ELDERS SERIES: The Unrecognized Elder

Elders Series by Yvette Neshi Lokotz

Are you an unrecognized Elder? Have you disregarded someone who is an Elder?

Recently I had a topic about Eldership, which turned into a series of live stream shows, on my weekly live stream called Communications from Home. In the Eldership series, we covered many aspects of Eldership. I want to share with you, dear reader, about The Unrecognized Elder.

As I prepared for the show and this article, I asked myself if I ever felt like an unrecognized Elder and if I ever disregarded someone who would be considered an Elder. I have to admit, in all honesty, I have done both.

I soon realized I was in a healing moment. As I replied to my questions honestly, I took the time to look deep inside myself and found wounds that I had not addressed.

Let’s define the word unrecognized. According to dictionary. com, unrecognized is “not given deserved attention or notice, not identified, detected, or known.” I also looked up the synonyms of the word and found: “nameless, no-name, noteless, obscure, uncelebrated, unfamous, unknown, unsung.”

If we take the unrecognized definition, there is a possible thread of being unseen, not noticed, unknown, or uncelebrated that began long before entering Eldership.

I realize that there are some instances and personal occasions where you might want to be unseen, blend into the background, and go unnoticed. Some people are shy or are introverts and choose to hold their energy close. Even though this may be true, when it comes to stepping into Eldership, we are changed. We grow into ourselves.

What is an Unrecognized Elder?

As I covered in previous articles about Eldership, an Elder is not necessarily determined by chronological age but by sharing wisdom. Our wisdom is accumulative across our soul’s experience. This accumulation came from all of our lifetimes when we were in a physical body. The life lessons we experienced and learned from are important to the building of our Eldership.

Wisdom comes from the application of the lessons we learned. We apply what we learned to our everyday lives and build mastery. When we share our wisdom, we become Elders.

An Unrecognized Elder has wisdom to share, but people around them dismiss their wisdom, disregard their experience, and often treat the Elder as feeble or ignore them. Many times the Elder’s feelings are hurt, which causes them to withdraw. The Elder sees the disregarding behavior, but chalks it up to immaturity and doesn’t take it personally.

I also asked myself the question, “Why do some Elders go unnoticed?”

Some Elders prefer to be on their own in their quiet space. So, they don’t draw attention to themselves. We may not even know they exist. However, the Unrecognized Elder can bean Elder who would happily share their wisdom if asked.

Self-confidence is a factor in the Unrecognized Elder. If an Elder does not recognize their value or does not respect their life experience, they teach others how to treat them. Admittedly, this scenario is an excellent example of the ancient axiom of, “As Within, So Without.”

Everyone, including Elders, are healing their emotional and mental traumas. As we heal these traumas, we begin to shift our energies into a balanced and whole state of Being. We heal from the inside out.

In other words, as we look and heal inwardly, our outside worldview shifts and changes to mirror our interior world.

If you are an Elder who is being unrecognized and would like to be recognized, you can change this by doing your personal healing work, intend to be of service using your wisdom, and lead by example. Our behavior speaks more loudly than our words.

What happens when an Unrecognized Elder makes a shift into selfconfidence, to be seen?

As we become more self-confident and brave to share our wisdom with others, others will see us. They will begin to turn their attention and energy toward your direction.

The moment the energy shifts and the Elder becomes seen and recognized as a valued person, this is a moment of soul growth for the Elder. The transition from unrecognized to known brings with it another opportunity for growth.

The Elder transitions into being celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, and well-known.

The next step in Eldership is: how do we claim our Eldership. How do we celebrate and how do we go through the next initiation?

The Communications from Home: The Unrecognized Elder recorded live stream show is here for your watching pleasure. I hope you find the information helpful. Enjoy!

Next month, the Eldership series continues with the Super Elder.

Bama Mine (Potawatomi for Until We See Each Other Again),

Neshi

Yvette Neshi Lokotz A tribal member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, with Ho-Chunk Nation and Yaqui Nation descent, she was raised in the traditions of Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi cultures. Neshi is a publisher, drum maker, and a Medicine Dress Dancer. Neshi is the C.E.O. of Star Nations Organization, which includes Star Nations Publishing, Star Nations Magazine, Star Nations Live Stream, and Star Nations Academy. She holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in Management and Organizational Behavior. starnationspublishing@gmail.com | fb: StarNationsOrganization