“BRASS SHINES AS FAIR TO THE IGNORANT AS GOLD TO THE GOLDSMITHS.”
—QUEEN ELIZABETH LETTER (1581)
I was drawn to Queen Elizabeth’s words, written five centuries ago, because of her capacity to understand the human condition. What we consider valuable (brass or gold) . . . is often a mere illusion . . . and depends largely upon perspective. In that day in time, in small hamlets, villagers were mentally and physically ground down by repetitive, mindnumbing daily tasks needed to endure harsh winters and cruel conditions. Survival extinguished the human spark. And it was that “ignorance” the Queen referenced, that could only be changed with knowledge and awareness.
Fast forward to today. Something is happening. If you are paying attention, not just to the headlines, but to people… you also have felt it. You can see it in their glossy stares . . . feel it in public places. The warmth is gone. The spontaneity, the spark, the soul behind the smile . . . missing . . . and in its place are shiny new things to fill humanity’s void.
You might think you are imagining things . . . becoming more aware with age . . . or is it because people are situationally stagnant? But the more you look, the clearer it becomes…this dullness is not random, it is systemic.
During the pandemic, many lives were re-defined by both fear and isolation, resulting in heightened anxiety. Humanity turned inward, relying on technology to fill the void caused by the lack of social interaction. Sadly, the curated content people read was controlled through algorithms . . . whose purpose was to create engagement on meta platforms. Addictive and often mind numbing material was fed to those seeking answers in a time of vulnerability and suffering.
Today, we are living through a post Covid, silent emotional shutdown. The nervous system is overwhelmed and over stimulated. Modern life bombards us with signals, phones, screens, alerts, artificial light and manufactured sound . . . all of which pushes the body into chronic survival mode. In that space . . . you do not connect . . . you protect. Empathy becomes a luxury the brain can no longer afford. People are becoming less human and to combat their dormant existence are seeking shiny objects to fill an inner void…and break the dullness of the modern human condition.
As ELYSIAN begins our second decade, we purposefully expanded our ELYSIAN Circle of Women through our Aspiring Women, the next generation of female thought leaders. They are truth seekers who intuitively understand the modern-day complexities and their unique responsibility moving forward. I have gleaned from countless interviews; they collectively believe that only through intentional actions and unclouded minds can they find their purpose.
To reignite the human spark, we dream that our daughters will push beyond the glassy eyed, superficial, and automated. They were not raised with hollow mothers and fathers, and they will create their own transformative truth to break the cycle. I have heard their voices, and they are very clear; complacency is death for their generation.
And so, in this our Golden Issue, I think about the metaphor in Queen Elizabeth’s letter. She understood the differentiator between “the goldsmith” and the “ignorant”; it was truth . . . the ability to see past the shine and understand what holds real value. Likewise, the Aspiring Women recognize that if they mimic what they have experienced the past decade, their conscious awareness of injustice, love, and peace will be lost.
There is a circle to life. Whatever we chase we become. I am filled with hope as our Aspiring Women lead the charge to a more aware and conscious world, filled with purpose and passion.
May you rise up to take the challenge led by these women, understanding you are not alone.
Thank you for taking the journey.
Much love,
Karen Floyd
Publisher