It’s sad to see “mysticism” reduced to a way to flog more deodorants. No criticism on you, Zoe, I agree with much of what you’re saying here - just wish we had as a society ways to embrace the Primal side that are neither linked to consumption or to conventional religion and superstition.
And maybe I am cynical but “Fresh, chill, boost” sound more like a junior brand manager left alone with ChatGPT than a strategic shift to vibes from Adidas but hey what do I know!
Your piece hit me like a freight train of clarity. It’s rare to find language that captures the quiet power of imagination as a collective, political act, not just a sense of personal flair; my word, it’s a blueprint.
I'm very much vibing on what you're saying here (love the phrase, "the algorithm and the ache"). But I can't help but see a dark side to this as well. American society is veering away from empiricism. Increasingly, feels trump facts. And while that works for the creative industries (who have always had to balance the head and the heart), I hope you'll draw distinctions around areas where primal intelligence could do more harm than good. Taken to extremes a prioritization of vibes leads to people dying of preventable diseases. So, I like that you are an advocate for balance and hope you'll help people see the frontiers beyond which data deserves priority.
Yep, seeing and hearing more of this too. Both in spending more time looking at the work of people like Nora Bateson and her approach with 'warm data' and also indirectly, with a few more leaders being more accepting of conversations about feels / vibes when it comes to what's changing.
These nerds at Economic Space Agency’s x-org used to talk about gemes, pointing at the way gameplay creates an experiential lore we can craft into new mythologies through the playful abduction of cultural expression.
Think fairy tales into fairy play into different roles into very real experiences into new stories about who we are and what we can do to the power of let’s play
It’s sad to see “mysticism” reduced to a way to flog more deodorants. No criticism on you, Zoe, I agree with much of what you’re saying here - just wish we had as a society ways to embrace the Primal side that are neither linked to consumption or to conventional religion and superstition.
And maybe I am cynical but “Fresh, chill, boost” sound more like a junior brand manager left alone with ChatGPT than a strategic shift to vibes from Adidas but hey what do I know!
Agreed. I think you'll enjoy this piece: https://www.whispersandgiants.com/2025/03/30/practical-imagination
Omg thank you so much for your piece and this share… imperative reading and helped me put language on something have been struggling to articulate ❤️
I see it too. Currently knee deep in exploring AI and stories through the lens of Arabian nights and the rise of live theatre for Uni (gone back to study performance at central st martins) https://open.substack.com/pub/autotelicmusings/p/how-to-train-your-algorithm?r=1xyjh&utm_medium=ios
Your piece hit me like a freight train of clarity. It’s rare to find language that captures the quiet power of imagination as a collective, political act, not just a sense of personal flair; my word, it’s a blueprint.
Not for Everyone. But maybe for you and your patrons?
Dear Zoe,
I hope this finds you in a rare pocket of stillness.
We hold deep respect for what you've built here—and for how.
We’ve just opened the door to something we’ve been quietly handcrafting for years.
Not for mass markets. Not for scale. But for memory and reflection.
Not designed to perform. Designed to endure.
It’s called The Silent Treasury.
A sanctuary where truth, judgment, and consciousness are kept like firewood—dry, sacred, and meant for long winters.
Where trust, vision, patience, and stewardship are treated as capital—more rare, perhaps, than liquidity itself.
The two inaugural pieces speak to a quiet truth we've long engaged with:
1. Why we quietly crave for signal from rare, niche sanctuaries—especially when judgment must be clear.
2. Why many modern investment ecosystems (PE, VC, Hedge, ALT, SPAC, rollups) fracture before they root.
These are not short, nor designed for virality.
They are multi-sensory, slow experiences—built to last.
If this speaks to something you've always felt but rarely seen expressed,
perhaps these works belong in your world.
Both publication links are enclosed, should you choose to enter.
https://tinyurl.com/The-Silent-Treasury-1
https://tinyurl.com/The-Silent-Treasury-2
Warmly,
The Silent Treasury
Sanctuary for strategy, judgment, and elevated consciousness.
Yes
So good
This is phenomenal Zoe, thank you.
I'm very much vibing on what you're saying here (love the phrase, "the algorithm and the ache"). But I can't help but see a dark side to this as well. American society is veering away from empiricism. Increasingly, feels trump facts. And while that works for the creative industries (who have always had to balance the head and the heart), I hope you'll draw distinctions around areas where primal intelligence could do more harm than good. Taken to extremes a prioritization of vibes leads to people dying of preventable diseases. So, I like that you are an advocate for balance and hope you'll help people see the frontiers beyond which data deserves priority.
Yep, seeing and hearing more of this too. Both in spending more time looking at the work of people like Nora Bateson and her approach with 'warm data' and also indirectly, with a few more leaders being more accepting of conversations about feels / vibes when it comes to what's changing.
These nerds at Economic Space Agency’s x-org used to talk about gemes, pointing at the way gameplay creates an experiential lore we can craft into new mythologies through the playful abduction of cultural expression.
Think fairy tales into fairy play into different roles into very real experiences into new stories about who we are and what we can do to the power of let’s play