A smoothie that soothes the soul.
Erie PA., — Smoothing the Soul is one of the many activities Gannon offers. Smoothing the Soul is part of the campus ministry, but he sets aside an hour in the evening and is open to anyone who wants to meditate while sipping on a fresh smoothie. It is held every Tuesday at 8pm.
Participants will gather in room 202 on the second floor of the North Hall. The evening begins with creative ice-breaker questions, followed by a few minutes of meditation. Meditation can be guided audio, recorded noises such as water or nature sounds, or silent meditation. Afterward, group members enjoy conversation over smoothies that change flavors each week.
Smoothing the Soul has two student leaders. Student leader Chelsea Total began serving as his leader four semesters ago, and student leader Angelise Zakis has served as his leader for two terms. Leader Chelsea Total shares her perspective on meditation and how soul smoothing has shaped it.
“For me, meditation is a way that I can deconstruct some of my thoughts. I remember last year I wanted to be a leader for Smoothing the Soul because I was going through a tough time. I thought it would be a time of the week where I could unpack my thoughts and at the same time help others unpack theirs. Just a week off. I take some of the emotions I have and break them down. It’s like a little escape.”
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Leader Angelise Zakis says that she enjoys being freed from daily worries, and also enjoys feeling the effects of meditation afterwards.
“In my case, I’m a daydreamer and I like to get lost in my head. It’s great to have the time to be able to plan it out intentionally.” I feel more alert, more alert, and more relaxed,” he added.
The group is run by two student leaders, but they are advised by Emily Muntian, North Hall’s resident campus minister.
She started advising Smoothing the Soul two years ago, and says what she likes most about hosting the group is, “Once a week, I invite students from across campus to my home or apartment, It’s about having the opportunity to provide a safe space and an opportunity to relax.” This is a space on campus. ”
Furthermore, she added: “Another thing I love is that Campus Ministry tries to offer such a wide range of programs that almost every student on campus, regardless of their faith identity or spiritual background, “That’s one of my favorite things about it is getting a diverse group of students involved in campus ministry and engaging them in their spirituality in some way.” ”
While not all members will or need to attend every week, two student leaders said one of their favorite things about leading a group is coming back with new members each week. He said it was about meeting the members.
Although they accept suggestions for new flavors for the smoothies they offer each week, they generally choose from a rotation prepared in-house.
One of the most unique parts of Smoothing the Soul is the creative ice-breaking questions. Leader Angelise Zakis says she comes up with questions by talking and telling stories until a question pops into her head. “One time we were talking about work or something, and the question that night ended up being, what do you want to do when you retire? A twist on a common question. It may become.”
Another unique component of Smoothing the Soul is the concept of Shameless Plugs. After the meditation, students are given the opportunity to write about activities, club meetings, or anything else they would like to share with other students.
Student Mikal Brian Ott has been at Smoothing the Soul for about two semesters and cites the shameless plugs and social connections as his favorite things about participating. “I enjoy the social aspect of Shameless Plugs, being myself, and interacting in a small room environment. It’s chill, calm, peaceful, and cozy.”
If you have time on a Tuesday night, don’t hesitate to join Smoothing the Soul at North Hall. In addition to the benefits of meditation, you can also enjoy a fresh smoothie and conversation.
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