Human experience has always been on a path between two planes of existence: from being part of a group to existing as an individual.
From mother's womb, the road toward individuality always seem perilous. From a place of origin to belonging to a family, from inheriting a name, a location, a religion, a social status, some diet preferences, possibly many language, as well as lots of cultural influences and identities, we are born as one part of many. These are all blessings, or shackles in disguise.
You were born already belonging to many groups and identities, which were all required for your growth and survival. The road ahead could be one towards individuality, as you might chose to abandon or change group affiliations. Or you might chose a more complete adhesion to what some are calling their roots. In any way, you will live your life the best you could, mostly in increments of twenty four hours, as we all do.
From there, you will travel to places near or far. You'll always be at risk of learning, then unlearning, many things. Everything you do will be a choice, your own choice, whether you make it in accordance to some group affiliation, or out of personal preference.
You might discover that belonging to groups is bothersome, as you might want to explore new places, or push some boundaries. You'll push your way as far or as near as you can. The more choices you'll delegate, the closer you'll adhere to herd thinking. The more choices you'll make out of personal preferences, the more you'll become a self identified free willed individual.
Or so you thought before your personal alignment brought you closer to some other groups, farther from home. Then, instead of maintaining your free willed individuality, you'll be succumbing to the pull of such groups, possibly more aligned with your true self. Because group and social attraction is real, and powerful. We learn that from an early age. Social attraction, as an irresistible gravitational force.
Then, some will push themselves so far from their roots, that it will have an effect on the very fabric of everyone's life. Out of fierce independence, or colossal fortune, or technological accomplishment, increasingly many individuals are now growing out of reach, far from their original group spheres of influence, as they are gaining access to new mostly unattainable and exclusive places, far from the crowd.
As these individuals distance themselves from the rest, they become decreasingly gregarious humans, as they might mascarade as regular folks, while acting contrary to the common good. In accordance to some rule of evolution, or the myth of the survival of the fittest, one might say this is all for the better, as these represent our collective future. And as some individually conscious people might see things differently, many herd thinkers are starting to doubt the very humanity of these offshoots, hence the reptilian imagery, or else.
As we are now, the ultimate group identity that stands a chance at federating everyone is the living. Yes, we truly are One with the living. Which is a tenuous, somewhat weak link, considering how we treat the living on Earth. What's next we'll soon find out.