Pause, reflect, and develop your thoughts.
About Nostos toi Noein
Νόστος τῷ νοεῖν — a return to thinking — invites you into a space where thought and art converge. Drawing from the ancient belief that the contemplative life is among the highest callings, I have dedicated this space to exploring the human condition through fiction, poetry, aphorisms, essays, philosophical reflections, and more.
Here, you’ll encounter writing that balances intellectual rigor with artistic freedom, unique of its kind, I dare say. Each piece seeks to engage your mind and move your spirit. Whether the words challenge you, bring you solace, or simply offer a moment of beauty, the goal is always the same: to create a meaningful encounter with thought, art, and life itself.
What You’ll Find Here
At Nostos toi Noein, the written word takes many forms. I publish at least bi-monthly. You’ll find:
Reflections: Thoughtful commentaries on books I’m reading and ideas sparked by philosophers, writers, and artists, contemporary and ancient. They balance the casual with the rigorous — approachable, yet crafted with care.
Original Works: Essays, poetry, fiction, aphorisms, and philosophical reflections. Some will be brief, others book-length. All are crafted with care, and are freely available.
Music: As a classically trained pianist and recording artist, I share links to my musical releases on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. I also will write on my musical aesthetic, from time to time. These, too, are open for all to enjoy.
This Substack is a tapestry of thought and sound. Each thread, whether written or musical, is chosen with care and intention.
Who am I?
A "Who am I?" section represents a place for an author not merely to introduce but also to say some of the quiet parts out loud. In other words, to confess. In keeping with this literary tradition, I openly confess that Nostos toi Noein is a substack. And I confess to publishing writings which slip a subversive virus into your psyche, dear reader, a virus that persuades you to pause, reflect, and above all, to think more deeply.
Allow me to introduce myself: I call myself Sousarion, in honor of my Ancient Greek namesake, who devised the art form we call comedy. Huh? Now, allow me to persuade:
Life sucks. In far too many ways to count it's unfair, unjust, and unrelenting. The longer we're alive, the more cynical we become. Think, for a moment, about all the losses you've been forced to swallow, and the consequences of those losses. Gloom and doom taste terrible. Eventually, the gloom dissipates, but the sense of doom persists. For, now it's setting in you're lost and treading water, without direction, sinking slowly, hopelessly. And no amount of bootstrap pull-ups or shoulder-dust-off cope will appease these losses or the doom of hopelessness. It's a whole and it's a visceral problem. Cracking jokes or clowning isn't going to solve it either. Banana-peel slips feel downright disrespectful.
And yet — stay with me here — the painful peel-slip and its consequences have just slid across your consciousness. Might have elicited a roll of the eyes, a shake of the head, or a mental thumbs-down with the judgment that Sousarion is a stinker and isn't going anywhere, or even a lop-off-my-head impulse... but that's the turn. The rub. The critical point of the matter. What I've been confessing. That mini-moment in which the laughable is allowed on the stage of your consciousness, wobbling and slipping and falling over itself. Farting in front of everyone. — That's it. That's why.
The world and your life didn't suddenly transform, but your existence shifted because you paused for a moment and went through the little analogy that ended in a gassy exclamation. It didn't make life less tragic or overcome the loss. There's no silver lining, necessarily. But it did lighten your being, if ever so slightly.
What does this mean? Join me and find out.
Welcome to my world.
Why Join the Conversation?
Thinking is never a solitary act. This Substack is as much about dialogue as it is about ideas, and your voice is a valued part of that exchange. Through comments and conversations, I invite you to share your reactions, pose questions, and offer your own perspectives.
This is not just an opportunity to engage with my writing — it’s an invitation to contribute to a shared pursuit of curiosity, discovery, and growth. Every question, challenge, or reflection enriches the conversation and makes this space more vibrant for all.
What’s in It for You?
Everything I publish here is freely available to all. There are no paywalls. No gated content.
I don’t believe you should have to pay to read, reflect on, learn from — or even get angry at — what I write. This work is shared in the spirit of open thought, and I’m grateful to those who read it, engage with it, and return for more.
If you find value in what I create, whether the writing, the music, or the philosophy, and want to support it, you're welcome to do so. But support is never a condition for access.
All I ask is that you read with care, think deeply, and, when moved, share generously.
Take the Next Step
If this resonates with you, I warmly invite you to subscribe. Let us embark together on a journey of thought and creativity — one that challenges, inspires, and enriches.
The door is open. You’re welcome here.
