By Caitlin Johnstone
CaitlinJohnstone.com
February 4, 2023
Don't let the fraudulence of this civilization eclipse the supernova of authenticity hidden just beneath that thin membrane.
Don't let the vapid artificiality of mainstream culture cause you to miss the weird magic of life as it actually is.
Don't let the barrage of advertisements screaming "THIS IS NEVER ENOUGH" distract from the symphony of joy in your cells at simply being alive.
Don't let the nonstop corporate messaging that you are ugly conceal from you your radiant beauty.
Don't let the Valentine's Day products from Hallmark steal the spotlight from our wide open hearts and our roaring passion.
Don't let the authoritative dronings of the imperial pundits mask the fact that they are babies made of mysteries and stardust.
Don't let the feigned confidence of the people around you trick you into thinking that any of us really knows anything.
Don't let all the buildings and billboards make you forget that no matter where you go you are always in the thick of nature.
Don't let the deluge of lies and propaganda cause you to lose sight of the fact that they are trying to pour concrete over a bottomless abyss of truth.
Don't let the footsteps marching to the beat of the imperial drum drown out the ancient song at the heart of consciousness.
Don't let this civilization's insistence that you are finite delude you into missing your own boundlessness.
Where it seems like there is an absence of depth, there are depths that couldn't be explored in a thousand lifetimes.
Where it appears that there is an absence of truth, truth hides just behind the eyes which perceive this.
There are galaxies hidden in supermarket aisles. There are universes hidden in parking lots.
Just beneath the superficial phoniness, there's a reality that is older than the stars.
Just beneath the capitalist tedium, there's an endless fountain of amazement.
Just beneath the collective psychosis, there's an oddly familiar sanity.
Just beneath the indoctrinated familiarity, a real encounter is waiting to happen.
Just beneath the hopelessness of our current plight, a great power is cracking a smile.
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