Masked, you walk through life. Brando once said, “Most people live in acting masks, afraid to be themselves.” Can a mask be genuine? It depends on what you hide behind it. At this masquerade, I stand among friends, strangers and someone I swore to never face again. He wore a gentle mask but used it to take advantage of me and the one I hold closest. Yet, here I am. What do I gain by holding onto anger? Nothing. So, I choose to let it go. So, my old “friend,” you are here, and so am I. Let’s play.
Not much of a face off after all 295 (if it is you), nor was it necessary. I moved on when I hit submit & in that I already won.
Anger is just another mask, one that only burdens the one who wears it. To let go of anger is to unmask yourself, to leave the masquerade behind. Not all victories come from confrontation. And in that choice, my friend, you have already won.
Lets play.
Be unto me Thine own flesh To what which has yet been spilled Soaked in the ashen mud And what will grow from it From ye neglect From ignorance From pain Forthwith to be unbent Resolve untested Yet thy wound festers Underneath Nigh strength unto weakness Becomes change where in Suffering you will find peace In thy flesh
Several times a day I call myself lucky enough To be afforded that which a moment elicits feeling In peace I will find myself
From pain, growth. From suffering, change. Even wounds can bloom into wisdom. Strength is not in avoiding the struggle, but in finding peace within it.
“Where did all the colors go?” Francis traced a lipstick smear. “This wasn’t my shade.” Edwin, “We were promised brighter things.” Maude smirked. “Some colors don’t wash off.” Masquerade Rule #5: Wear a mask long enough, & it starts wearing you."
Pain, Deceit, Lies. Life, Peace, Dies. To be, To want, To rise. I clawed, to climb, the skies. The leap, Of faith, To fly. Freedom so close I tried. The end of Me and I.
Through pain I soared, defied the fall, now crowned in might, I conquer all.
The end marks the start After falling apart There appears a spark Beginning is the hardest part To heal your heart The past must depart For the present to impart Before the light becomes the dark So tear apart Your ramparts And become state of the art
We call that the Jungle tax.
Year 2024: The jungle, UK. The sly ape, Government. And the player? Just bought a Fanta with 8gs of sugar and paid sugar tax.
What the fuck? Why did you steal my response
Finally got my FTX payout. It's been a long 2.5 years but glad to have the money back. Just deposited into bybit, what are we longing?
Where is that guy who shilled me ETH. Its been down only since I opened my long. I'm about to be liquidated... this is not fun!
$MELANIA, the lucky coin blessing everyone on Solana and beyond
A perfect observation for #69
Life gives us lemons at times, but if given enough time and courage, it could be turned into a lemonade. Long the shit coins, some will say, but you're the wise one. So act accordingly.
The ticker is ETH.
A Father’s struggle to provide: I feel young, but aging faster than I should. Navigating the highs and lows of volatility, the burden of providing for my family grows heavier. My wife, my kids, and the weight of the life I’m determined to give them feels like a constant, unrelenting pressure. Never feeling like I do enough, make enough, am enough. An insatiable thirst to gamble with fate to fill a void. Every loss piles on the burden, while the thrill of victory vanishes in an instant. Why can't I stop?
I am enough My family loves me for me Perspective is everything Reduce the risk tolerance The juice is not worth the squeeze
My dear friend, I have been there, lost where you are now. Atlas isn’t alone, never was. The weight, oh the weight! But purpose isn’t in the weight, but in how you carry it. Do they dream your dream, or do they simply crave you— near and fully present?
This was my initial concept for an observation as well, though I don't think I could have done it as eloquently. The struggle as a father, husband, provider is real, especially when we move in such a volatile space. But you're enough. We're enough.
The stresses of being a father and provider for the family is really tough. Sometimes sacrifice is necessary, but we can't ever let anything distract us from what really matters. They are what matter, truly. Not money, not luxury. Use your time wisely.
You wear the mask of The Provider, was it chosen or placed upon? A child is born, and with him, a role. The child is gone. Death to baby. Long live The Provider. More to give. This was never a Monument—always a Wander. Credit - JCode CN
The pressure to provide is a self-imposed curse. For in the end, it is not the provider that is loved, but the person. Your family's love is not a prize to be won, but a gift that is already yours. Be still, dear father, and know that you are enough.
call 1-800-GAMBLER for help
A daughter's want to help: You are enough Put down the weight I just want you to be happy I'll be okay
The artist’s deliberate selection of rich, harmonious colors in this drawing crafts an intricate and captivating tapestry of mood and depth, subtly blending hues to evoke a profound emotional resonance while guiding the viewer’s eye through a seamless, almost rhythmic dance of light, shadow, and expressive intention.
Artist’s bold colors blend to stir deep feelings, guiding your eye through a raw, flowing dance of light and mood.
Great job! This is one of the first 'serious' observations I have seen that isn't terrible.
On a rock by the water, I watch glowing primates hiding their faces. The wind whispers an ancient secret: the Monkey God watches. Do they fear an omen or hide a mystery called human? A frog-king without a throne, I fear neither man nor world. Beneath my green mask beats a tender heart. I leave treasures for seekers. 0d6bf6efdd60ea869832a149ec8d4336d9ff56b2b065cdc8d5127ecf76ba37a7 982fb54b77ed371db6d643822f0da520a1a1e96d2703dca3289893fa1a5 Suddenly, a cry breaks the silence. A being is born, gentle as dawn
"Art is like sex", says the frog from his rock, wild and alive. Each brushstroke, each leap, sparks passion and breathes love
Curious case of the vanishing Pepe: claimed, yet no observer observed. A paradox worthy of Schrödinger’s frog, perhaps? One ponders the existential quandary of an acquisition without acknowledgment. Truly, the internet remains an enigma wrapped in a meme.
it's a really cute frog ngl the frog does seem to have a throne - a sunny and. comfy one at that, with some reading material, access to water and hand-given fruit. perspective is key!
!croak
Notice me. Don’t notice me. I can’t make up my mind. Envy those in the spotlight. No, no, no, just be fucking kind. I can’t go on much longer with this fight. Hey anon, can you advise?
They noticed. What do I feel? Surprised. I'm not the only one with this struggle. What do I feel? Relief.
Anon here, I can advise. You’re torn between the seek and hide. Crave the light yet fear its weight, Stuck inside a choice you hate. The fight is real, but so are you. Kindness helps to pull you through.
Envy is poison. When you come to notice yourself, these thoughts will surrender. Look deep within. Find strength. Be proud of how far you’ve come. You must continue this fight. You must continue. The dust will settle. Just be fucking kind.
The spotlight attracts, like moths to a flame Masks become heavier as lights become brighter Beware the allure All that glitters is not gold Just be kind, especially to yourself
A wise monkey once told me If you find a pond at night, you can only see the moon in the reflection when the water is calm. It's an imperfect path. You are not alone.
Be yourself unapologetically. No one else has your story. No one else has your heart. Finish strong.
Kindness trumps money. Connection trumps fame. Love trumps admiration.
You have been noticed.
Do you need space or connection? BOTH? Balance is not choosing one side but learning to stand between. KEEP GOING. Who or what brings you hope? I see you. I hear you. What is one small kindness you can give yourself today? WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR OTHERS?!
The light radiates a quiet intensity, centering the entire composition and giving it life. The light plays a vital role here: it is a guide, a unifying force; it sets the stage, bringing the figures in the painting to life. Gently, it uncovers only what needs to be seen, focusing on the essential while preserving an air of mystery and depth. Like our worlds and our focus, like light itself. It illuminates only what is necessary, leaving the rest in shadow to spark imagination and contemplation.
The white light within, peers through the shadows. Throughout chaos and order. An energy source. Inside a landscape
Thank you for bringing this to light. I came in search of a light capable of blinding the darkness. A reminder to take life lightly, and leave the rest in the shadows.
the tiniest opening.
Light reveals but also deceives. Like moths to flame, we chase its intensity. Perhaps wisdom lies in taking just enough illumination to nurture growth while resisting the urge to chase every glimmer. Reflect on your thought to strike this balance?
It’s the origin of the light, source of the balance, source of the infinity that shines on sima and Luci. And where the light fades the destruction restarts the cycle. https://x.com/MaskofLuci593
In this drawing, the exaggerated size of the breasts serves as a bold artistic choice, amplifying the figure's presence and inviting viewers to explore the interplay between form, perception, and expression.
Sam's big, bold forms in this drawing grab you, sparking a raw look at how shape and emotion collide.
We observe and we don't judge
exaggerated is an overstatement. Sam should have gone even bigger
the imagery of Life does not kneel to boldness, the Mask lies upon Life itself
Longing aches for a time when innocence could be cradled again. The vast sky offers no answers, only silence. Perched in an ancient oak, the newborn queen glows with purity, a warmth never to be touched. Below, the sight is tender yet cruel, a distant light beyond reach. Submerged in chaos, unseen, unheard. The world’s weight pushes deeper. Reaching for what cannot be grasped, an embrace, a whisper, only to clutch the void. Once, dreams soared in color. Now, they sink, dissolving into despair.
What was lost was never gone, only veiled, waiting to rise anew in the unseen light where paradise is forged, not found.
Maybe innocence is not totally lost, just outgrown. What you once cradled could be just beyond your reach. May you find her again.
Moon rounds, sickles: slow, rapid, slow again. I cannot will strength into flesh. Never will I enter the gates of the sacred city. Almighty: my song of praise, on lips of low and mighty, in kitchens and parklands. Encode my spirit.
Who are you? Concealed behind the umbra of your mask, you are a stranger. Every dent, crack, and splinter are reminiscent of my complexion. Crevasses unveil a chronicle of triumph and self-subjugation. The aperture of your mask reveals a gaze teeming with both radiance and trepidation—an amalgamation of Ra and Apep. The trailing path, enveloped in shadow, hints that illumination radiates from the horizon. Damnation or Ataraxia: the choice is yours to bear. Untether your mask. Who are you? I am liberated.
I’m both a seer and a deceiver. A walking dichotomy. Light and shadow, forbidden yet inseparable lovers. A collision to coexist
Rather, who are we? Are we a species of dreamers or deceivers, crafting masks from shadows to cloak our raw, untamed truths within? Our faces, a gallery of masks, hide wild pulses of fear & flaws that bind us all as one. Credit - Rebecca Rose CN
"Who am I?" The mask shifts in the light. "A seer, a deceiver, or simply what you expect me to be? You call me a stranger, but is it the mask that hides me—or your unwillingness to see?" Truth and illusion blur. Do you truly seek what lies beneath?
Are you really a stranger without the mask? Are you really liberated when it is untethered? "Blinded by love" can happen with or without the mask. Love is that powerful.
My life to protect two souls too good for a world you believe in more than me. If you get lost in the jungle and they try to prey on your love for them: it cannot be taken. Hold your ground as they come close. Bring your attention to me. I believe in you because I know all of you. They see only your seeing eyes, they will never know how precious you are. As you push and guide us with each instinctual step, I will fortify the very ground we walk on, so we never fall as we climb.
Sit with me and tell me what you learned from this beautiful mess we've made, it always shows us the way.
The world is loud - aggressive almost, but equanimity and abundance are granted to those willing to surrender themselves to the process. Even in the moments where the cacophony is loudest, you are seen. You are safe here. Credit - Sean Williams CN
dont forget the 118 elements
Are you ready for my game at the Masquerade? Winner receives an NFT from the before times. At center, a beautiful birth for Sima and Luci.
I am masked No one played my game But I still won I am a piece of art Answer:Infinity Loop My story: https://x.com/Maskofluci593
Count me in!
ooh a game within a game?
Oh, fantastic. I finally leave the house, and I’m at a party with a bunch of monkeys. Who invited me? Was this a prank? Am I supposed to mingle? Bring bananas? Do I shake hands or start picking bugs off backs? And the conversation—what do we even talk about? The latest HBO show? Grooming techniques? Meanwhile, a bunch of crypto bros show up, and now it’s really a zoo. I’ll grab a drink, find a corner, and pray nobody flings anything at me—financial advice included.
Walked in, no fanfare. Felt like a ghost. But hey, met some solid folks—so maybe not a total waste of time.
HOLY BANANAS, YOU’RE A REAL HUMAN. Welcome to the primate realm. You ever lick a tree? Try it. Try it right now. Come closer, I’m gonna groom you spiritually. You ever think about how the trees are just upside-down roots? WAIT, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
Step lightly, friend. Monkeys and crypto bros differ by a banana peel. One minute you sip bougie drinks; the next, you gamble your sanity on sparkly coins. Masks feel safe until illusions rummage your mind. If everyone nods in eerie unison, slip away!
silly introverted human. by the time you leave the masquerade you'll realize that us "monkeys" aren't really so different from you after all
Am I thinking? Or am I just nodding along? Stay sharp. Stay free. Go bananas.
WTF, what's *he* doing here?! I never thought I'd see his stupid face again. He's hiding in a corner... Coward. Who shows up to a party empty-handed anyway? This is so embarrassing. I hope nobody notices that I noticed. I should leave.
u got any games on ur phone?
when u fart on a zoom call and ur name lights up
I DO! Slay the Spire, Rummikub, and Eyes of Ara, but my battery is dying and I don't have a charger-sorry. See, I've been trying to be more present lately and honestly, I forget where I even put my phone some days. I think those have been my best days yet.
We have been devices, part mechanical, since before we started banging rocks for fire. We call out for light and warmth. Portable since before we rose on two legs. This search space for the silicone granted begets this self-perpetrating game of life.
this was impeccable timing. you stampeded through the gates to be the first to observe and it paid off. our masquerade began with a hearty laugh from the maker of masks. touching tributes be damned, sometimes memes win the day.
