Soul Care Rhythms: Fall
by Judy Ko and Laura E. Peluso
Editor’s Note: In our previous issue, Contemplative Practices Editor Judy Ko, introduced a creative contemplative project with her friend Laura Peluso. In a year-long exploration, they take on new practices as a way of discovering what their souls need to thrive at this moment in their lives. They embark on this individually, checking in with each other along the way, and also share pieces of their journey here with us, in hopes that something here might inspire others.
To ground our steps and guide our way, we’ve drafted an initial mission statement. We feel these intentions are unique to our personal and combined journeys.
Soul care as a form of self-expression and creative expression
Soul care as a way to understand our interactions with others
Soul care as producing currency/energy for emotional transactions/exchanges
Soul care as a way of seeking peace
Soul care as a way of enriching our faith and relationship with Christ
Soul care as a way of communing with nature and God’s creation
Judy
I'm holding a sense of gratitude for what we are generating in this practice. On the other hand, I also recognize the parts of me that sense resistance or ambivalence and, dare I admit, the dread that can come with committing to a disciplined practice.
I'm looking out the window, observing my neighbor's house, admiring a tall evergreen to the right and hearing the kids shooting hoops outside. It's a much-needed lazy Saturday afternoon recharging. My dog Penny is curled up at my feet, calming down from another squirrel sighting. I'm sitting down to reflect on this summer and early fall through the lens of this contemplative season that both Laura and I have embarked on. On this journey, I've set an intention to connect more deeply with myself, share asynchronously with Laura through writing and prayers, and check in live with her as we reflect and support each other in the various joys and trials we are encountering at this stage of our lives. We have our shared Google doc where we're beginning to employ the comment feature quite a bit! We're also keeping it loose, connecting sporadically through texts, phone and video calls, and snail mail. (I’m treasuring this handmade envelope.)
I am learning about many special interests and hobbies that are capturing Laura’s attention right now. I feel a deep wish for her to keep showing up to all the things that are capturing her in this moment. In a way, this gives me extra fuel to continue my own pursuits.
Even though we’ve removed the layer of expectations for what this should look like, as creatives who seek excellence, we recognize a degree of self-imposed pressure.
On one hand, I'm holding a sense of gratitude for what we are generating in this practice. On the other hand, I also recognize the parts of me that sense resistance or ambivalence and, dare I admit, the dread that can come with committing to a disciplined practice. Journaling doesn't come easy for me. Neither does committing. Finding concrete words that can adequately express the inner weather patterns moving through my internal system can feel as enticing as picking up my dog's poop.
Yet, here we are, fumbling through the days, acknowledging our exhaustion, busyness, or discouragement, trusting that it will all be okay. Even though we’ve removed the layer of expectations for what this should look like, as creatives who seek excellence, we recognize a degree of self-imposed pressure. I wonder how this might shift as we carry on. As I look back at what we've co-created, I also feel touched by the unique sharing and responding in the things that strike our hearts, minds, and imaginations.
As Laura has listened and held with me what I’ve shared with her, I feel myself forming new grooves as I reach for the pen again to jot down an epiphany for myself or start typing a thought I’m musing over. We’ve created a space where I can come as I am—bringing messy, half-formed thoughts, drafts of ideas, offering myself to a process of discovery.
Laura
I don’t think that I would have begun this project with anyone but Judy.
We all have that friend who listens to us, really listens. That’s Judy. She is also a talented artist, the type of artist who makes creative expression look easy, and she is a supportive friend, the kind of friend who commiserates with you and encourages you in a way that feels completely genuine.
This summer has been a challenging one for both of us. I have been navigating some changes in my life, and while most of them have been positive, I’ve still felt a need to practice kindness in the way I care for myself. It has been a season of listening and of acknowledging new limitations. In my conversations with Judy, I have found a safe place to express my ideas without judgment and hear her perspective about the relationships we have with ourselves and with others.
It has been a season of listening and of acknowledging new limitations. In my conversations with Judy, I have found a safe place to express my ideas without judgment.
We’ve also found time to explore soul care together. One Sunday, Judy led a breath and movement session for the two of us. I found it challenging to express some of my stronger emotions through dance, but it was such a powerful moment when Judy danced with me, mirroring my hands punching the air around me, and equally so when I mirrored her dance and felt her current emotional state. The benefits I experienced from releasing these feelings through physical expressions had a lasting impact; I felt peaceful and grounded for most of the following week.
I know that I’m not alone when I say that I’m experiencing changes and challenges. While speaking with friends, I’ve found that at least one aspect of each person’s life is changing. We all seem to be marching forward.
The movement feels good, but I am observing it with caution, if only because it must share space with the now ever-present chaos that arrived with the pandemic. The fear of disease has morphed into the fear of war, natural disasters, shortages, and political and financial instability. I find myself focusing on my own little world and the worlds of my friends as a way of feeling hopeful. Good things are happening despite the chaos. (Ruth is with Naomi, they have enough grain, and Boaz thinks Ruth is hot.)
As Judy and I continue to define what soul care means to us and the role it plays in our lives, I remain curious about myself and the path forward and committed to completing this year-long journey with a dear friend who shares my love of beauty, art, culture, and self-exploration.
Judy Ko is interested in the intersections of faith, creativity, beauty, truth, trauma, and soul care. She received a design education from Carnegie Mellon and worked as a visual designer in Manhattan before deciding to pursue the field of therapy. She moved to the Pacific Northwest to earn a counseling psychology degree at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Judy is currently a Licensed Mental Health Associate working as a play therapist in the Seattle area.
Laura E. Peluso, a New England native and former New York City resident, pursues peace and comfort in mountains and oceans as enthusiastically as she searches for inspiration in the vitality of urban places. As she navigates each year’s unexpected challenges, she continues to seek – with great imperfection – a life filled with purpose and joy.
