In the Thick of Life

Feeding the Mythic Hunger

In this episode, Katja and Asmae dive into the cultural obsession with performance — how it shapes our bodies, our relationships, our healing practices, even our sense of belonging. They explore what happens when “improvement” becomes a reflex, a hunger without root in Deep Self — and what it takes to return to a deeper existential knowing: I am able and want be Here. They touch on existential repair, mythic hunger, and the subtle dance between responsibility and victimhood, rest and drive, will and surrender. They question the binary logics of modern healing and explore what it means to live in right relationship with the Breath of Life itself. Themes of this episode: * The mythic hunger beneath addiction, obsession, and self-optimization * Why “listening to your body” can become a trap without rooted practice * The difference between freeze, indulgence, and right rest * Gender and belonging beyond the binary and the performative * The self as geometry, pattern, and story — a living dialogue with the Tide * Reclaiming weirdness and living as mythic beings in a too-small linear world This conversation is part philosophy, part somatic reflection, part mythic riff. For those who feel too much, think too much, or are simply tired of performing life instead of living it.

Help! I'm stuck in survival mode.

In this conversation, Katja and Asmae continue last episode’s exploration of the nervous system. What does “survival mode” and “safety” really mean? Some threads of this conversation include: * Why the nervous system’s survival orientation is neutral, not negative. * How “safe spaces” often become spaces of control, and what genuine respect and care look like instead. * The importance of triggers, judgment, and discernment as forms of relational intelligence. * Healing as living, laughing, and relating—not chasing symptoms. * The spiritual trap of expecting life (or the universe) to guarantee comfort. * Death, entropy, and the cyclical intelligence of life beyond the capitalist obsession with “more.” * The body as geometry, pattern, and movement—a living interface with the more-than-human world.

All my systems are nervous 😏

This conversation is an attempt to begin to understand the complexity of the human Nervous System: * The nervous system is complex and includes various branches. * Understanding the nervous system requires context and nuance. * Movement is essential for mental and physical health. * Survival and thriving are interconnected. * The body and mind must be considered together in health discussions. * Regulation is not just about calming down; it involves understanding the body. * Sensory input plays a crucial role in how we experience life. * Social media can distort our understanding of health and the body. * Professional support can help navigate personal challenges. * Healing is a journey that requires patience and self-compassion. keywords: nervous system, health, movement, survival, thriving, body, mind, regulation, stress, sensory input, holistic understanding

I was never this honest about my story.

Welcome into the Thick of Life! In this conversation, Katja Markelova and Asmae Belalia explore the complexities of personal identity, healing, and authenticity. They share their individual journeys of self-discovery, the challenges of navigating mental health diagnoses, and the societal pressures surrounding authenticity. Keywords: self-discovery, healing, authenticity, mental health, belonging, trauma, personal journey, modern therapy, existential questions, identity