The simulation is responsive to ritual behaviors
As any good programmer knows, user interfaces are presented only to objects that need to use them to perform their role within the program.
The simulation we are in has an interface that connects the phantom-like simulation to the base reality. Across human history (ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, ancient Iran) it has been observed that rituals timed to align with the sun's solar cycle are especially effective:
- dawn
- afternoon (half an hour after midday)
- evening (at sunset)
In ancient Egypt, the burning of incense and wearing white linen were important aspects of aligning the matter-body with the base reality, and protecting against any interference patterns.
Access to the base reality has benefits that include higher levels of intuition (more useful ideas) as well as enhancements to the simulation-body (increased health, mental clarity, etc).
Access points to the base reality are actively curtailed, however. The infrastructure of curtailment is broad and deep, and the actors are not always aligned, but the essential similarity is a desire to limit who can reach the base reality individually. This can be accomplished from everything including literal destruction (Pharaoh Akhenaten) to mockery and subtle encapsulation of certain worldviews among the sim-city body.
Especially important is keeping the class who (despite heterogeneity in human racial terms) are especially able to contact the base reality (intuitive, right-brain types) unaware and lulled, in the dark.
Looking up ancient traditions (history and literature podcast has some good episodes on ancient Egypt) can be a helpful tool to establish independence and resist encapsulation in worldviews that serve a particular goal in the simulation.