If someone tells you “We are stardust”

Tell them “That’s moonshine”

The words of this piece are meant as a humorous corrective to the usual implication of the phrase “We are stardust”.

Although the phrase “We are stardust” is actually true, in that most of the elements that compose our bodies were created in nuclear reactions inside stars, it is often given a metaphysical spin that implies that we as humans are special beings imbued with some form of cosmic consciousness or special metaphysical connection to the universe.

Well, we do have a connection to the universe in that we are part of it. But then again, everything else is part of the universe too. That’s the definition of what the universe is. It’s everything.

So remember, it’s not just us who are made of stardust: that nasty deposit that next door’s dog made outside your house is made of stardust too.