Roses and Revelations: Pilgrimage Through Digital Intimacy

captured by royel, 2025, fashion district

Listen closely, because I don’t share these secrets with just anyone.

2015 was the year I became the go-to social media alchemist—a title earned not through algorithms, but through an almost supernatural ability to create connection. It began with a Susanne Conrad goal coaching event that felt more like a spiritual awakening than a professional development seminar.

My girl-that’s-a-friend had just booked a spot on Pretty Little Liars, a whirlwind of auditions and potential that left her social media management in desperate need of a savior. Enter me—not just a manager, but a digital storyteller who would transform her online presence.

I dubbed her fans “the roses”—a name that carried more intimacy than a mere hashtag. Those premiere night group chats became my unexpected sanctuary. We weren’t just discussing a show; we were constructing a universe, sharing breaths between plot twists and character revelations.

But something deeper was brewing beneath the surface. The performative nature of social media began to feel like a spiritual disconnect. I was leading these young women through a narrative that wasn’t entirely authentic—a revelation that demanded repentance.

San Diego became my crucible of transformation. Steam rising from cheap taco stands, conversations with a mentor and his son that peeled back layers of my own understanding. Each moment was a thread in a larger tapestry of connection—ELIXIR wasn’t just a magazine. It was my pilgrimage toward genuine digital intimacy.

Years later, I recognize the profound vulnerability of those moments. The gospel truth? Repentance isn’t just a religious concept. It’s about radical honesty. It’s about stripping away the curated personas and presenting the raw, unfiltered essence of self.

Today, every platform I touch is managed in-house. No intermediaries. No filters. Just the unvarnished truth of human experience.

To the roses who journeyed with me then, who are journeying with me now: this is me. Completely. Unapologetically. A living testament to the power of authentic digital communion.

You know you love me,

Mitchell Royel