Practice Ways with Laura Pashby
Fog, still points, enchantment
Practice Ways is a monthly feature on Balance Practice that shares notes from writers, makers, coaches, and creatives, offering perspectives on what balance looks like as real life is happening.
The fog rolls in off the Pacific Ocean like clockwork, blanketing the San Francisco Bay Area in a thick, damp cloud. I’ve lived in Berkeley (my birthplace) and in other pockets of the bay at various points in my life — as a small child, a summer holiday visitor, a university student, a new mom — and the region’s iconic marine layer has always offered a steady albeit cool embrace.
Most recently, while living in Marin, my two toddlers and I would curl up on adirondack chairs under wool blankets on our porch to watch the fog make its way through the Golden Gate Bridge most evenings. Kind of like watching the sunset. A different sort of curtain closure, the fog’s descent offered a distinct inward invitation and daily cooldown as it wrapped me and my goose bumped, awestruck kids in reflection of what had happened, and what might be. This also came at a time when my daughter was obsessively drawing rainbows and to this day when I think of fog, I see rainbows, which somehow feels like an accurate representation of fog’s perspective-shifting resonance.
I’m not sure I realized how comforting fog has been to me until I came upon writer
’s beautiful work and words. In her new book, Chasing Fog, Laura explores her curiosity and passion for the elusive weather condition and creates a meditative adventure that follows her pursuit of fog from Cornwall to Scotland, London to Venice, and beyond. Not unlike her newsletter, Small Stories, where she shares her exploration for magic and meaning, Chasing Fog offers a whimsical sense of place and timely prompt for reflection.
Laura is generous in sharing her thoughtful and timely perspective on the themes of balance and practice with us, her words inspiring clarity even as we find our way through the metaphorical mist that each day brings.
What’s feeling really good to you in this season?Â
Autumn is truly my favourite—this misty, foggy, milky, moody season will always have my heart. Outside my loft-room study window, the beech tree opposite is suddenly tinged with gold. I find autumn skies entrancing—an endless interplay between dark clouds and glittering sunshine—the light at this time of year is like a poem. It feels good to be back at my desk, wrapped in a fluffy cardigan, with a steaming cup of coffee.
What does balance look like for you right now?
Balance is the still point in the middle of the day where I can find space for my thoughts. My family life (I have three sons, two of them teens) is always a beautiful whirlwind. Last month, I released my book Chasing Fog, which has meant working on book promotion, and going on a small book tour. This is a busy season for me and I am conscious that I need to allow myself moments of quiet so I don’t become overwhelmed.
What practices support your sense of balance?
In a physical sense, my weekly pilates class allows me to strengthen my balance. In an emotional sense, I find that getting outside every day, ideally up to the woods, or into the fields, helps me to find my centre.
What’s one gesture toward centre you’d invite everyone reading to partake with you today?
I am a fog lover—misty mornings quicken my heart. This is a good time of year to go outside at first light in search of the magic of mist. If you’re lucky, you’ll discover the enchantment of a world transformed.
is a fog-loving writer and photographer whose work explores the search for magic and meaning. Her books include Chasing Fog and Little Stories of Your Life, and she writes Small Stories here on Substack. Learn more about Laura and her work at laurapashby.com.