Why Bees?
Honey bees are connected to all life upon our planet. Their self-less dedication to the well-being of their hive is vital to our own survival as a species. Without their existence, we would not exist.
Just like the bees, our own personal lives are intertwined with one another like an invisible web. Our choices, our contributions, and our stories affect the hive for better or worse. No matter how small and insignificant we may feel, our existence makes an impact on the hive.
While honey bees can sting, this is a last resort defense mechanism only used when the bees feel threatened or to protect their hive. The normally docile bees fearlessly sacrifice themselves for the survival of the collective.
Electric Honey Project is inspired by the lessons taught by the bees. There is something greater than our own individual lives to work towards together. Success is built collectively through care and teamwork. The more "nectar" you find for the hive, the sweeter life can be even through the coldest, darkest seasons. Save your stinger for the moment it counts. Don't be afraid to stand up for others and what you believe in.
In a world full of aggressive wasps, be a sweet little honey bee.
Why Sunflowers?
Sunflowers are resilient even through harsh conditions. They can be planted in toxic environments where other plants struggle to survive. They not only still find a way to grow into something beautiful, but they clean up the soil as they do it.
When sunflowers are young, they are flexible. They turn to face the sun as it moves across the sky to soak in as much light as possible. As they age, they become more stationary facing the East to maximize sun exposure as it rises.
Life as a human can be challenging, especially when we find ourselves "planted" in harmful environments. Our circumstances do not have to prevent us from blooming. Just like the sunflower, we can learn to thrive through the toxins within our lives. When we choose to grow no matter where we are, we improve the spaces we take up, too.
It is easy to follow joy in the sunshine when we are children. As we get older, we may not see as much light when we get stuck in our ways. Like our friend the sunflower, we must choose to focus on the direction that will bring the most sunshine into our lives and leave the darkness behind us. The sunflower knows the sun always rises again.
In a world full of toxins, be a sunflower.
Autumn's Story
My name is Autumn Brooke. I am from a small town in the buckle of the Bible Belt, Tennessee. Electric Honeypot Project has been an ever evolving concept within my imagination that I have dreamed of bringing to life for many years before I fully understood what it was meant to be. It is a long story you will have to read about in my upcoming fiction novel inspired by my wild journey of self-discovery, but I will give you a shortened version of why my creation exists and what it means to me.
I grew up in a narcissistic family system enabled through the Christian patriarchy. I experienced a variety of traumas throughout my life, resulting in complex post-traumatic stress disorder amongst many other psychiatric labels forced upon me. I was made out to be the problem ever since I was a child starving for love and feeling like nothing I could ever do or be would be enough.
Upon getting sober, I began confronting and processing deep layers of trauma through journaling, dream working, tarot cards, and psychedelic medicine used mindfully with intention. This is when the confusion I felt through most of my life started to dissolve into clarity. I reconnected to my spirit after feeling disconnected for so many years, and I learned I was not the person my upbringing had molded me to be. I could see the patterns within my family clearly and knew I did not want it to continue being me, too.
Electric Honeypot Project was given to me through my work with psychedelic medicines such as DMT, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms, but it is so much more than just a spark of divine inspiration while on a trip. This project is inspired by my mother who did not learn to love herself enough to break the cycle of abuse. I am doing what she could not by finding my voice to speak up, choosing myself, and refusing to live an inauthentic life of unhappiness to feed someone else's ego created through lies.
There is more to her story than a passionate crime of domestic violence. There is generational abuse, family betrayal, lies, scapegoating, and silencing through fear. I will not be silenced again as long as I live. One day, the truth will be known. I will continue to advocate for truth and justice for her no matter how high the mountain. She lives on through me and has guided my every step on this climb.
My eyes have been opened to many flaws within our society and so-called "justice" system. From systemic racism and sexism to pedophilia, narcissists holding positions of power, indifference and brutality of police, and widespread corruption on every level from city to county to state to federal to globally. I will not stop writing and speaking about what I see and know. I will not give up the fight for a better world based upon truth, authenticity, accountability, integrity, and compassion. I will continue to carry hope for not only my mother but for any victim's family and friends feeling alone and defeated because they cannot be heard or supported in the ways they deserve to be.
I struggled for many years of my adult life as a result of generational trauma that I was not self-aware enough to recognize until the murder of my mother Karen Brown on August 21, 2022. Her violent death and the abusive aftermath within my family gave me the courage to take a leap of faith on myself by going no contact. I spiraled through abusing cocaine to cope while simultaneously holding onto hope through the joy I found within the music festival community and the wonderful people that allowed me space to learn how to talk about my experiences.
Justice for Karen Frances Brown
