Grokkist Newsletter #56

Hey friends,

When you’re a founder, you’re usually building something that solves your own problems.

For me, those problems start with a restless, curious mind—always being drawn in many directions, juggling different interests, and feeling both the joy of exploration and the ache of not quite belonging.

I’ve always been “too much” and “not enough” at the same time—too curious, too complicated, too interested in everything, yet never quite fitting into any single box.

I’m professionally unemployable, not because I lack skills, but because I can’t stop reinventing myself, starting over every couple of years when the boredom cycle hits.

In other words, my problems are all tangled up with what I’ve come to think of as the journey from generalist to grokkist: a process of turning all those scattered threads into something cohesive and powerful.

In hindsight, my journey over the last few years looks a bit like this:

If someone had laid this out for me when I was starting, it would have saved me so much uncertainty and self-doubt.

But of course you can only ever recognise the whole thing in hindsight. You live it forward, feeling your way through the uncertainty, experimenting as you go—and then one day, you step back and see the shape of the path you’ve walked.

That’s where I am now.

If this journey feels familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve written a more in-depth version of each of the stages here.

And I’ve realised that what I’ve been building with Grokkist isn’t just a random collection of ideas or offerings (though it has sometimes felt like that). It’s an entire value-driven ecosystem designed to support this journey.

It’s that weird moment where you know what you’re doing, but then suddenly you Know What You’re Doing. And when you try to tell people, brimming with this new clarity and amazement, they just look at you and say, “Well yeah, duh, what did you think you were doing?”

If I were to name that feeling—when clarity doesn’t arrive piece by piece but instead lands all at once, with weight and inevitability—I’d call it “kairos clarity.”

Borrowing from the Greek kairos—the opportune or “right” moment—it captures the idea of alignment and realisation, of time ripening into purpose. It’s not just understanding; it’s the timing of that understanding that makes it land with such impact.

It’s the shift from doing to being. From assembling a puzzle to stepping back and realsing the picture you’ve been forming is your picture. That moment when understanding moves from your head to your whole self.

Kairos clarity is both a gift and an invitation. It says, “Here is the shape of what you’re building—now, what will you grow it into next?”

Often, you can see this journey in others before you see it in yourself. That’s the beauty of reflection—finding your story mirrored back through the people and communities you connect with. For me, that’s where Grokkist lives: in the spaces where these reflections can happen.

What about you? Where are you on this journey? Have you had your kairos clarity moment—or are the pieces still coming together, waiting for their time to land?

With curiosity and care,
Danu

From the Grokkist Press

The second cohort of Jude Star's Comparative Meditation course kicked off this week. Even if you're not taking part, you can enjoy Jude's collection of excellent primers on the various traditions of practice and how they relate (see below).

Meditation Primer: Part 1

By Jude Star (13 min read)

Navigate the rich landscapes of meditation by grokking various practices, from Shamatha's calm abiding to Vipassana's insightful mindfulness.

Also see:
Meditation Primer: Part 2 - is Tantra the most misunderstood tradition?
Meditation Primer: Part 3 - Non-Duality and Direct Path: starting at the end.

Read the full article ↗

Upcoming Events

🟢 Living on Earth as if We Want to Stay

🗓️ Thur 12 Dec | 7–8.30pm ET (UTC-5) (view in your timezone)
Hosted by Mike Nickerson

There has been a fundamental change in the relationship between people and the Earth. It used to be that societies could grow out of their troubles. Now, with human activity stretching planetary limits, a new approach is necessary.

While the human family is more than capable of securing healthy, satisfying communities far into the future, to do so, we have to choose a new direction.

Mike Nickerson, the author of "Life, Money and Illusion; Living on Earth as if we want to stay" has spent 35 years studying Cultural Evolution and how we might adapt to our new circumstances. He will outline promising opportunities that await our collective choice to respect and accommodate planetary limits and key mechanisms by which that choice is advancing. It is a Question of Direction.

Event Details and RSVP ↗

Other Upcoming Events

• 15 Dec | 🟢 Grokkist Kaitiaki Group Check-In | Q4-2024
• 19 Dec | 🟢 Grok Cafe [End of Year Wrap]

#1 - A cultural history of cocaine

Cocaine: a cultural history, from medical wonder to illicit drug | Aeon Essays

Once lauded as a wonder of the age, cocaine soon became the object of profound anxieties. What happened?

Aeon Magazine

How did a 19th-century medical wonder become the infamous illicit substance we know today? This piece dives into the fascinating cultural history of cocaine, tracing its evolution from revolutionary local anaesthetic to social pariah, revealing a time when the drug was sold over the counter in everything from nasal sprays to syrups for “Brain Fag.” The article is packed with period advertisements that feel both quaint and surreal, along with colorful stories like that of a tattoo artist using cocaine to create pain-free body art.

It’s a story that also explores how substances and ideologies intertwine, and how society’s perception of drugs reflects deeper anxieties about the people who use them. The nicknames we give drugs offer a revealing glimpse into this dynamic: in the 19th century, Sigmund Freud affectionately dubbed his colleague “Coca Koller” after Koller’s discovery of cocaine as the first local anaesthetic. (As an Aussie, I can’t help but smile at our own cultural contributions to this tradition with terms like “nose beers” or “Bondi marching powder.”)

#2 - Colour temperature explained

Ever wondered how filmmakers make colour feel so alive on screen? This 10-min video dives into the science behind the art, unraveling the secrets of how cinematographers manipulate colour to create mood and meaning. It covers everything from lighting gels, white balance, and Max Planck’s groundbreaking work on blackbody radiation, which established the relationship between light sources and colour temperature—a cornerstone of modern filmmaking. The video also explores how colour shapes storytelling, with examples like A Ghost Story, where the colour temperature subtly shifts depending on who occupies the house, and the meticulously consistent palette of Ozark, which reinforces the show’s ominous tone. A blend of hard science with creative artistry, perfect for anyone curious about the intersection of light, perception, and storytelling. There's also an article version of the video that includes a reference chart.

#3 - Leverage Points: places to intervene in a system

Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System

The Academy for Systems Change

For those who love thinking deeply about systems change and the intricate relationship between individuals and the systems they inhabit, Donella Meadows’ Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System is a classic must-read. Her core argument is that systems are governed by interconnected structures, rules, and feedback loops, and understanding these relationships is crucial to finding where small, strategic interventions can produce outsized effects. However, the deeper the leverage point (like shifting the underlying paradigms or worldviews that shape the system itself), the harder it is to recognise and act on, making systems change as much an art as a science.

Meadows emphasises the importance of humility and patience, cautioning against overconfidence in one’s ability to control complex systems. Instead, she advocates for a mindset of learning, adaptability, and deep reflection to engage with systems in a way that leads to sustainable, meaningful change. (🙏 Aaron H)

#4 - An interactive map of global earthquake activity

Seismic Explorer is a nifty tool that uses earthquake data (magnitude, depth, location, time) to visualise tectonic activity over time. You can watch earthquakes play out on a map, filter by magnitude, and even overlay tectonic plate boundaries to see how everything connects. One of the best parts is the 3D cross-section feature—just draw a line on the map, and it shows you the depth of earthquakes along that section. I checked out the activity along the Alpine Fault here in New Zealand—it’s incredible to see the seismic patterns in such a geologically active region.

#5 - Jon Batiste hears Green Day for the first time

Jon Batiste, a vibrant force in modern music and culture, is as multidimensional as they come. He is known for everything from leading joyful second-line parades in New Orleans and various collaborations with modern artists, to composing the score for Pixar’s Soul and bringing nightly energy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as its bandleader and musical director.

Listening to Green Day’s Holiday for the first time (though he faintly recalls hearing it in an elevator), Batiste crafts an impromptu piano accompaniment, showcasing his exceptional ability to blend jazz sensibilities with punk rock energy. Worth watching for his energy and facial expressions alone.

A pair of parting thoughts...

“The bad news is you're falling through the air, nothing to hang on to, no parachute. The good news is, there's no ground.” – Chögyam Trungpa

“People think that you have to grow old to become wise. In truth, in old age you have to work hard to become as wise as you were when you were younger.”
– Goethe

That's it! Thanks for reading.

Hit reply and get in touch anytime – I love hearing from you.