A while ago, I shared reflections on turning 35 and expanding the channel’s topics with lifestyle and personable content. This is such a video to hopefully nurture my connection with you. Otherwise, I discuss philosophy, psychology, creativity, and other Esoteric subjects. So stick around if that resonates.
Recently, I asked my viewers what they would prioritize between reconnecting with a childhood passion and improving workflow. The first example was a musical instrument like the guitar, as many Esotericists (actually) play. The second — a device to help with whatever they do. Most voted for passion.
Although I considered that, my ‘Mercurial Virgo’ nature said its heavy word. So I pulled the trigger on the second. For me, the first was a musical instrument, which I’ll hopefully discuss in the future; the second — the Apple Studio Display.
In this video, I’ll explain my decision as a creator, polymath, and student of Qabalah. I won’t be delving into specs that are all over the internet, but first focus on Esoteric principles and life lessons and then cover the technical reasons for picking up the display.
Everything I say will apply to similar situations. And Meanwhile, I’ll (also) unbox the display.
Qabalistic Worlds
Mapping the human psyche, the Tree of Life has several divisions, one of which is the four Qabalistic worlds.
The highest, Atziluth, represents the life force Chiah — the pure urge to live and express. The second, Briah, is the creative ideas. Third is formation, organization, and finding ways to turn ideas into action, Yetzirah. And the fourth is the physical Assiah, including dense energies, actions, and limitations.
Possibly sounding abstract, this applies to anything and everything, especially for creators, which, according to superstar producer Rick Rubin and Thelemic scholar David Shoemaker, (actually) includes you.
The Creative Process
The best-selling Modern Magick applies the four worlds to building a stand for Qabalistic practices and pretty much anything. By running the process through them, you can identify where something goes wrong and (actually) correct it.
Embracing this blueprint, I believe we seldom lack ideas. Thanks to studies on willpower, learning, habit formation, and system-building, we (also) don’t struggle with figuring things out. Where many still do is the physical reality, (actually) taking action.
Simply put, that is doing the things you ought to do, navigating through limitations like your time, mind, and body. Esoterically, think of (Assiah), the physical and the throne of Binah (Saturn), which includes stagnation and no change.
Also, think of Yesod, the personal unconscious transmitting whatever happens in the higher realms to Assiah through the path of Saturn, which is of the four elements and limitations.
No matter how brilliant, turning your ideas into reality requires change, which implies action that likely goes against Saturn’s inertia or what Gurdjieff called ‘the mechanistic Cosmos.
For athletes and ‘pure intellectuals,’ this (mainly) relies on mind-body performance. For creators, the process includes their tools, which can either make or break it.
Tools are carriers for the skills and actions (Assiah), following the plans and systems (Yetzirah) for the idea(s) (Briah), and spark for expression (Atziluth).
Now. I am not stating that better gear makes you a better creator. As I like to say:
Magick is like Art. Not having a particular piece of equipment should never prevent you from creating. Similarly, not having this or that device should never stop you from doing the work.
— POTB
On the contrary, after living that paradigm for a while, a creator will ask themselves the Stoic question:
Is this Necessary
Namely, is overcoming obstacles and jumping through hoops to get something done essential? Considering Memento Mori, my answer is no. Your creative work should never take more than it needs.
This doesn’t mean obsessing over specs but prioritizing doing great work quicker. Or, if you prefer not bottlenecking the process in one of the worlds as found in a moment.
Our ideas may be endless. But, in the physical, everything is limited, including our most valuable asset — time.
Least Resistance
This brings us to the first to take from all this. Always prioritize easing into your best work. Magick (usually) follows the path of least resistance. Optimize your tools, enabling that for your creative process, which — whether you’re into Qabalah:
- Does run through the Qabalistic worlds;
- It is magick, as you turn things into existence and cause changes to occur.
Also, consider Jupiter Chessed and the Hindu god Ganesha. The first provides ‘ease of circumstances.’ The second ‘removes obstacles.’ Are your tools embodying those principles? The more they do, the more you can:
- Freely manifest creative impulses through the ‘worlds’;
- Move between the realms, as Yesod, the personal subconscious and foundation of the physical, is a ‘receptive transmitter.’
Plus, as we know from Rubin, for the craftsman type of creator, actions can facilitate better ideas. Let me know your thoughts.
Reflection
The yogi follows the Middle Pillar and the path of the arrow. The Western esotericist, the Lightning Flash, in which Hod, the sphere of Mercury and intellect, comes before Netzach’s passion when moving bottom-to-top.
Getting the Apple Studio Display at my journey’s current stage is more than optimizing workflow with a ‘cool piece of tech.’ It marks an increased understanding of Hod’s influence on my life and work as a Virgo male.
Similarly, the instrument will be the same in regards to Netzach which fuels Hod. The first relates to my intellect. The second — to a rather exotic art and pure passion. Let me know if that resonates.
Creative Freedom
When thinking of creative freedom, creatives often obsess over specs, which should never be a trade for a better workflow. Think of working with crispy 4K footage on an old PC.
While not as exciting as a drone, another lens, or a second camera body, a proper display makes a day-and-night difference in both output and workflow.
Then, consider time. You might not get that guitar immediately, but you get time and a piece of mind. This increases the likelihood of engaging your childhood passion (eventually).
Conversely, overworking yourself for no reason decreases it, even if you buy a Gibson, which leads to the second key message:
Always strive to gain more time, as it’s the only resource you can’t recover.
Plus…
Completing projects quicker keeps them relevant to who you currently are, maintaining your momentum and excitement.
Next comes health. While navigating through Premiere is perfectly doable on a laptop, my eyes and neck are eternally grateful for the display. I hope this rings some bells.
Now let me summarize the unboxing and move to the reasons for getting it. While more technical, they make plenty of sense based on the covered.
Box and First Impressions
The Studio Display comes in a (huge) Apple box, which I believe is worth saving to move it around. It is wrapped in more cardboard and paper. And the power cord is on the back.
It includes a single thunderbolt cable. And that’s pretty much all. Given that, I think it’s absolutely stunning. The best display I’ve seen in my (whole) life. Literally. Given I’ve never been next to a Pro XDR.
Colors
Although you might call me an Apple fanboy, initially, I didn’t plan to get the Studio Display. I had my eyes on a 32-inch 4K BenQ, but several factors diverted me.
First and foremost, colors. Though other monitors look ‘great,’ none matches Macs’ (actual) colors. Since most people have Apple devices, this means my work woudn’t necessarily look the same across all.
Getting it there would have required finetuning things from my Mac, which is an additional hassle in Assiah.
Besides, no matter how calibrated, monitors shift with time. Not applicable to the Studio Display, this implies spending more money on a calibrator and (eventually) using it, wasting resources in Assiah.
5K resolution
4K may be okay for editing and producing but not necessarily for writing and coding. It can blur the characters due to MacOS being 5K.
I write from a sofa, but being able to use my screen is an absolute must. The Studio Display provides pixel-perfect clarity, giving me more freedom within the constraints I face.
MacOS integration
The Studio Display is intended to work with Macs. It eliminates hassle, streamlining the creative process.
This is one of the reasons why I stick to Apple, Canon, Universal Audio, and (perhaps) Rane. They may not be the most customizable, but they are the most reliable, letting me complete anything in Assiah.
- They last a ton;
- They just work;
Both are things most companies neglect in favor of pointless customizability, wasting our precious decisions and distracting us from our work. Let me know your thoughts.
Trade-offs
Mentioning customization, the Studio Display (literally) does not have any. Even its cable cannot be detached, which is kind of a bummer, like Technics turntables that are still industry standard.
It is a plug-and-play thing meant to serve one purpose flawlessly: to be a Mac display, which it over-delivers.
Features
The Studio Display‘s actual features are basically ‘vastly underrated lowkey basics,’ which other companies seem to neglect. Other than the mentioned, this includes:
- Easy portability;
- No need for assistance;
- Maximum stability and not swinging when you’re typing like others;
- Superb build and all-metal chassis;
- Immaculate design inspiring creativity
- Incredible speakers, which I plan to use for reference as a producer.
Accessories
The only accessories I got are:
I needed something close to my MacBook’s keys but reasonably priced. For half the cost of a magic keyboard, the MX Keys Mini seemed a no-brainer.
Otherwise, I have the MX Master mouse. While I am not sponsored, I had only great experiences with Logitech. Plus, the keyboard matches the aesthetics of my Mac and Apollo with its metal chassis.
The Apple Program
I got my Studio Display refurbed from Apple. Having the same warranty as the brand new, this could be a better option for several reasons:
- Often, the units aren’t returned by customers; they (simply) didn’t meet all of Apple‘s requirements initially.
- They get tested twice and double-checked for potential issues.
- The cost is lower;
The only downside is that you may have to wait, as what you need might not be immediately available.
Long-Term Investment
They say: Buy once, cry once. Others compare Macs to camera bodies, whereas Apple displays to high-end glass. The first gets updated more regularly. The second stays for longer. I tend to agree. But let me know about you.
The Apple Studio Display is not cheap and (already) two years old. Nevertheless, I believe I am future-proofing, thinking of it as the 18-35 Sigma. Or, perhaps, the 24-70 EF.
Released in 2013, the former continues to be most of your favorite creators’ favorite lens. Like the display, the Sigma serves a single purpose flawlessly: producing stunning images with no hassle. So, to reiterate some of the previous concepts:
Your tools can make or break your brilliant ideas. It’s not about getting the latest and fanciest but having the right tools to never fail you, which is precisely why I got the display.
Whether it’s time, resources, or tools, we all face limitations. Thoughtful decisions help remove obstacles, allowing us to focus on what truly matters: creating work that resonates.
For me, the Apple Studio Display is an investment in my future, freeing up time and mental space to make more — and hopefully — better works while reconnecting with my roots. But that’s just my opinion. If it resonates, consider subscribing and checking my products, books, and the links in the description. Also, let me know if you like such content on the channel. Thank you for your time!
