Gift Giver is an anonymous Facebook account reportedly operated by two individuals who worked with Byron on developing The Secret: A Treasure Hunt in some capacity, the identities of whom are know solely by George Ward, appearing every December on the 12 Treasures sanctioned Secret group page. Intending to “nudge” the collective Secret investigation in the general direction of casques and real answers with information of an undisclosed basis, Gift Giver posts conversely generate both enthusiasm and controversy, forming diametrically opposed camps with little middle ground.
Supporters excitedly anticipate earth shattering revelations, unconditionally accepting otherwise anonymous claims as absolute gospel. Vague advice is rife for pondering, projected as the product of absolute knowledge rather than some degree of informed speculation. The proclamation of city/image associations are celebrated “confirmations”. A potential for unintentional misrepresentation or error are unilaterally disregarded.
Sceptics and detractors conversely challenge the pretense under which someone other than John Jude Palencar possesses such knowledge, criticize social pressure to automatically accept claims and inferences holding unspecified origins or context, and express frustration over the imparting of vague interpretive tips perceived with sparingly relevant implications.
The lead up to a Gift Giver post ironically echoes the atmosphere of anticipation often accompanying the weeks, days, and moments preceding a family Christmas morning gift opening frenzy. A considerable degree of time, energy, effort, contemplation, and emotion are invested in preparation for that single day. The air is filled with competing chatter and the scratchy sounds of colorful giftwrap adorned with holiday icons torn asunder with gleeful excitement. As the festivities reach their inevitable conclusion, an underlying sense of anti-climactic finality slowly subdues the temporary effects of material gratification. Even when the gifts are thoughtful, the preceding sense of excitement often offers greater joy than a Black Friday deal or a shiny piece of plastic. The most significant of sentimental magics occur during the approach rather than the landing. As the ambience of joyful music and colorful lights give way to the monotony of environmental status quo, and convening families retread their separate paths, a lingering emptiness is dulled with fond recollections and dreams of next year’s whimsical season.
In this spirit it can certainly be said that what we anticipate from the Gift Giver holds greater value than what is received, which sounds more derogatory than intended. Their intentions are certainly noble while informational resources are limited and perhaps unrealistically inflated by over-zealous recipients. Some Secreteers are desperate for a vehicle of definitive resolution, while others will manipulate any morsel into conformity with personal preconceptions. Despite good intensions, Gift Giver contributions thus far have only perpetuated and highlighted socio-cultural shortcomings of the online, supposedly collaborative community, in particular the propensity for social conformity, blind trust, devaluing the actual puzzles, and constructing preferential narratives at the expense of critical thinking, universal logical, and real answers only inaccessible by personal choices.
The sum of all parts
According to Secret artist John Jude Palencar, the puzzle portion of the project was conducted not unlike a clandestine government program in which clearance levels varied and information was allocated on a need-to-know basis. Each individual agent fulfilled personal directives regarding the assigned component without a larger understanding of what was being built or how it all fit together.
“Well they didn’t know what their part was, they knew they were building a part they didn’t know what it was for.”-21:09, John Jude Palencar
An Evening with John Jude Palencar-YouTube
Assuming this characterization is accurate, there are a limited collection of circumstances under which someone other than JJP could “confirm” the claims made from the Gift Giver account. By most measures, Gift Giver should not possess the level of information implied as no one other than JJP worked directly with Byron on the puzzles themselves. Does the Gift Giver actually know anything, or are they providing personal impressions and regurgitating popular community clue assignments assumed correct and in some cases belligerently enforced? Are they, in certain circumstances, posting information on someone else’s behalf?
Contributing complimentary content to a treasure hunt centric publication and possessing extremely privileged information are by no means mutually exclusive conditions. Even the artist responsible for the treasure hunt images confesses a condition of limited information as a product of both elapsed time and initial access.
Looking at the actual posts, not once thus far has the “Gift Giver” implicitly claimed to “know” anything related to interpreting the puzzles, providing no basis for inferences of knowledge. Neglecting to disclose pertinent context regarding HOW they have such knowledge could be related to protecting their identity, maintaining the stipulations of a NDA, or deceiving the community into believing they know more than they actually do.
In 2021, they made a series of inquisitive observations regarding image 3, concluding ultimately that they were unaware of Byron or JJP’s intentions surrounding the imagery. Based on several factors, this information screams professional opinion rather than privileged intelligence.
In 2022, Gift Giver provided a list of casque cities ordered based on the associated image, aligning perfectly with conventional community contentions. In a second 2022 post, image 3 was once again the topic of conversation, pondering the theoretical importance and implication of subject or context within a single visual device, specifically the spoon and the “pea”.
In 2023, they engaged in a long-winded monologue incorporating several inaccurate claims effortlessly debunked, suggesting possible puzzle dynamics yet only explicitly confirming an overall project timeframe of one year. In 2024, they provided one comment for each image which in most cases either reflected a popular theory for that image, gave vague commentary, or served as filler.
I disagree
Given the overwhelming presense of unknown variables, mistakes or contradictions within Gift Giver posts severely compromise theoretical trust allocated to the remaining sum. For this reason, the annual post from 2023 is particularly problematic. So, what has the Gift Giver objectively gotten wrong?
-They claim that the ONLY tool available for incorporating visual elements into the images was grainy polaroids transmitted via fax. Conversely, images from “confirmed” cases incorporate geographic elements obtained from the applicable map, including but not limited to state boundaries, a highway layout in image 4, and an outline of Boston harbor. In addition, the book states quite explicitly that cases CAN be theoretically solved without leaving your home, requiring a heavy reliance on map work and/or reference materials for those cases.
-They claim that the “technology” required to definitively confirm a geographic match or overlay was not publicly available in 1982. This claim neglects the existence of overhead transparencies, the ability to cut suspected locations out of a map, or eyeball a side-by-side comparison.
-They claim that Mr. Palencar would not have included pertinent visual details imperceivable in a reduced size, printed format.
“Why would John put details that small in his paintings if he never imagined you would ever see the actual paintings?”–Gift Giver
Conversely, Mr. Palencar has expressed his own disappointment with both the size and quality of published prints, alternatively endorsing the enhanced online versions. JJP has stated that while the most important elements are perceivable in any format, some smaller details difficult to discern in the printed version do offer useful information. He even lamented the imperceivable nature in the original publication of meticulously applied details such as tear ducts.
George Ward: “Can you see everything in the images you need to see to solve the puzzle?”, referring to image quality in the modern reprint of The Secret. John Jude Palencar: “I would always say hi-res is better, uh, higher resolution is better. If the printing is up, not up to snuff or if they’re printed on an inferior stock, it it may impinge on some of the uh, some of the visual, maybe some of the tinier ones.”-9:56
An Evening with John Jude Palencar-YouTube
-They suggest an investigative strategy of determining “patterns” between the twelve cases, which contradicts the earlier advice of “thinking” like Byron or considering how he intended for the puzzles to be solved. Byron didn’t know an entire virtual community would develop from his commercial literary venture. Byron didn’t know that large numbers of people would share puzzle discoveries. Byron didn’t know that individuals would investigate more than one case. In that regard, why do “patterns” hold any relevance?
The patterns we can currently perceive show that “patterns” are unreliable. JJP states that any “framework” implemented amongst the puzzles was applied loosely and frequently deviated from, while Byron confirmed progressive difficulty amongst the cases in newspaper interviews. So why look for patterns if the puzzles are designed to be solved one at a time and designed to be different? The perceived importance of inter-case “patterns” is more a product of thinking like the community, not Byron.
“…how we could change it up so one solve would not clue a treasure would be solved in exactly the same way as another, even though there was a framework there maybe.”-46:06, John Jude Palencar
An Evening with John Jude Palencar-YouTube
These discrepancies cast a shadow of doubt on all Gift Giver commentary, suggesting the presense of assumption and speculation rather than privileged knowledge.
In addition to obvious errors, the 2024 post is problematic on a number of levels.
Where does this information come from and why do they have it? If relevant environmental devices are being accurately identified, then what level of importance should be applied to each clue? Does GG know HOW these devices incorporate into the puzzles? If they do know how things like the legeater or lion statues are being used…then WHY do they know that if aspects of project creation were so compartmentalized as described by Mr. Palencar?
As a result of various official “confirmations”, we know with certainty that visual elements within the puzzles, generally speaking, serve a variety of purposes on a variable scale of importance. While the presense of untethered enthusiasm coupled with premature conclusions lead to essentially EVERY visual element being implicated as a casque location marker at some juncture, reality holds a more diverse collection of possibilities ranging from verse path confirmation to misdirection. With this in mind, allusions to landmarks such as the lion statues of Milwaukee or the “legeater” in Montreal could severely mislead investigators if unrelated to the casque location or verse path altogether. For instance, what would the Pops Orchestra have told us about the Boston case beyond implicating Boston? On its own…essentially nothing.
“He (Byron) would only give me certain parts, he knew the whole thing.”-23:10, John Jude Palencar
An Evening with John Jude Palencar-YouTube
Imagine for a moment if our image 4 clue pertained to the Liberty Bell. If we were simply told that the Liberty Bell is incorporated into image 4…which is technically true, how would this fact effect our perception of its incorporation? We would undoubtedly be misled into misconception far easier than guided to an authentic application.
“…there’s a number of things where clues and things that are blended that I had completely forgotten about…”-33:54, John Jude Palencar
An Evening with John Jude Palencar-YouTube
One for one inferences also do not account for the possibility of “blended clues” as identified by JJP. This leaves the door open for one visual element from a Secret image to represent more than one real world device or subject. For example, an association between the woman in image 10 and a Lake Park lion statue, as strongly inferred by JJP, may prove incomplete if aspects of a secondary figure were incorporated into the same character. If one visual element holds multiple identities, hence the need to “blend” something, who is to say which application is more crucial for casque recovery without verification from Byron himself? What if a single clue holds multiple applications yet only one is currently known or recollected by insiders providing commentary?
To appropriate GG’s own commentary, what if the context under which a visual device is presented is just as valuable if not more so than the device itself, perhaps illuminating a hidden, less “obvious” identity. Take the infamous legeater in image 9 for example. Everyone and their grandma “knows” that the legeater is found within lamp bases at the Mount Stephen Club Hotel, yet no one has thus far convincingly established its intended application. In image 9, the “legeater” is encased within a golden square while the leg extends beyond its boundaries. While the MSCH is within the “Golden Square” Mile neighborhood, no definitive justification for the limb extending beyond the square has been publicly offered.
Could satisfying these details hold more relevance then current one for one applications (look here for a direct answer)? They could, assuming a willingness to detach ourselves from “obvious” clue assignments in a 43 YEAR OLD, SUBJECTIVELY crafted PUZZLE…called THE SECRET. Perceived obviousness should represent a glaring red flag more than it does.
Who are you?
So, who is the Gift Giver? It’s almost certainly NOT John Jude Palencar as some suggest. Why would Mr. Palencar adopt a covert alias to convey an underwhelming degree and quality of information often inferior to insights and recollections revealed publicly? Why also would he contradict himself, known facts, and information from the book while doing it? If JJP is involved in the GG account, then his partner, whoever they are, is seriously dropping the ball.
Here is what we do know. Assuming we take George Ward at his word, the Gift Giver worked on the Secret project in some official capacity, likely developing artistic content, leaving several potential candidates in play. There is no known, logical basis for Gift Giver to possess a level of puzzle information comparable to or exceeding that of John Jude Palencar who has stated incessantly he just doesn’t know where the “treasures” are. Just as JJP’s knowledge is compromised by time, memory, and initial access, Gift Giver is limited by the very same hindrances.
I strongly suspect, beyond limited personal knowledge, that Gift Giver post content is greatly influenced by conventional community belief and the personal sensibilities of George Ward. One post “confirmed” all conventional city/image assignments. One post endorses “simple” clue applications, continuity amongst unconfirmed cases based on perceived trends within officially confirmed cases, and “thinking like Byron”. The 2024 post reinforces Lake Park, Hermann Park, The Fairmont Hotel, and the infamous “legeater”. These positions reflect extremely common yet superficial, incomplete, or misguided talking points. Unfortunately, there is nothing remarkable or illuminating about any of that. Decades of dead ends coupled with statistical probabilities dictate a likely sharp deviation from conventional wisdom and frameworks is warranted, at the very least in some cases.
So what does the future hold in terms of Gift Giver revelations? On a basis of pure conjecture, I have suspected since last year’s entry that our anonymous advice dispensary is essentially out of merchandise. Looking at the entire collection of posts, serviceable information not already assumed by the majority has been in short supply from the very beginning and far less revolutionary than anything publicly revealed by JJP.
A day after I began crafting this article, Gift Giver released their 2025 “nudge” on the Facebook group page. In short, they infer that JJP is developing a plan to release art work for sale, offered exclusively to the Secret community containing visual hints for the Secret cases, and reveals that image 1, almost exclusively associated with San Francisco, was originally a non-Secret project before being retro-fitted and modified to suit puzzle dynamics. Since baseless speculation to this degree would be highly irresponsible, the unidentified Gift Giver must have personal contact with John Jude Palencar. Why Mr. Palencar wouldn’t just tell us these things himself is very peculiar. I have to imagine that this particular information was posted at Mr. Palencar’s request, possibly to circumvent NDA violations. While it is possible that previous GG posts are subject to the same dynamic, surrounding circumstances as previously identified remain highly suspect.
Hidden in plain sight
An occasionally recycled plot development in journey centric storytelling finds our antagonist(s) risking life and limb to secure an invaluable MacGuffin believed essential for reaching a desired goal, often with life altering repercussions at stake, only to discover through a series of arduous trials and heartaches that the power they sought was instantly accessible the entire time, and in fact often within themselves. While Secret investigators are eagerly seeking the proverbial magic elixir or super natural artifact to finally unlock the hidden meanings behind Byron Preiss’s enigmatic musings, the most powerful problem solving tools have always been readily accessible.
Projecting unparalleled importance onto outside information diverts attention from the only things that will actually solve The Secret: Byron’s puzzles and a proper frame of mind. The solutions to The Secret are available to anyone and everyone at this very moment. While Byron’s puzzles are DESIGNED to be SOLVED, we treat them as though they aren’t. Byron isn’t doing that…we are. But that isn’t what we want to hear, requiring an ego deflating brand of self-reflection in conflict with the natural human desire to defer blame. As the Gift Giver has said: whose puzzle are we trying to solve? Or maybe it would be more pointed to ask “What are we trying to accomplish”?
The truth of the matter is, we don’t need “help” and we don’t need privileged “clues”. That brand of information from “insiders” who admit they don’t know how to solve the puzzles and don’t know where the treasures are can just as easily sabotage our efforts as they can in aiding them. Why pursue a secondary, disconnected resource subject to misunderstanding, error, tainted perception, and faulty recollections when the original source is at your very finger tips?
You won’t trust Byron at the point of origin to competently communicate the answers to his own puzzles…but you will trust individuals four decades removed who got all of their information from Byron anyway? You won’t trust Byron when he tells you there is a casque in St. Louis, but you will trust “I think” and “they seem” statements from secondary sources who seemingly believe that visual references to a particular city MUST lead to a casque there versus serving an alternative purpose in a subjectively created puzzle?
While the community repeats incessantly that only a casque proves an answer, we continue to adopt strategies and philosophies that have never led to casques. Chicago was found pre-community with old fashioned sleuthing. Cleveland was determined with a picture, a google search, and logical deductions. Boston was found more or less by accident. Many of the resources searchers find absolutely imperative…have never actually produced unquestionable results or undoubtedly progressed the collective investigation. Do these failures demand strategic, intellectual deviation? Our words say we want casques while our actions say something else entirely, betraying authentic results for satisfaction.
The biggest obstacle we currently face is the prioritization of foundational community contentions over what is actually true, claiming ownership of something that simply doesn’t belong to us. Truly solving these puzzles requires systematically dismantling decades of confidently communicated contentions, counterintuitive philosophies, or erroneous rules never once established officially. Byron didn’t make bad puzzles. The puzzles are “solved” before a spec of dirt is ever displaced. Each case is different and designed to be solved independent from additional cases. The verse path is not limited to short distances. Clue interpretations are not limited to the literal or the “obvious”.
Image 3 does NOT lead to the Roanoke casque. Image 7 does not lead to a New Orleans casque. Image 9 does NOT lead to the Montreal casque. Image 12 does NOT lead to the New York City casque. Neither verse 8 nor verse 5 go with Montreal. Verse 10 does not go with NYC. Lake Park contains no casque. The Fairmont grounds contain no casque. Byron decides how his puzzles function, not the community, not Gift Giver, nor anyone else.
But my word is entirely irrelevant if not attached to independently valid truths. You can determine ALL of these things for yourself through a mentality of honesty, humility, and objectivity, leaving preferences, expectations, perceptions, and ego at the door. Everything required to solve The Secret is already within your possession…no convoluted journey and no “gift” required.
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