What do you think about friendship? Was it just a random, unexpected thing that happened, or is it a conscious choice? Who becomes your friend?

Peterson’s third rule for life is phrased as: “Make friends with people who want the best for you.” On the surface, it sounds simple and clear. But look closer, and questions arise. First, how can you tell who truly wants the best for you? And second, why should anyone limit themselves when choosing their social circle?

In this episode, we’ll explore how our environment shapes us, what signs can help us understand whether a relationship helps us grow or pulls us down, how childhood and starting conditions affect adult life, and whether it’s possible to break free from a vicious cycle.

(Photo credit: unsplash.com/@mikekilcoyne)

We continue exploring Jordan Peterson’s second rule for life. The second rule is closely connected with the well-known moral law expressed in Kant’s categorical imperative or in the Christian commandment to treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.

An often-overlooked consequence of this idea, which Peterson emphasizes, is its reciprocity. In other words, by accepting this principle for yourself, you should also allow for its application to others. This, in fact, leads to the principle: “Make friends with people who want the best for you.”

It’s unlikely that this sounds entirely new, but the more holistic “view from above,” which is precisely what makes Peterson’s book valuable, allows us to understand these seemingly self-evident truths on a deeper level.

Continuing our discussion of Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life. The second rule is: “Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping.” However, in my view, this rule is not really about that.

The key concepts in this section are order, chaos, and the process that unfolds between them. Despite their abstract nature, these forces are present in our lives and are just as significant as more concrete, material things. A lack or excess of either one leads to undesirable consequences, which is why the search for the middle path becomes one of life’s most important tasks.

Do you agree that finding a balance between order and chaos is one of the important tasks in life? Share in the comments!

“Stand up straight with your shoulders back.” — that’s how the first of Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life sounds, which we’re discussing this season. While the idea of the connection between physical and psychological states is generally reasonable and relevant, I believe this rule carries much deeper meaning.

In this episode, we’ll discuss Peterson’s key concept of the dominance hierarchy and how it shows up in everyday life on different levels.

“If a dominant lobster is badly defeated, its brain basically dissolves. Then it grows a new, subordinate’s brain—one more appropriate to its new, lowly position.” (Jordan Peterson, 12 Rules for Life)

You can listen as always on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

The new season of the podcast is dedicated to exploring Jordan Peterson’s Twelve Rules for Life.

A few years ago, while studying mythology, I stumbled upon a series of YouTube lectures by an author I didn’t know at the time. The topic was the psychological interpretation of biblical stories.

What struck me most was how these seemingly dry, hours-long videos were being watched by millions of people worldwide.

In this episode, we talk about why Twelve Rules for Life is worth reading, even if titles like “how to live properly” make you roll your eyes.

And what does Jung, cognitive psychology, and ancient myth have to do with all this? Let’s find out.

If you’ve read Peterson before and want to go deeper into his ideas, join the conversation. If you’re new to him but curious about meaning, order, and the inner structure of life, you’ll definitely find something here.

And if you believe life can’t be squeezed into a set of rules, tune in and join the discussion!

In this episode, we explore one of the most mysterious and debated topics — the topic of destiny. Reflected in mythology, cultural studies, and psychology, destiny has always raised many questions. We analyze it through the lens of time, starting with ancient gods of fate such as the Greek Moirai and the Norse Norns (and not only them), and ending with modern psychological perspectives.

What is the difference between minor destiny and major destiny? What is the purpose? How does personal choice influence destiny? We discuss these questions in this special bonus episode.

Works mentioned in this episode:

Carl Jung – Memories, Dreams, Reflections; The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious

Marie-Louise von Franz – On Dreams and Death

Jürgen Habermas – theories on narrative identity

Aleister Crowley – concept of the Holy Guardian Angel (Thelema)

The Poetic Edda – Norse mythological poems (on the Norns)

In this bonus episode, we revisit the phenomenon of synchronicity — a concept Jung used to describe events that are meaningfully connected, yet not causally related. Often labeled as mystical or esoteric, synchronicity takes on a different light when viewed through the lens of narrative psychology. Building on our previous discussions about personal life stories, we explore how this seemingly irrational idea can, in fact, be understood in a rational and psychologically grounded way.

"There are no accidents." — Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda

Mentioned resources:

Carl Gustav Jung, Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle (CW, v.8)

The Emerald Tablet (Tabula Smaragdina)

In this episode, we return to the themes we’ve been exploring throughout the previous thirteen conversations — the midlife passage and what it asks of us. We revisit key ideas from earlier episodes and take a step further by using the symbolic language of alchemy to understand what is happening within us during this profound life transition. As Jung suggested, alchemy offers a powerful metaphor for inner transformation — one that helps illuminate the psychological processes at work when our old identity begins to dissolve and something new, yet unknown, starts to emerge.

Sources of quotes in this episode:

• Carl Jung, Letters, Vol. 1, p. 483
• Carl Jung, Collected Works (CW 17, §308)
• James Hollis, The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife
• Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings