Who am I?

Serbian-born, American-raised, Asian-infused.

Neat little tagline, eh? I also like “traversing the portals of reality,” and by that I mean that I am a writer shaped by movement. Having grown up as a third culture kid, I never fully felt embodied in one place, time, or identity, perpetually on the periphery of experience and yet wholly enmeshed in it all.

It wasn’t until I traveled more that I realized that identity forms in transit rather than at arrival. I like to explore existential themes through my work, especially belonging, displacement, memory, and the subtle, delicate negotiations we make with place, with others, and above all with ourselves.

I also explore identity through language, whether in English, Serbian, Spanish, or Japanese. Each one serves as a unique tool, unlocking interconnected yet disparate worldviews with their own attendant nuances. I’m thoroughly fascinated by communication when meaning slips, where identity fractures, and where coherence must be painstakingly rebuilt time and time again.

What is “The Unconscious Room”?

The Unconscious Room was born out of a quote by Tori Amos:

“I made a decision to stop being unconscious. And how you do that is you
give yourself the keys to the unconscious room and you walk in and you go, ‘What’s up?’ and all the little monsters come out with their party hats.”

This website is my own version of that room. It’s a space where I can focus my discovery of life through visual and written forms, facing the inner disquiet that gets tucked away and ferments into shadowy inner metaphors. The Unconscious Room is a place for these investigations. It is where travel becomes interior, where writing functions as navigation, and where the act of paying attention becomes a form of return.

Certifications

Nik is a 220 hour registered instructor through both IKYTA (International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association) and Yoga Alliance.

Below is a full list of Nik’s completed certifications and courses:

  • KRI - Kundalini Yoga Level 1 (220 hours)

  • KRI - Kundalini Yoga Level 2, Vitality & Stress (60 hours)

  • KRI - Kundalini Yoga Level 2, Authentic Relationships (60 hours)

  • Usui/Tibetan Reiki Levels 1 & 2

  • Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation - Brain Longevity® Therapy Training (25 hours)