Circle of Competence

The Sovereignty of the Self

In an era ruled by forces both visible and invisible, where earthly power and metaphysical mysteries interweave, the question of individualism versus the collective takes on profound dimensions. It is not merely a choice between serving oneself or submitting to the group; it is an existential struggle between self-sovereignty and the allure of safety through submission. This struggle is at the heart of true power, and nowhere is it better exemplified than in the life of Queen Elizabeth I—a ruler who knew that to wield real authority, one must balance self-reliance with the wisdom to seek counsel, and earthly power with spiritual insight.

Elizabeth’s rule was marked by her association with figures like John Dee, her trusted advisor, a man who reached beyond the earthly sphere to commune with angels in search of higher knowledge. For Elizabeth, this was not idle mysticism; it was a recognition of the dual nature of power. She understood that to lead with clarity, she had to temper her individual will with wisdom that transcended human limitations. In her world, angels and metaphysics were not mere abstractions but active forces that could inform worldly authority. This balance between earthly ambition and metaphysical counsel became a powerful model for navigating both personal and collective responsibilities.

The Power of Ego and the Illusion of Self-Reliance

At the core of this duality is the individual’s ego—the driving force that propels one toward personal achievement but can also cloud judgment. The ego, left unchecked, creates a fortress of false confidence, where one believes oneself invincible and omniscient. This is the pitfall of many who seek power without purpose: they build their actions on the illusion that they alone possess the truth. Elizabeth recognized this danger. She was surrounded by those who flattered her, who would have gladly reinforced her ego. But she sought instead the counsel of advisors, men like John Dee, whose knowledge reached beyond the earthly, grounded in a metaphysical understanding of humanity’s place in a cosmos of both physical and spiritual forces.

True authority, as Elizabeth demonstrated, is not rooted in egoistic dominance but in the disciplined alignment of self with higher truths. Dee’s communions with angels were not mere diversions; they were Elizabeth’s means to gain insight into matters that transcended human perception, enabling her to govern not only with strength but with an awareness of her own limitations. The metaphysical is not merely a domain to be mastered but a source of guidance for mastering the self.

Building a Strong Ego—With Wisdom as Its Foundation

The highest form of individualism is not raw self-assertion but an individualism tempered by wisdom—a wisdom that requires listening, learning, and the humility to recognize when to seek counsel. Elizabeth knew the value of surrounding herself with wise voices, voices that might challenge her perspective. She understood that true power lies not in unquestioned self-confidence but in confidence fortified by knowledge. To this end, she kept her ego in check by admitting her limitations and turning to advisors who could broaden her vision.

Like a fortress with layers of defense, Elizabeth’s rule was protected not by blind self-assurance but by an awareness of the complexities she faced. This “margin of safety,” a concept so often overlooked in the pursuit of self-reliance, allowed her to rule with foresight. She didn’t seek counsel as an act of weakness but as a measure of strength, recognizing that true power comes from combining individual vision with the wisdom of the ages. She used mental models, strategies of thought and decision-making—models like calculated risk and opportunity cost—to fortify her decisions. These models were as essential to her as Dee’s metaphysical insights, as they structured her thinking, keeping her clear-eyed and grounded.

The Role of Angels and Metaphysics in Authority

For Elizabeth, Dee’s angelic conversations offered guidance on more than just statecraft; they represented a bridge between earthly authority and divine knowledge. To communicate with angels was to seek insights that transcended earthly limitations, to embrace a spiritual dimension that informed her temporal rule. Dee’s metaphysical practices were not a distraction from governance but an enhancement of it. The angels did not offer Elizabeth worldly power in the sense of conquest or wealth; they offered her a higher perspective, a vision of authority that transcended personal ambition.

True individualism, Elizabeth knew, is not a rejection of metaphysics but an alignment with it. The angels represented an authority that dwarfed even the greatest earthly power, a reminder that even the most sovereign individual must understand their place within the greater cosmic order. In accepting Dee’s counsel, Elizabeth aligned her own will with a force beyond herself, achieving not just earthly sovereignty but a form of spiritual authority. Her reign, therefore, was not simply one of politics but of metaphysical alignment—a balancing of individual ego with the humility to accept that there are realms of knowledge beyond our reach, realms that can inform and elevate the individual spirit.

Ownership, Responsibility, and the True Margin of Safety

Elizabeth’s understanding of her own limitations was a strength, not a weakness. It allowed her to govern with a “margin of safety”—a fortified foundation that made her resilient in the face of challenges. Unlike leaders who wield power recklessly, she embraced the responsibility of her position, aware that her actions would shape not only her kingdom but her legacy. She took ownership of her choices, understanding that authority without responsibility is tyranny. Her legacy was not only built on the achievements of her reign but on the stability and wisdom that came from her refusal to be blinded by her own ego.

To take ownership of one’s life, to act with full responsibility, is the highest form of individualism. It is to recognize that one’s actions carry weight and that every decision is a step toward self-creation. For Elizabeth, the advice of angels, the counsel of Dee, and the mental models she applied in her rule were not escapes from individual responsibility but enhancements of it. These tools provided her with the perspective needed to act as a true sovereign—one who understands both the limits of earthly power and the boundlessness of spiritual wisdom.

The Collective, the Individual, and the Choice of Sovereignty

Elizabeth’s reign demonstrates that the highest form of sovereignty is not found in isolation but in an alignment that transcends the ego. True individualism, true power, comes not from denying the collective but from choosing how to interact with it. Elizabeth did not surrender her sovereignty to her advisors; she directed their counsel toward the achievement of her goals, creating a harmonious balance between the individual and the collective.

In her, we see the embodiment of a deeper, metaphysical sovereignty—a rule informed by earthly wisdom and spiritual insight. Her rule was grounded in the collective wisdom of her advisors yet elevated by the angelic counsel of Dee. She did not view herself as subject to the whims of the collective, nor did she elevate herself above it. Instead, she became the axis around which both the earthly and the metaphysical could revolve.

The Legacy of Individualism Empowered by Wisdom

The individualist who lives purely for the ego is, ultimately, as constrained as one who submits fully to the collective. True freedom, true authority, lies in transcending this binary and embracing a life informed by both earthly and spiritual wisdom. Elizabeth exemplified this synthesis: a leader whose authority was both earthly and metaphysical, grounded in the wisdom to balance her own will with a respect for powers beyond herself.

In the end, individualism is not about rejecting counsel or refusing alignment with higher truths. It is about wielding one’s life as an act of creation, drawing from both earthly and spiritual sources to build something enduring. To embrace this path is to live as Elizabeth did: with authority, with vision, and with the humility to seek wisdom wherever it may be found—even in the whispers of angels. This is the true path of individualism, a sovereignty that does not isolate but elevates, empowering the individual to live as both ruler and servant of a wisdom that transcends all earthly bounds.