Permafrost systems are rapidly evolving under accelerated Arctic and subarctic warming, with significant implications for hydrology, biogeochemistry, and infrastructure stability. Over two decades of high-resolution subsurface temperature data from a degrading permafrost mound in Nunavik (Québec, Canada) reveal that rising air temperatures since 1993 have led to ground warming, surface subsidence, and deepening seasonal thaw, culminating in the formation of a persistent supra-permafrost talik. Building on this dataset, this study introduces a novel conceptual framework that integrates both temperature and porewater phase-based perspectives to characterize active layer and supra-permafrost talik dynamics. The framework distinguishes between cryotic taliks, defined as zones below 0.0 °C containing liquid water, and non-cryotic taliks, which remain above 0.0 °C year-round. Observations indicate that cryotic taliks form first, followed by the development of overlying non-cryotic taliks, resulting in a vertically layered structure of taliks distinguishable by temperature and porewater phase conditions. Although cryotic taliks are frequently neglected in temperature-only studies, the proposed framework explicitly captures talik stratification, enabling identification of the threshold at which water becomes mobile in partially thawed soils. The framework further improves the conceptual understanding of permafrost thaw pathways, supports the integration of observational and modeling approaches, and is adaptable to diverse permafrost settings, including coastal regions. By clarifying definitions and identifying intermediate thaw stages, this work provides a valuable reference for anticipating hydrological and landscape changes in cold regions.