RISE, ASCENDANT

WHAT IS RISE, ASCENDANT ABOUT?

November 10, 2024. I wrote “Rise, Ascendant” as the sequel to “Yonder Wretch”, and as a reflection of what it means to heal after losing yourself. Where Yonder Wretch was about exile, hopelessness, and feeling beyond redemption, Rise, Ascendant explores the others side: forgiveness, self-compassion, and reclaiming your sense of self-worth.

It’s about finding purpose in your own growth, rather than chasing validation. Learning how to forgive yourself, let go of the past, and show up for yourself the way you always wished someone else would… When you do that, you begin to recognize the humanity in others who are also struggling, because we’ve all been there.

Choosing grace, forgiveness, and compassion doesn’t mean the negative voices disappear, you may still hear them, but you choose the healthier path. THAT is real strength.

In coming back to yourself, you realize healing isn’t a solitary thing, and you’re in a better spot to let others in and help them rise.

This song exists as a reminder that everyone can change, and everyone can rise - not through punishment, but by choosing to do better because YOU know you’re worth it.

lINE BY LINE ANALYSIS

“Searching for virtue and grace, walking the path alone”
You’re trying to heal, understand yourself, and become a better person, but that journey can feel painfully lonely while figuring out who you want to become

“Branded and marked a disgrace, fighting a one-sided war”
You’ve experienced some pain, shame, and rejection by others… being labelled or judged by people who once meant a lot to you, and when your perspective isn’t heard, it deepens the sense that you’re completely alone in looking out for yourself

“Wisdom is born through suffering and time, tempered by flames of the past”
You begin to understand that painful experiences can become a source of wisdom when you’re willing to examine them. Your mistakes, failures, and the lessons you take from them gradually shape you into a more wise and compassionate person

“Working on mastering body and mind, destiny give me one more chance”
You commit to growth: studying, training, exercising, journaling, reflecting… doing all the difficult internal work of healing. Deep down inside, there’s this hope that through the work, you can create a new life, and be given the opportunity to return as a meaningful contributor to the spaces you once found yourself in

“Stone! Fire! Burn your enemies, give nothing but malice & tyranny”
But then this angry part of you speaks up… It wants justice! Vengeance! Retaliation! It tells you that hurting, humiliating, or destroying those that have hurt you will restore your worth! It’s the voice of this deep pain, trying to protect you through aggression…

“I see that vision of blood on the sand, is this who I really am?”
But instead of automatically obeying it, you stop and examine it… You acknowledge that you may experience angry thoughts, but you don’t let them define your actions. Instead, you ask the important question of “What is this voice trying to tell me? And what kind of person do I want to be?”

“Seek a place where you'll find that permanent peace”
When anger loses its grip, another voice can emerge: sadness. This depressive voice tells you that healing is too exhausting… that you should stop trying, disappear, sleep, and escape the demands of life…

“Fields of gold, loved ones wait for thee”
Sometimes that longing for escape can become almost seductive, and your mind even begins to romanticize being reunited with people you’ve lost, making the withdrawal from life, itself, feel comforting…

“I'm wandering forward into the unknown, am I cursed to blindly roam?”
Caught between anger and sadness, it can feel like you don’t have a clear map anymore… You’ve left behind this old identity, but haven’t fully discovered the new one yet. You don’t know where you’re going, and you begin to wonder whether this feeling will ever end?

“No escape! Your failures and mistakes await with open jaws”
Suddenly the anger returns to shame you, telling you there’s no escape from the things you’ve done! It says your past completely defines you, and that no amount of growth, accountability, or change will ever be enough!

“I'll search within for what I know and reclaim my throne”
And in that moment, instead of looking for the answer elsewhere, look inwards… Reconnect with your values, accept your past, and recognize that your worth isn’t something another person can grant or take away. You, and only you, choose who you become from this point onwards

“I'm finally free at last, forgiving all that's inside (Emperor)”
Through forgiveness and compassion, you acknowledge your humanity and free yourself from the self-punishment. In this case, an “Emperor” represents the grounded, responsible, and self-actualizing version of yourself who leads you through your own life, and is not ruled by the voices of others

“No future, no more past, this is the day that I rise as emperor”
Growth happens in the present. You can’t change the past, and you can’t wait for a future that you have no control over - what you can control, is what you choose to do today. Your values, your behaviors, your practices, your repair, and the kind of person you choose to be.

“People chaining themselves to denial, feeding their dreams to the crows”
As you begin to heal, you recognize familiar patterns in other people, but you don’t feel the urge to jump to their rescue… You see their denial, unhealthy coping mechanisms, shame, or environments that keep them from living in alignment with their values…

“Endlessly chasing their pride, dragging their coffins in tow”
You recognize that pride can be used as a shield against vulnerability - admitting something is wrong can feel very threatening when your sense of worth relies SO heavily on appearing strong or being right - meanwhile, that unresolved pain continues to weigh them down, and ends up costing them more than the things they’re trying to protect…

“Seeing them through awakening eyes, knowing they're lost and alone”
Having experienced that pain and isolation yourself, you realize you’re recognizing it in others now. Instead of the defenses, you begin seeing the person: frightened, hurting, disconnected, or simply unsure how to move forward. Understanding them doesn’t require excusing their behaviors, it simply allows you to see the humanity along with their actions.

“We have the power to change our lives, are we not worthy to save our souls?”
Rather than telling them how they should live, lead with curiosity, and ask them one simple question - “Do YOU believe you’re worth the effort? Do YOU believe you can change?” - change becomes possible when you develop the courage to believe that a different future exists, the courage to be happy in pursuit of that future, and the courage to be disliked by those who do not believe it themselves.

“There's a light inside of me that makes me believe… all of us who wish to atone, yes, we all belong!”
Your past is not the final definition of who you are. You can acknowledge your mistakes, learn the lessons, repair what you can, and continue growing. If you’re genuinely willing to do that work, there is still a place for you here. Belonging doesn’t require perfection, it requires the courage to participate, make mistakes, learn from them, and keep growing.

“We’re finally free at last, forgiving all that's inside // No future, no more past, this is the day that we rise as emperors”
The chorus changes from “I” to “We” because healing, ultimately, brings you back to connection, encouragement, accountability, and a sense of belonging to other people. What may have begun as a solitary journey is now shared, because when we create spaces where people can be honest about their struggles (while still being responsible for their choices) we give each other more space to heal, grow, and rise together.