I was sipping a cup of cacao this morning, mulling over my latest I Ching casting—40 (Deliverance) and 64 (Before Completion)—and feeling the weight of its quiet wisdom. The idea of “southwest furthers” and avoiding a rushed finish keeps circling in my mind. Lately, I’ve been noticing small, promising shifts in my world, and as I reflect on the True Sight DAO network, I’m drawn to the themes of patience and organic growth. Let me unpack this further—tying together the oracle’s guidance, updates on our cacao projects, and a deeper look at what it means to hold space for others.
Signs of Deliverance: Small Wins in a Long Game
I mentioned earlier how external pressures seem to be easing—the tariff situation with the USA might be winding down, the AI hype is taking a breather, and my consumer discretionary positions are finally breaking even after months of losses. These feel like steps toward “deliverance,” as the oracle suggests. But they’re not overnight turnarounds. They’ve required patience—watching, waiting, and trusting that slow mean reversion would eventually kick in. I’m still curious if, by the holiday season or before I leave the Arizona desert this winter, there’ll be enough recovery to fund my next moves. For now, though, it’s about staying steady.While I wait, I’m here in the Arizona desert, resting for the winter season. It’s a rare chance to slow down and do much-needed maintenance on my clothes, car, and other equipment—stuff I’d find challenging to tackle in the dense urban spaces I usually find myself in during other seasons. Most of the time, I’m either tied up with my bandwidth occupied in doing something, or the space just isn’t conducive to spreading all my gear out for inspection and repairs. Out here, though, with the wide-open desert around me, I’ve got the room—both physically and mentally—to take stock and fix what needs fixing. It’s a kind of deliverance in itself, this quiet pause to prepare for whatever’s next.
Organic Growth in the Cacao Projects: Letting Things Unfold
Speaking of patience, let’s talk about the cacao initiatives within the DAO network. I’ve been thrilled to see progress, even if it’s come in fits and starts. Cory from Mount Shasta, who runs Sacred Earth Farm, is starting to see flow with selling Ceremonial Cacao through his space. Kirstin from San Luis Obispo, with Secrets of the Garden, is also finding her stride in moving product. And then there’s Kirsten from San Francisco, running KikiCocoa—she’s fully taken the reins, turning nibs into ceremonial bars with a confidence that’s inspiring. She even brought Fadi onboard to help with packing, which eases my worry about her burning out under the logistical load.On top of that, Andrea’s recent update about the 30 bags of cacao nibs in Hans Martin’s shop feels like another small but meaningful step. She found a shopfront in Bern, Switzerland, focused on turning organic waste into useful products—like transforming discarded olive pits or cacao husks into tea. That’s a win that aligns so beautifully with the ethos of sustainability and creativity we’re nurturing in the DAO. It didn’t require me to push or micromanage. It just… happened. And that’s the beauty of organic growth. These projects aren’t being forced into bloom—they’re growing at their own pace, rooted in the passion and initiative of the people involved.
Key observation: Organic growth isn’t just about the end result; it’s about creating the conditions for things to emerge naturally. For me, that’s meant stepping back—resisting the urge to take responsibility for every detail. I’ve got a natural impulse to jump in, to “fix” things or make them happen faster. But I’m learning that if I leave opportunities on the table, others often step up. And when they do, the result is stronger because it’s theirs. Otherwise, I just end up spread too thin, carrying a load that’s not mine to bear.
Holding the Empty Frame: Patience in the DAO Ecosystem
This ties directly into what the I Ching seems to be nudging me toward with “Before Completion.” Success comes, but only if I don’t rush the crossing or get careless at the end. In the context of the True Sight DAO, I’m interpreting this as a call to hold the empty frame—to be passive, receptive, and patient while DAO members embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.Here’s what that looks like in practice: Instead of prodding or defining what someone “should” contribute, I’m focusing on just being there, holding space. It’s not about me uncovering their path; it’s about waiting for them to uncover what they deeply desire. Often, they don’t even know at first—and that’s okay. I’ve seen it play out enough times to trust the process. Some members stay passive, observing from the sidelines, and that’s fine. Others, over time, stumble upon something that clicks—a spark of passion or purpose—and suddenly they’re all in, contributing in ways I couldn’t have scripted.
Reflections for the day: This approach requires a kind of disciplined patience. It’s counterintuitive, especially when my instinct is to take charge or nudge things along. But I’m realizing that when I overstep, I risk stifling the very growth I want to see. Holding the empty frame means trusting that the DAO ecosystem is bigger than my input. It’s about letting the network breathe, letting members find their own rhythm, much like the cacao projects have found theirs.
Organic Growth as a Mirror for Life
I can’t help but see parallels between the cacao initiatives and the broader DAO journey. Both are lessons in patience—planting seeds, tending the soil, but not forcing the sprout. Whether it’s Cory at Sacred Earth Farm, Kirstin with Secrets of the Garden, Kirsten at KikiCocoa, or the shopfront in Bern turning cacao husks into tea, their progress reminds me that real growth happens when people claim ownership of their piece of the puzzle. My role? Not to build the puzzle for them, but to make sure the table is there, ready and waiting.What about you—where in your life are you learning to step back and let things grow organically? Are you holding an empty frame for someone, or maybe even for yourself, waiting to uncover what’s next? And how do you balance that patience with the itch to take control?
As for me, I’m sitting with this lesson, cup of cacao in hand, out here in the Arizona desert. I’m patching up gear, resting, and watching the DAO network and these cacao projects unfold. I’m curious to see where we land by winter’s end—will these small seeds turn into something bigger? Let’s find out together.