An era of global change is upon us. While many have faith in these changes, many others are now uncertain about the future. Everything is easy when the wind is calm and the ground is peaceful. But when the gusts of change begin to crash down upon them, humans begin to realize just how fragile they truly are.

In this age of war, humanity stands on the edge of a perpetual precipice: eyes fixed on the maw of oblivion, where any misstep could lead to extinction. What turmoil can humanity withstand before it is pushed to the brink? Are these global rearrangements merely tremors beneath humanity’s feet, or are they the rumblings of the final earthquake?

THE STRENGTH OF A UNIT IS FOUND IN COMPROMISE.

Crowns have passed through thousands of kings and queens, each different from their predecessors. Like the pendulum of a clock, power swings back and forth in an endless flow of time. This creates a balance between two opposing forces—each side relying on the other to maintain order.

Neither side is entirely right or wrong, but neither side can give in. If the pendulum stops swinging, the clock stops running.

PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER IS A FOUNDATION OF FREEDOM.

It is easy to shift the blame for humanity’s difficulties onto its leaders if they are not the leaders you have chosen. In the minds of their opponents, a leader becomes an enemy; their mistakes become premeditated attacks; their human flaws become irreparable defects; their missteps become wicked conspiracies. Many refuse to see the good in those who disagree with them simply because their beliefs are different.

Criticism is the obstacle that prevents a leader from becoming a dictator. But even the greatest leader is made of the same stuff as the lowest. The minds of a king and a commoner differ only in what they have chosen to fill theirs.

To claim that a leader is entirely bad—or entirely good—is tantamount to claiming that they are not human.

Find peace in the eternal question: “Cui bono?” For whose benefit? What do leaders stand to gain from the destruction of the people they lead? What could possibly motivate a king or queen to destroy the very reason they wear the crown?

Every king is outnumbered by his people. Who really rules a country?

When you question the actions of your leaders, ask yourself how you would face the same dilemmas if you had the same responsibilities. Remember that what is seen publicly is only a fraction of what really happens behind the scenes—a façade of wealth and power that hides the serious gravity of the decisions made behind it.

Your leaders have no motive to harm you and, in the interest of your safety, often have to make decisions you cannot understand and that may seem suspicious when viewed out of context. If you believe your decisions would better serve the progress of humanity than those of your current leaders, you are invited to invest the time and effort necessary to replace them, just as they did for the leaders before them.

Time is a powerful revealer. This planet has overcome millennia of hardship and survived catastrophes more devastating than any wars recorded in history. Humanity has faced its worst leaders, its worst regimes, and its worst obstacles and has survived to emerge stronger.

Though divided by opinion, all must unite for the good of humanity.

Let us not dwell on the future of the planet’s most resilient species. Even if the portraits inside the palaces may change and the names on the maps altered, humanity’s clock will continue to tick without interruption. When the winds of change threaten to overwhelm you, find refuge within the pyramid. We are always watching over you.