisdom from their Journeys in Human Ecology. Adam Howard, a recent 2006 graduate, organised a welcoming space in the Phoenix Centre, where we could hear from past graduates, as well as share food and music in ceilidh fashion afterwards. As a current student on the verge of writing a dissertation, while at the same time asking “where do I go from here?!”, the Journeys event has sparked new exciting questions and discussion. I only wish we could hear from more graduates…
 
As for our new space at the University of Strathclyde, our last weekend was the first time we all gathered in our new library on the 5th floor of the Graham Hills Building. What was once a dusty map and storage room is now blossoming in its own way – through the loving cultivation and presence of students and staff. After a few intensive days of courses, Monday evening found a few of us dancing around the room to groovy music, rejoicing in colors and putting up pictures – a phenomenal way to relax and enjoy one of the (many) things I appreciate about this course – shared space with fun, creative people.