Alt Empress E

We’ve always had “royal” notables in our culture. I’m talking the King of Rock n Roll¹, The Queen of Soul², The Prince of Pop³, The Godfather of Soul, The Queen of the Minor Key⁴, The Architect of Rock n Roll, The Queen of Pop, King of Jazz⁵, and the Screaming Eagle⁶ among others.

These folks came about their monikers many different ways. Mostly by excellence and something gloriously ineffable that affected the collective. And they all did real good, doing their thing.

I’m not a musician, but I work within our culture, doing my best to do good. And I’ll bet you do too.

So I’ve been thinking, what’s to stop someone from giving themselves an amazing honorific?

Sure, it can seem “arrogant,” maybe “over-the-top,” perhaps “too much” or “undeserved” but cowering to these stifling titles ↖↑↗ stop us from having fun and perhaps becoming empowered to make a difference.

So, in order to reclaim more of my personal power – because I feel I need a bunch if I want to be able to stand up against the unkind, efficiency-seized insanity running amok in my nation – I’m giving myself one heck of a strong title. (And don’t worry, you don’t have to call me by this. Elizabeth will do ;).

I can enjoy this name, while I’ll be making art and practicing my noble and loving digital powers/prowess, sitting at this computer at my dining room table and random coffee shops.

Because I want my work to count.

Titling Tips

I’m going with Empress, because, you know, it’s helpful to go high-level in general. I also feel like I not only need to fight for my countrymen, but also need to hold attention in our alt new world. A world where Russia hosts fancy footsies with men who used to be considered distasteful, gold-plated pretenders. Those Russians love a friggin’ empire, and Putin must be hella lonely, so there’s also that.

Alt Key?

Alt is because, well, it feels like we’ve been living in some kind of underground unnerving universe for a bit now. Yeah, we are 180° away (in multiple dimensions) from where we thought we were living: a progressive, intelligent, generally tolerant society that prided itself in its empowered citizenry. Until lately, I was pretty sure our people freaking LOVED – generation after generation – moving us all toward more opportunity, more justice, more civility, more humanity, more economic comforts, more education, more respect for nature, and as our Constitution mandates, a more perfect union.

But, the union thing here in the US seems to have taken a long a$$, double-martini lunch at a cheesy mar a lago country club. And the in-fighting in the media seems to have confused those very kick-ass, get-it-done citizens (and dare I say has also harmed many “alt” citizens like immigrants who kindly pick our lettuce, raise the country-clubbers’ kids, work in food service, and keep our economy strong).

These propaganda wars have pissed off and/or traumatized many people – depending on if they are still believing they hold their economic and first amendment powers, or have begun ceding those powers over to fear. I think they are just overwhelmed. How can you have a normal conversation when no one agrees on empirical facts?

Get outta DOGE

Since we didn’t sign on to get blown into little Mars-bound space bits by ketamine-soaked Mr. Musk, and it feels like we are living along the edges of his alt world where trained DOGEEs hold the keys to our kingdoms.

So, I’m thinking we – The People – need to empower ourselves. Any. Way. We. Can.

These past several years of rich men running things seems like a fever dream. And they are pretty sure since they won the money game that they deserve to win every game. And now that we can clearly see the hell fires of Donnie Darko capitalism, we can also notice, the current “kings” have nothing else to do but form a country club called oligarchy so they can cozily self-congratulate using our money and our government. Then go to Mars.

Yeah, No.

So, what gives people hope & chutzpah in a situation like this?

For one, I think it’s personal power. That is, that sense that you are a sovereign individual, answering to a higher purpose and manifesting a more beautiful, authentic vision than perhaps has ever been served up to you.

Dystopian Sci Fi? No thanks. Too dark right now, and not our true future.

I’m personally crafting something better, and so should you. Hint: it ain’t all about the money, or fighting for right. But it does totally include the undeniable power and majesty of Nature.

But times have been feeling a little dark, I’ve got to say, yet I can’t be scared of hiding shadowy, arrogant, braveass self anymore. I’ve got to be ready to fight even in difficult realms. Holding the line for kindness, justice, and liberation when I’m scared, even. And this is all going to be in the alt light of day, spoken plainly and with great verve. Because someone’s got to do it.

How about you? What title suits your braveass, creative self? And what can you do with it?

FOOTNOTES

1. I love the Man of Graceland, and the brave leadership of Mr. Chuck Berry ↩︎
2. Aretha! ↩︎
3. A trifecta, and then there’s this. ↩︎
4. Eilen Jewell ↩︎
5. Mr. Wonderful World is one of two men considered the King of Jazz ↩︎
6. Mr. Charles Bradley is the Screaming Eagle of Soul ↩︎