Listen to a reading of this article: I get funny reactions from people who are new to my work, often because I don't act like the other indie media figures they follow. I'm unrefined and swear a lot. I engage on social media with both followers and critics far more than most do. I talk about elite conspiracies to create a totalitarian dystopia, but I differ from other conspiracy analysts in that I
Everything about your world view models mine more closely than any other person I encounter. The value I get is solidarity and the relief from an extreme aloneness because the predominate world view is so far from mine. You make me feel connected and that I'm not alone.
I can't always think of the right thing to say, so I'll just say: Caitlin, you are fucking awesome and inspiring and unique and I appreciate you so much. Thank you for sharing all that you do.
Smoking out the elephant in the room. So many reports in the alt media are testimonies to what you repeatedly rail against. Recently the Croatian President, a NATO member, called out his country’s buying into America’s grand agenda, which isn’t to help Ukraine.
You’re right. I just don’t have the mental capacity to do more than what I do, this is more like public journaling for me. I don’t really have an agenda.
At least 30 years ago, I saw an ad in a magazine asking people to explain why they did art, and I wrote the poem below. I think the last stanza especially expresses why Caitlin needs to do art.
We indeed live in a war and they say that "When the cannons are heard the muses are silent", but as an artist, I do think that expressing the "soft, tender squishy bits of our inner world" can make it nicer, healthier for all.
I have read it somewhere that aesthetics have a wavelength that penetrates through everything.
If that's true, that gives us an excellent way or tool for communication. Let's create more pictures, sounds, words and other forms of beauty, it's necessary soul food!
What I have noticed on myself that although sometimes I do like to dive into what's going on in the world, it more often than not makes my mood, energy and whatever levels lower - which is not good for my creativity and ability to dream a wonderful world that would be much nicer for all of us to live in.
So I am trying to restrain myself from browsing the news, because it only makes me cynical or sometimes angry. Neither is a constructive or uplifting state of mind, and going down that route would make me bitter on a long term.
Also, I get it every now and then from friends, followers when talking about some issue: "You are not an expert in the subject, you better stick to singing!" (instead of giving me any valid argument to what I have said...)
AND sometimes I am cancelled by fans or by fellow singers, musicians, actors I had shared the stage with and who had loved my art and my being soooo much - solely because I wouldn't agree with them on a topic like illegal mass migration, Covid measures, this or that religion, etc.
But once you have taken the red pill, it's not easy to turn back...
So it's quite a dilemma for an artist.
Each of us has to find the right balance which feels the best. For you Caitlin it looks like more news commentary at the moment, for me it's more art.
Did you see that I translated one of your poems, Awakening? Hungarian
I'd love to support your work, Caitlin, unconditionally, but I struggle to find out the best way. I don't really need to buy anything, and I don't want to deal with any of that crypto shit. Can you indicate the preferred method of supporting you? The one that leaves any intermediaries with the least cut?
You have certainly opened my mind. Here in Panama, the American military industrial complex is being threatened by a couple of Iranian boats. Somehow word got out to local expats that America will protect Panamanian interests. My wife stopped me from saying exactly what I thought of an American fleet sitting off the coast. Most Americans are cheering this on. Considering most Panamanians remember being bombed by Americans in 1989 and have a remembrance holiday for their martyrs and smartly who did this to them.
There truly is only one country to be absolutely afraid of and Iran is not it.
Thanks for your openness and honesty. In a world jaded with propaganda coming at us from all directions, courtesy of the mainstream media, it's refreshing to get to know the "real writers" behind the pen name. Alas, my attempts to "hack capitalism" hasn't worked so well with my writings here at The Revolution Continues and elsewhere. It's hard to be creative at times when you're hungry, cold, and worrying about how to pay the bills. Still, truth needs to be shared no matter what the cost to the prophet announcing it boldly to the sleeping public. #PowerToThePeople
Everything about your world view models mine more closely than any other person I encounter. The value I get is solidarity and the relief from an extreme aloneness because the predominate world view is so far from mine. You make me feel connected and that I'm not alone.
I can't always think of the right thing to say, so I'll just say: Caitlin, you are fucking awesome and inspiring and unique and I appreciate you so much. Thank you for sharing all that you do.
Yea, I shall put a sun within one hand,
And the moon within the other, for the soul
Shall be illumed of sunlight in its fierceness,
And likewise of the moon in its tranquillity.
~pw #LB
What's the point of being a heterodox Substack dissident if you can't post idiosyncratic, experimental stuff? Keep it up!
I always like your philosophy/poetry better than your politics. Substack writers who talk about WEF new-world-order or whatever are a dime a dozen.
wagmi 🚀
Smoking out the elephant in the room. So many reports in the alt media are testimonies to what you repeatedly rail against. Recently the Croatian President, a NATO member, called out his country’s buying into America’s grand agenda, which isn’t to help Ukraine.
https://www.rt.com/news/569929-croatia-president-nato-proxy-war-russia/
And I recommend to all the recent column by retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, William Astore, who regularly targets the MIC.
You’re right. I just don’t have the mental capacity to do more than what I do, this is more like public journaling for me. I don’t really have an agenda.
At least 30 years ago, I saw an ad in a magazine asking people to explain why they did art, and I wrote the poem below. I think the last stanza especially expresses why Caitlin needs to do art.
The Why of Art
Why do writers write
despite rejection slips?
Why do I,
though no dancer, love
to drink in music
and express it as movement?
Why spend hours
considering the interplay
between the form
and the color, of flowers?
Because
at the core of life
there is a living beast
invisible but huge
inaudible but
those who tune their sensibilities
finely enough
can feel it breathing.
Art is the means
of that fine-tuning.
Art can be a means
of kicking your boat out
from the slow shallows
into the full, deep flood
of mid-river.
Art can sneak past
that grim man in a suit
carrying a vital message
to the Queen.
We indeed live in a war and they say that "When the cannons are heard the muses are silent", but as an artist, I do think that expressing the "soft, tender squishy bits of our inner world" can make it nicer, healthier for all.
I have read it somewhere that aesthetics have a wavelength that penetrates through everything.
If that's true, that gives us an excellent way or tool for communication. Let's create more pictures, sounds, words and other forms of beauty, it's necessary soul food!
What I have noticed on myself that although sometimes I do like to dive into what's going on in the world, it more often than not makes my mood, energy and whatever levels lower - which is not good for my creativity and ability to dream a wonderful world that would be much nicer for all of us to live in.
So I am trying to restrain myself from browsing the news, because it only makes me cynical or sometimes angry. Neither is a constructive or uplifting state of mind, and going down that route would make me bitter on a long term.
Also, I get it every now and then from friends, followers when talking about some issue: "You are not an expert in the subject, you better stick to singing!" (instead of giving me any valid argument to what I have said...)
AND sometimes I am cancelled by fans or by fellow singers, musicians, actors I had shared the stage with and who had loved my art and my being soooo much - solely because I wouldn't agree with them on a topic like illegal mass migration, Covid measures, this or that religion, etc.
But once you have taken the red pill, it's not easy to turn back...
So it's quite a dilemma for an artist.
Each of us has to find the right balance which feels the best. For you Caitlin it looks like more news commentary at the moment, for me it's more art.
Did you see that I translated one of your poems, Awakening? Hungarian
https://andreagerak.substack.com/p/vers-az-uj-evre-ebredes-caitlin-johnstone
I'd love to support your work, Caitlin, unconditionally, but I struggle to find out the best way. I don't really need to buy anything, and I don't want to deal with any of that crypto shit. Can you indicate the preferred method of supporting you? The one that leaves any intermediaries with the least cut?
You have certainly opened my mind. Here in Panama, the American military industrial complex is being threatened by a couple of Iranian boats. Somehow word got out to local expats that America will protect Panamanian interests. My wife stopped me from saying exactly what I thought of an American fleet sitting off the coast. Most Americans are cheering this on. Considering most Panamanians remember being bombed by Americans in 1989 and have a remembrance holiday for their martyrs and smartly who did this to them.
There truly is only one country to be absolutely afraid of and Iran is not it.
You are a gem, Caitlin!
I am so inspired by your work, Caitlin. Thank you.
Continue to be you. Write on dear Caitlin as long as the muse is with you.
Good work!
Hell yeah, sister! An artist practicing the gift economy since 2020 over here.
Thanks for your openness and honesty. In a world jaded with propaganda coming at us from all directions, courtesy of the mainstream media, it's refreshing to get to know the "real writers" behind the pen name. Alas, my attempts to "hack capitalism" hasn't worked so well with my writings here at The Revolution Continues and elsewhere. It's hard to be creative at times when you're hungry, cold, and worrying about how to pay the bills. Still, truth needs to be shared no matter what the cost to the prophet announcing it boldly to the sleeping public. #PowerToThePeople