Before keys were hidden in pockets or duplicated endlessly, they were worn. Around the neck. At the waist. Pinned to garments. In many ancestral cultures, keys were not merely tools of access — they were symbols of trust, responsibility, and discernment. To hold a key was to be recognized as a keeper of thresholds, someone entrusted with knowing when to open and when to close. This role was often held by women. Keys as Emblems of Authority, Not Ownership A key does not create