Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Psyche.

Friendships Strained
It has been over a year since the pandemic started and things are still not back to normal. Vaccinations have rolled out, however, I have yet to hang out with anyone. Much of this has to do with the fact that I have lost contact with so many of my friends due to a lack of interaction. You truly learn what friendship means when you can't see one another every day. When things started to go down I was working 70+ hours a week while most people were unemployed. My friends got to hang out on zoom and other video hosting platforms because they had a lot of time on their hands. I was unable to hang out with them and enjoy the face-to-face interactions. When I got home most days I just wanted to sleep. Most of my friends were still messaging me on Facebook, but they were living different lives than I was. I couldn't relate to them and vice versa. I didn't know what it was like to be bored out of my mind with nothing to do around my house as they did. I was considered lucky because I was still working. I didn't feel the same. I did appreciate having a full-time job, but I didn't care. I wanted a break, I wanted to live off of the unemployment benefits and stay home. I did not have that luxury. I was overworked in the health field and stressed out. When I talked to other people they were unsympathetic to my woes.
By Jae Frank5 years ago in Psyche
Couples Massage Therapy.
Couples Massage Therapy: Not Just For Lovers! Couples Massage Therapy is almost the same as another massage, the main difference being that there are two instead of one massage table. Two therapists will be in the room - you and your spouse. The second one. Those who go for first-time massage therapy will receive this service much more comfortably when a loved one is in the same room.
By Richard Berlin5 years ago in Psyche
The Witness
I woke to the feeling of a hundred hands. They surround me, holding me, lifting me towards the surface of my self. I continue forward, opening my eyes to the light of the world. My perspective shifts as I lift my left hand from the black polyhedron. As I sit up to a room of rust, an ominous picture hangs just before this room's passageway. Their bones undisturbed on a rusty ski lift, no semblance of fear in their being; it must have happened in an instant. The solitude of these heights.
By Tyler Chase5 years ago in Psyche
Purgatory
It was too quiet, even for the trees. I could feel the wind breeze past the edge of my shoulders, but it did not seem to shake the grass. Nothing, not even the birds, had a song to sing that day. How long have I been here? I wondered. I often wonder such a thought, and the inevitable fear that this world is stuck between two designs haunts my mind. Especially when the wind does not bother the leaves.
By Ruggles Kerr5 years ago in Psyche
Dodging a New Dark Age
Is the much feared “biblical apocalypse” upon us? Just like the Four Horsemen of Doom, we have famine, pestilence, death, and disease among us. And, with the Holy Land up in flames, maybe the “signs” are all too familiar. Turning to more earthly concerns, the Coronavirus has wrought unimaginable havoc on the world and has brought us to the point where many are questioning if the very survival of the human race is in peril. Indeed, with the convergence of economic, political, social, and healthcare systems collapse, one wonders whether we are headed into a “New Dark Age”.
By Rammohan Susarla5 years ago in Psyche
Creating Self
Writing, photography, painting, creating. Meditation, burning sage, crystal healing, chakra cleansing. These and other coping skills, creative avenues, and spiritual awakening activities are great. They certainly have their place in feeling/releasing emotion, and can help people get through the day. However, what I have found is that in order to do them, I have to be feeling a certain amount of well already. I have to have the time and energy to put into these self-help activities and creative outlets.
By Kat Sung (they/them)5 years ago in Psyche
INCOMPREHENSIBLE
It is the instinct of the smallest brain reptile to protect their young. It is second nature to almost every living being to do that no matter what the cost. And most of us would not give a second thought to giving up our own lives, so that our children, get a chance in this world. So what happens when a mother kills her children. Is she evil, is she mentally is, or did she simply want to rid herself of the responsibilities of parenthood. Maybe it is all 3, for myself personally I think in some cases it could be a combination of them all. One thing is for sure there are few who have a lot of understanding when this happens. We are going to take a look at a couple of cases and we can draw our own conclusions as to what the case may be.
By Adriane Kirby5 years ago in Psyche
I Crave Fairytales
For many, it is time to re-parent your inner child. When considering Bedtime Stories for this writing competition, I took, frankly, more than a moment to revel in the nostalgia of the bedtime routine. Do you remember the safety of it? Of being held and read to. Just for it to one day, without even noticing, stop.
By Tatum Halligan5 years ago in Psyche
Opening Back Up
Over the last two weeks, we are slowly getting back to “normal” life as theaters, restaurants and other public venues, are opening back up due to COVID-19 restrictions being loosened up just in time for everyone to enjoy the summer. Last week there were Juneteenth celebrations held outside and with the upcoming 4th of July holiday (in honor of the Original Illegals, aka the “Founding Fathers” and the Declaration of Hypocrisy) will surely bring about more festivals, outdoor activities and chances for people to come together.
By From the Mind of Nobody5 years ago in Psyche
Six Weeks of Pending Doom
I have a lot of rage right now that I don't know what to do with. I have been struggling with it for the past four days. I don't know where to channel it, so I decided to write this piece.
By Candice Cain5 years ago in Psyche
Moon Light
I woke up suddenly in a cold sweat, shooting straight up in bed with my heart still racing from my nightmare. I look around my bedroom and it is dark, so I assume it is the middle of the night. I slowly make my way into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water, only to realize my fridge light is out. I turn around and flick the kitchen light on, but the room remains dark. The power is out. I step onto the back porch to look for the glow from streetlights. I realize the only light source is the moon light.
By Autumn Bradley 5 years ago in Psyche
Magical Thinking, Mundanical Thinking
We’re all familiar with the problem of magical thinking. Magical thinking is generally used to refer to superstitious beliefs which ignore basic things like causation or evidence. But we can expand the definition slightly, to encompass any belief which ignores reason or evidence in favour of something nice, or comforting, or optimistic. (This is sometimes called wishful thinking but I irrationally like the feel of ‘magical’ as a cover-all term). A good example of this is the belief that human history will necessarily turn out well; that it is inconceivable for humanity to drive ourselves extinct or otherwise royally screw-up our future. In many cases it can involve a kind of positive fatalism: “things will turn out okay”, “God has a Plan”, or “lots of bad things like extreme poverty have been decreasing for a long time so things will probably just keep getting better and we don’t need to worry too much about existential risks” (looking at you Steven Pinker). Magical thinking often involves a poorly considered, naive optimism that spares the details in favour of fantasy.
By Conor McCammon5 years ago in Psyche