🦊 Established & Emergent—where do you play?

If I were to ask “what is emerging in your world, for you?” you would need to first, before answering, recognise the default narrative-response that automatically arises for you. The protective/predictable/prosaic “oh, you know, busy busy, lots on” response that keeps the conversation small and staid.

Then, having resisted the temptation to defer to automaticity, you would need to enquire—to quaerere (Latin); to seek-into—attuning your senses to the complex (non-linear, subtle and hidden) processes that are already in motion.

(this is emergence)

Breathing into this enquiry, of questing within-and-into the question, you would then call forth myriad ‘weak signals’—inklings, hunches, hints, glimmers, signs, clues, felt-senses, and so on.

Individually, each signal is laughably fickle. But, when synthesised in aggregate, these signals might collectively suggest a pattern, shape or form. Something enlivening or honest enough to in-form a response to the question.

Before giving voice to this assemblage of senses, you marvel at the question itself. Particularly the pairing of “in your world” and “for you”.

Perhaps at this point, though, your rational mind might seek to wrest control of the narrative. You might consider who is asking you this, the context in which they are asking (are others listening? how many are in this conversation?), the time you have available to respond (and thus: at what depth?), the authenticity of their enquiry (is it genuine, or performative/polite? what’s the question behind the question?), your relationship to the person (are they higher, lower, or of equal status? are we trying to impress them? how might this fit into their narrative?), and how your response coheres to the existing identity you maintain (wait I can’t give them a real answer—they’ll think me silly). We are social creatures, and this is natural.

But! If you’re lucky, you recall your magical abilities and—with a glint in the eye, and a hint of a smirk—you indulge in the question.

_{All of this is happening in but a fraction of a moment, at the apex of your inhalation.}

And so:

[in your world]
[for you]

You marvel; remembering that of course your world is your world. Your subjective ontology (aka that which is objectively true for you). This is the orientation amidst the salience landscape of the inter-subjective meaning-ness we share.

Some things shine bright to you in this world, some things feel apt, and some things resonate with a deep relational hum.

But also: not all that glimmers is relevant or even good for you. That black stone tablet in your pocket that beckons, the algorithm you seek to appease, the ads that track you (tempt you), that discolouring sense of obligation that weighs upon you—maybe these things aren’t what truly call us.

But relevance (that quality of things cohering to an emerging context; of making sense), goodness (that quality of things aligning with an emerging ideal; of being in harmony with what ought to be)—these are what you attune to.

And so you invite in some wise and contemplative discernment.

And with this lens, you wonder—just where are you, in this nebulous unfurling story of yours?

For you.

What obstacles, setbacks and resistances might actually be hidden lessons and opportunities for you? What have all these chapters, all these challenges, all these moments leading you to this moment right now—what’s it all been for?

_{Hush that creeping sense of nihilism; that absurd notion that nothing matters. Hush.}

Where is this story going? What calls to you? What has “The Universe” [or equivalent potent-word] been patiently suggesting to you?

_{I said hush, rational mind!}

What are you longing for?
What inspires you, and has you curious?
What tantalising yet potentially dangerous possibility teases you?
What sense of premonition is seeking to warn you? What foreboding do you harbour, about the change that insists upon being realised?
And what might move you into greater alignment and wholeness?
What catalysing poetic turn does your unfurling story seek?
What is emerging in your world, for you?

Exhale.

Smile now, with some deep knowingness.
Maintain the glint.

At this point you don’t need to share all.

Perhaps it is better to be cryptic or coy. Perhaps some surreptitious obliquity would serve. Or—quite alternatively—you go there! Eyes beaming, and you share! Serves them right for asking, lol. But you share whilst knowing that they’re on their journey, too. And they’ve got their grapplings and setbacks and doubts, too. And that, perhaps, you are just the right character—in the right place, at the right time—that might just offer something that brings about the subtle insight-cascade and magical quickening that brings about a profound shift in their unfurling story.

Who knows? We all have a role to play.

Whew, well. That was odd.

But speaking of roles, I have been considering the various domains in which I have been playing. And, in so doing, I found myself returning to an old ‘framework’ I once scrawled, which you might find handy. Use this to sense into the domains you traverse, and the energy you invest within each.

This framework is a slightly more advanced lens on the classic “that was then, this is now” philosophy that inspired the /now page concept. There are at least four domains worth considering: expired, established, emergent, and ‘esoteric’.*

* This model is rated E for Everyone.

It was this model that made me realise that I have—for the past few years—been questing mostly in emergent and esoteric domains. The result being that I have neglected much of the established (the work I am very good at).

Questing ought have an oscillatory component to it. One must venture, yes. But one must also return—integrating what has been learnt into the established.

And so—as a friendly provocation—I wonder: where does the balance of your energy lie?

Here’s what mine would probably look like, btw.

The point of this reflective framework is not to try be esoteric and cool. But...

It’s more just for you to get a sense of where your energy is invested (and, perhaps, to have you gently realise that some of your energy is invested into domains that no longer serve you—domains that have expired).

But first, let’s do a quick tour.

the established

This one is the easy one; we can think of this as your comfort zone. These are the defaults of your day to day. For most of us—except me, hoho, and maybe you—the established would occupy more than 60% of our energy/time. That’s six stones, right there. These are the rhythms and routines of work and life, the comfortable and somewhat predictable patterns. For most of us, these established domains are restorative—just think of how nice it is to be home after weeks of travel. There’s comfort to be found in the routine. And, if your plate is full (as a new parent, say)—it totally makes sense for this domain to be the focus.

But for some, too much time and energy invested only within established domains leads to boredom and stagnation. The established alone may not be a source of your own development and growth/depth. You might be called forth to venture beyond your ‘comfort zone’.

A mature business will have the majority of their energy invested into established domains—this is where operational excellence comes from. But, as with all of us, it’s dangerous to only operate within these defaults. You don’t need to be actively questing, but if you’re not paying attention to what is emerging around you, you may well one day come to the realisation that your business has missed key transformational moments, and that the work you do is now no longer relevant, lol.

the expired

This is where—out of habituation, ignorance, stubbornness, obstinance, or zeal—we persist with efforts and endeavours that no longer serve us. These are, sometimes, our delusions of progress. Some of these activities might feel productive—and some might be quite entangled with your sense of identity (beckoning the potential of positive dis- and re-integration, aka self-development and complexification). All in all, the energy invested in this domain does not serve you, and is not conducive to meaningful progress.

It took me some time away from the internet to realise that a lot of my energy has been fruitlessly invested into fake arguments this past year. I’ve found it incredibly difficult to walk past blatant racism (and worse) on professional/patriarchal platforms like LinkedIn. Looking back now, I realise that I don’t need to attend every argument I am invited to. And that there are other ways to cultivate this world more curious and kind we quest for. And so, with some diligence, I am hoping to shift a stone from that domain back into the established.

the emergent

This is where you learn and grow. It’s where you willingly place yourself into complex, dynamic, and open-ended fields in which you play and figure your way. These are the domains that exist beyond your established default; beyond your comfort zone. They are enlivening—but not necessarily restful.

Within emergent domains you need to pay attention, listen, and keep your wits about you. The signals you receive in this domain will not be strong or reliable, and will not always cohere to established patterns or precedence. But, with a quest-mindset you will participate amidst the emergence. This is profoundly conducive to meaningful progress—particularly when paired with questions like these.

The paradox for businesses is that the insights revealed via questing amidst the emergent may well present as existential threats to your established business model. They may herald the need to change, which almost always come with its own toll. Yet—as James P. Carse would say—only that which can change can continue. Time in the emergent bolsters your ability to flourish amidst change.

the esoteric

Not to be confused with exoteric—that which is intended or likely to be understood by many—your esoteric domains are the domains within which certain knowledge is hidden, “secret” or otherwise difficult to acquire (to which few understand).

More accurately, esoteric pertains to knowledge or teachings that are intentionally reserved only for those who are prepared to understand them.

Putting my wizardly antics aside for a moment, the key thing this translates to—in an exoteric sense—is: your esoteric domains are the (relatively) advanced hobbies and interests you maintain.

Interesting people usually have a pretty special hobby or two about them. I know a chap who sometimes gets up at 3am to hunt squid. I know a freelance chef who knows the guarded secret to conjuring any flavour of ice cream near instantaneously. I once met a guy who travelled to a remote part of Japan simply to learn advanced techniques of the shakuhachi (large bamboo flutes).

My tabla teacher has deep knowledge on Indian hand percussion, and much that goes with it. To them, perhaps, their knowledge would simply be considered established and emergent—for they too would be venturing into deeper domains. Esoteric is a relatively relative phenomena.

Are you investing any energy into esoteric domains? If you are, you’d know that to acquire this knowledge means you would naturally eschew what is popular. If you’ve travelled to a special part of the world a few times, you’ll know that the popular tourist destinations are rubbish compared to the real stuff that happens, well off the beaten path. If you’re an experienced cook, you’ll know that many of the recipes promulgated miss the exquisite alchemy and nuance you intuitively know.

The power laws inherent to the network effects of our social media algorithms tend to corral us together to focus only on the established. Venturing into the emergent often means departing from conventional wisdom, so as to heed a deeper calling. Then, esoteric pursuits take this a step further, and might considered as something guided more by [your daemon, or] whim.

I have personally over-indexed in the emergent and esoteric of late. Because I was working with strategic innovation teams exploring artificial intelligence ten years ago (which formed examples used in How to Lead a Quest) I have been more interested in conversations related to the nth-order effects of AI, as it interrelates to the generator functions of our metacrisis. I also found it a bit cringe to watch folks new to the whole field simply hack their way into presenting themselves as expert-authorities on the matter. Some do it well, with admirable bullshit artistry. Many don’t.

But, in hindsight, jumping on the bandwagon was probably the more commercially clever move. Because the bulk of the world—and thus the highest total addressable market—exists within the established. Being one step ahead is much more effective than being three steps ahead.

This is not to say that I will be abandoning the esoteric domains—I can’t, I am most alive at the edge of knowledge. But I will be investing more time in translating what insights I find back into the the established.

a healthy spread

I’d suggest that the healthy typical adult would probably have the following distribution: 10% expired (we’re all human), 60% established, 20% emergent and 10% esoteric (gift yourself a hobby).

But I would hazard that the reality for much of the Western world participating in our distraction economy (that is, those not reading this right now) is: 30% expired, 60% established, 10% emergent and 0% esoteric. The emergent stuff would be limited to that which the algorithm dictates, and there would be no esoteric stuff because, well, genuine hobbies and curious pursuits usually exist in unindexed domains. They are, to put it crudely, neither discernibly “productive” nor “profitable” nor easily converted into “status, influence or power”. That’s sad, and reminds me of this comic. I’ve shared it before, and I’m sharing it again.

Heed this!

If there’s one thing this “Expired // Established // Emergent // Esoteric” framework might offer you, it’s the warm provocation to reflect upon where you invest your energy. Are there things to let go of, because they no longer serve? Are your established domains comfortably restorative and productive for you? Are you investing some time venturing beyond your default and into emerging domains? And—do you have advanced hobbies or interests you are actively cultivating?

tl;dr—cultivate a hobby that few understand.

journaling prompts to contemplate

Horizonal gardening

In the subtitle to this museletter I referred to the above as “a horizonal heuristic”. Heuristics are “rules of thumb” or “conceptual gist-mechanisms” that give you a sense of things in a manner that is accurate-enough to serve across most contexts.

Every time I write or say horizonal, though, it seems to be that people and autocorrect think I am saying horizontal. This is not the case.

And whilst I am a fan of all relationships being ‘horizontal’—as per Adlerian psychology, where we engage in all relationships on equal footing, with mutual respect, social equality, cooperation and egalitarian collegiality (fostering Gemeinschaftsgefühl), rather than ‘vertical’ relationships (where interactions are based on hierarchies of power and control)—in this instance I want to summon my guy James P. Carse and preach to thee from Finite and Infinite Games.

“A horizon is a phenomenon of vision. One cannot look at the horizon; it is simply the point beyond which we cannot see. There is nothing in the horizon itself, however, that limits vision, for the horizon opens onto all that lies beyond itself. What limits vision is rather the incompleteness of that vision.
[...]
One never reaches a horizon. It is not a line; it has no place; it encloses no field; its location is always relative to the view.
[...]
Every move an infinite player makes is toward the horizon . Every move made by a finite player is within a boundary. Every moment of an infinite game therefore presents a new vision, a new range of possibilities.
[...]
The Renaissance, like all genuine cultural phenomena, was not an effort to promote one or another vision. It was an effort to find visions that promised still more vision.”

When people talk of “a new Renaissance” or “Renaissance-level change” or even of becoming “a Renaissance person”—we talk of the generation of visions. It’s always a constellation of visions we seek (not a singular vision to win-out against other visions). It is then by such constellations we navigate, finding our way betwixt.

Thus when I talk of Expired, Established, Emergent, and Esoteric domains—know that these are but relative horizons for you. “Who lives horizonally is never somewhere, but always in passage,” Carse writes. This is my wish for you. To find whatever constitutes meaningful progress for you—which necessitates being in passage. The delusion of progress can keep us circling the same context without developing, deepening or growing. But to quest is to be in passage, in movement that broadens your horizons.

If all the above is a little too vague/esoteric, here’s a charming example Carse provides. Something that is reasonably accessible to all of us: gardening.

“‘Garden’ does not refer to the bounded plot at the edge of the house or the margin of the city. This is not a garden one lives beside, but a garden one lives within. It is a place of growth, of maximized spontaneity. To garden is not to engage in a hobby or an amusement; it is to design a culture capable of adjusting to the widest possible range of surprise in nature. Gardeners are acutely attentive to the deep patterns of natural order, but are also aware that there will always be much lying beyond their vision. Gardening is a horizonal activity.”

What gardens might you tend to, fellow quester?

Lo! A bonus “secret survey” ✨

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while.

Some of you are newly subscribed (welcome!). And some of you have been with me for over a dozen years (♡). Either way, I would love to get a sense of what’s on your mind, and how I might be able to assist on any quest you are on. I’m also curious as to what esoteric knowledge you might harbour. 🧙🏻‍♂️

Thus, if you feel inclined, I have prepared a special questionnaire with a few simple questions. These can be submitted anonymously or pseudonymously, if you like. But it would be a delight to hear from you. Especially those of you who read my musings all the way to the end.

Here’s the secret survey. It’ll take about three minutes to complete, if you are caffeinated.

Thank you,
and much warmth,
fw