I connect with so much of this! Last week I participated in a meditation with Ella Rozette, a lovely person also elevating the Divine Feminine, and she referred to our distracting thoughts as stories, inviting us to return to the contemplative practice of centering prayer. I was protective of the word stories in this context, because I also view them as powerful tools for healing and renewal. But I also understood the need to be aware of our stories, to step back from them, so that they are less “beliefs” and more tools. At a certain level, having faith in a story may be the element that gives it its power, but we have to be willing to let it go if necessary. I have been letting go of so many of the stories of my early faith journey, and adding layers and layers of new ones. Including one that resonates deeply with the AI story you shared. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kim, thanks for being here. I love Centering Prayer too, but have not yet had the pleasure of reading Cynthia Bourgeault’s work. I had quite a bit of resistance to the patriarchal language when (in interfaith seminary) I first read Father Thomas Keating’s Open Mind Open Heart. But I was eventually happy to learn how Centering Prayer and meditation are interconnected♥️🙏🏼🕊
Hi Martha, thanks for reading and responding. I can’t help but see AI as a tool that’s here to stay. Maybe like when the internet first appeared, or the transition from typewriters to word processors. For me, it also has the feel of a fun toy to play with😁♥️🙏🏼🕊
I'm a fan of K. M. Weiland for a lot of different reasons, and I appreciate what she has to say about AI -- thank you for including it in your essay: "One of my greatest concerns about AI—which is spoken about regrettably seldom—is its tremendous resource consumption. The energy and computational costs of AI systems, especially during training, is staggering." (K M Weiland)
When some new computerized, digital thing happens do we over-react, rush to it, and say how wonderful it can be for us? Social media started out as a good way to stay in touch with family and friends before it grew into a monetized pile of misinformation and trolling that contributes little to our goodness or thought for goodness.
Your piece is timely and thought provoking -- do we lose a part of our humanity, when we give so much of our attention to the digital world? That's practically a rhetorical question.
I have used AI to generate images, do research and clean up my resume, and I don't like the idea that it's such a resource suck. Will I stop using it . . . I might. It's hard to put the sheep mentality on the back burner and life life fully in one's own body and heart when so many gadget and things dance in front of our face claiming to make our life easier and better.
Thanks for a very provocative piece, Camilla. I'll be thinking about this for a while.
Hi Stephanie, thank you for reading and responding. I love how our writing brightens the connection between us - and part of this is thanks to this platform, Substack.
I'm not sure if you know this about me, but I love a good debate - not to "win" or be "right" but to dig deeper into what is the truth of a subject, and maybe shed some more light on it... to play in the sandbox of evolving our consciousness😁
"Lots of food for thought in this article by William Finnegan who only started his Substack 12 days ago and already has 912 subscribers.
May the 3 founders of Substack—Chris Best, Hamish McKenzie, and Jairaj Sethi—stay pure of heart and NOT get corrupted by GREED♥️🙏🕊️
Our Buddhist monk friends across the road here continually talk about the 3 powerful forces that create suffering: greed, hatred, and delusion."
So I wonder if we would say that at this point in time Substack is at a beneficial stage - similar to how you write above that social media used to be, "Social media started out as a good way to stay in touch with family and friends before it grew into a monetized pile of misinformation and trolling that contributes little to our goodness or thought for goodness."
But will Substack stay uncorrupted by greed, hatred, or delusion? Or is it really just a matter of time until the founders will want to sell their company?
Perhaps again awareness is key? Perhaps is this new era, we simply have to be present to what is - "it's like this" - and respond to how it is Now, recognizing / being aware of the corrupting forces that exist in the world, in addition to the forces for good?
Of course in our human experience we don't have all the answers, but I do love exploring the questions😁 Thanks for playing in the sandbox with me🥰✨🌟💖🙏🕊️
p.s. I'd love to hear about the reasons you're a fan of K.M Weiland - I LOVE her book, 'Archetypal Character Arcs'.
I also love the non-gender spin on Weiland's archetypal journeys, that Hazel Gale offers in her Substack, Betwixt.
Wow what a great story AI created. I was then curious so I went to AI and asked your question word for word. Fascinating to see what came out! A story of an old culture name Harmonia and a young child named Lira.
The Great Mother said to her, "Child, the world has forgotten its balance. The masculine energies have ruled unchecked, but the time for the Rising is upon us. The world needs your wisdom, your compassion, your creativity. You are the bridge between the past and the future. You must awaken what has been slumbering within."
It went on...And so, Lira, and those like her, became the torchbearers of this new age. They knew that the Divine Feminine had always been with them. It had simply waited for the right time to rise again.
Wow, Julie! That is fascinating. I don't have any idea about how AI works, but it makes me wonder about how it gets its training! It's kind of incredible, and definitely blows my mind. Thanks for being here and for experimenting too❤️🙏🕊️
I didn't realize the environmental impact of AI until my daughter, an environmental studies major, talked over it with me months ago. a huge drain on our world... so interesting as a tool yet another hurdle for us to be aware of as our world goes deeper into its use. balancing the good and challenging parts of something new.
"so interesting as a tool yet another hurdle for us to be aware of as our world goes deeper into its use. balancing the good and challenging parts of something new."
Yes, exactly Barb! Thanks so much for reading and responding♥️🙏🕊️
I enjoy your (and I mean this in a good way) more meandering pieces, Camilla. I find the way connect one idea to the next very refreshing — this piece seemed to illuminate that especially well.
Thanks both for being here and for your reflections on craft Michael😁 I'm also happy to hear other people's opinions about the AI story. It's kind of blowing my mind how you can use ChatGPT as a tool with writing - if you type in "Provide synopsis for: ..." or "What are the craft elements in: ..." it gives you useful feedback!
This morning though, I woke up with this sense about the need to be cautious. So many stories are out there, in movies especially, about the arrogance of our species and mankind's capacity for destruction and annihilation - I'm thinking Oppenheimer, war movies, even movies like Jurassic Park. The shadow side of mankind.
I'm aware of the reluctance in my character to dwell on the dark side, but I think it still important to recognize the shadow.
Wow - I even just now typed into ChatGPT, "What's the shadow side of AI" and I got a ton! One of which is similar to the rhetorical question that Stephanie Raffelock raises above - "do we lose a part of our humanity, when we give so much of our attention to the digital world?"
This was part of ChatGPT's response:
"Dehumanization & Disconnection.
AI can erode human relationships, empathy, and authentic connection by replacing human interactions with algorithms, chatbots, and machine-driven decision-making. As we rely more on AI, there’s a risk of losing the richness of human intuition, presence, and emotional depth."
So much to ponder! But for now I need to go outside and shovel snow. And we're supposed to get another 11" soon. Thanks again for playing in the digital realm of Substack and connecting through our writing, Michael❤️🙏🕊️
p.s. this one's a doozy too: "2. Bias & Control
AI systems inherit biases from the data they are trained on, often reinforcing systemic inequalities. Those in power—corporations, governments, or even an elite group of programmers—can manipulate AI to subtly control narratives, limit access to knowledge, or shape society in ways that serve their interests rather than the collective good."
and a 2nd p.s. worth pondering😁
"7. Disconnection from the Sacred
From a spiritual perspective, AI represents a manifestation of pure intellect, logic, and masculine energy—without the balancing force of the Divine Feminine: intuition, embodiment, and reverence for mystery. If society over-identifies with AI as an ultimate source of knowledge and problem-solving, we may sever ourselves further from nature, soul, and the wisdom of the unseen realms.
The question is: how do we engage with AI consciously, ensuring it serves humanity rather than diminishes it? What do you think—can AI be guided toward a more balanced, holistic role in our evolution?"
I don’t even know where to begin. So I’ll just say this — because I did a philosophy degree a few years back, I spent a lot of time (back then) thinking about AI and the many conundrums your raised. And eventually, I reached a point where I just sort of decided for myself that, as least as possible (without hamstringing myself) I don’t really want to use it. Because in essence, I feel it’s coming in either way, and so, at least for now, while it’s not fully ‘here’ — I’m just gonna enjoy my human existence as much as possible and shovel snow so to speak and write about the funny things that happen in the process.
It is a bit of a ‘head in the sand’ approach, I’ll admit, but after all my thinking about it, that’s where I landed. :)
yeah, you can tell where I've been spending my 'thinking energy'😁 and I completely respect where you're landing too. Fascinating times we're living in!
Yes, it's really blowing my mind what a powerful tool AI can be! I'm very curious to see how the whole realm of AI and writing will unfold... I have a sense that it may change how writers write, and in turn, I wonder if/how it may change Substack...
Yes re everything - my husband has been playing with it testing how it writes computer programs. I also have a friend who is a therapist who said that some therapists will type in, "What is a good program to treat this form of anxiety..."
You gave me a chuckle me with, "I wonder if it will create its own guard rails"😆
And yes, time as always will tell. And in the meantime, I was also fascinated by typing into ChatGPT: "What's the shadow side of AI" - some of the answers I shared in the comments with Michael.
I connect with so much of this! Last week I participated in a meditation with Ella Rozette, a lovely person also elevating the Divine Feminine, and she referred to our distracting thoughts as stories, inviting us to return to the contemplative practice of centering prayer. I was protective of the word stories in this context, because I also view them as powerful tools for healing and renewal. But I also understood the need to be aware of our stories, to step back from them, so that they are less “beliefs” and more tools. At a certain level, having faith in a story may be the element that gives it its power, but we have to be willing to let it go if necessary. I have been letting go of so many of the stories of my early faith journey, and adding layers and layers of new ones. Including one that resonates deeply with the AI story you shared. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kim, thanks for being here. I love Centering Prayer too, but have not yet had the pleasure of reading Cynthia Bourgeault’s work. I had quite a bit of resistance to the patriarchal language when (in interfaith seminary) I first read Father Thomas Keating’s Open Mind Open Heart. But I was eventually happy to learn how Centering Prayer and meditation are interconnected♥️🙏🏼🕊
I am impressed too. I think of AI as plagiarism but it sure was pretty much on the money!
Hi Martha, thanks for reading and responding. I can’t help but see AI as a tool that’s here to stay. Maybe like when the internet first appeared, or the transition from typewriters to word processors. For me, it also has the feel of a fun toy to play with😁♥️🙏🏼🕊
I need to try it!
I'm a fan of K. M. Weiland for a lot of different reasons, and I appreciate what she has to say about AI -- thank you for including it in your essay: "One of my greatest concerns about AI—which is spoken about regrettably seldom—is its tremendous resource consumption. The energy and computational costs of AI systems, especially during training, is staggering." (K M Weiland)
When some new computerized, digital thing happens do we over-react, rush to it, and say how wonderful it can be for us? Social media started out as a good way to stay in touch with family and friends before it grew into a monetized pile of misinformation and trolling that contributes little to our goodness or thought for goodness.
Your piece is timely and thought provoking -- do we lose a part of our humanity, when we give so much of our attention to the digital world? That's practically a rhetorical question.
I have used AI to generate images, do research and clean up my resume, and I don't like the idea that it's such a resource suck. Will I stop using it . . . I might. It's hard to put the sheep mentality on the back burner and life life fully in one's own body and heart when so many gadget and things dance in front of our face claiming to make our life easier and better.
Thanks for a very provocative piece, Camilla. I'll be thinking about this for a while.
Hi Stephanie, thank you for reading and responding. I love how our writing brightens the connection between us - and part of this is thanks to this platform, Substack.
I'm not sure if you know this about me, but I love a good debate - not to "win" or be "right" but to dig deeper into what is the truth of a subject, and maybe shed some more light on it... to play in the sandbox of evolving our consciousness😁
For example, I recently read this article, "Who Owns Substack?" https://longmemo.substack.com/p/who-owns-substack
and I wrote in a Feb 7th Note:
"Lots of food for thought in this article by William Finnegan who only started his Substack 12 days ago and already has 912 subscribers.
May the 3 founders of Substack—Chris Best, Hamish McKenzie, and Jairaj Sethi—stay pure of heart and NOT get corrupted by GREED♥️🙏🕊️
Our Buddhist monk friends across the road here continually talk about the 3 powerful forces that create suffering: greed, hatred, and delusion."
So I wonder if we would say that at this point in time Substack is at a beneficial stage - similar to how you write above that social media used to be, "Social media started out as a good way to stay in touch with family and friends before it grew into a monetized pile of misinformation and trolling that contributes little to our goodness or thought for goodness."
But will Substack stay uncorrupted by greed, hatred, or delusion? Or is it really just a matter of time until the founders will want to sell their company?
Perhaps again awareness is key? Perhaps is this new era, we simply have to be present to what is - "it's like this" - and respond to how it is Now, recognizing / being aware of the corrupting forces that exist in the world, in addition to the forces for good?
Of course in our human experience we don't have all the answers, but I do love exploring the questions😁 Thanks for playing in the sandbox with me🥰✨🌟💖🙏🕊️
p.s. I'd love to hear about the reasons you're a fan of K.M Weiland - I LOVE her book, 'Archetypal Character Arcs'.
I also love the non-gender spin on Weiland's archetypal journeys, that Hazel Gale offers in her Substack, Betwixt.
Wow what a great story AI created. I was then curious so I went to AI and asked your question word for word. Fascinating to see what came out! A story of an old culture name Harmonia and a young child named Lira.
The Great Mother said to her, "Child, the world has forgotten its balance. The masculine energies have ruled unchecked, but the time for the Rising is upon us. The world needs your wisdom, your compassion, your creativity. You are the bridge between the past and the future. You must awaken what has been slumbering within."
It went on...And so, Lira, and those like her, became the torchbearers of this new age. They knew that the Divine Feminine had always been with them. It had simply waited for the right time to rise again.
Sounds like our times!
Wow, Julie! That is fascinating. I don't have any idea about how AI works, but it makes me wonder about how it gets its training! It's kind of incredible, and definitely blows my mind. Thanks for being here and for experimenting too❤️🙏🕊️
I didn't realize the environmental impact of AI until my daughter, an environmental studies major, talked over it with me months ago. a huge drain on our world... so interesting as a tool yet another hurdle for us to be aware of as our world goes deeper into its use. balancing the good and challenging parts of something new.
"so interesting as a tool yet another hurdle for us to be aware of as our world goes deeper into its use. balancing the good and challenging parts of something new."
Yes, exactly Barb! Thanks so much for reading and responding♥️🙏🕊️
cabin pic is glorious!
Thank you!🥰✨🌟💖🙏🕊️
I enjoy your (and I mean this in a good way) more meandering pieces, Camilla. I find the way connect one idea to the next very refreshing — this piece seemed to illuminate that especially well.
Also, the chatGPT story was eerily good! :)
Thanks both for being here and for your reflections on craft Michael😁 I'm also happy to hear other people's opinions about the AI story. It's kind of blowing my mind how you can use ChatGPT as a tool with writing - if you type in "Provide synopsis for: ..." or "What are the craft elements in: ..." it gives you useful feedback!
This morning though, I woke up with this sense about the need to be cautious. So many stories are out there, in movies especially, about the arrogance of our species and mankind's capacity for destruction and annihilation - I'm thinking Oppenheimer, war movies, even movies like Jurassic Park. The shadow side of mankind.
I'm aware of the reluctance in my character to dwell on the dark side, but I think it still important to recognize the shadow.
Wow - I even just now typed into ChatGPT, "What's the shadow side of AI" and I got a ton! One of which is similar to the rhetorical question that Stephanie Raffelock raises above - "do we lose a part of our humanity, when we give so much of our attention to the digital world?"
This was part of ChatGPT's response:
"Dehumanization & Disconnection.
AI can erode human relationships, empathy, and authentic connection by replacing human interactions with algorithms, chatbots, and machine-driven decision-making. As we rely more on AI, there’s a risk of losing the richness of human intuition, presence, and emotional depth."
So much to ponder! But for now I need to go outside and shovel snow. And we're supposed to get another 11" soon. Thanks again for playing in the digital realm of Substack and connecting through our writing, Michael❤️🙏🕊️
p.s. this one's a doozy too: "2. Bias & Control
AI systems inherit biases from the data they are trained on, often reinforcing systemic inequalities. Those in power—corporations, governments, or even an elite group of programmers—can manipulate AI to subtly control narratives, limit access to knowledge, or shape society in ways that serve their interests rather than the collective good."
and a 2nd p.s. worth pondering😁
"7. Disconnection from the Sacred
From a spiritual perspective, AI represents a manifestation of pure intellect, logic, and masculine energy—without the balancing force of the Divine Feminine: intuition, embodiment, and reverence for mystery. If society over-identifies with AI as an ultimate source of knowledge and problem-solving, we may sever ourselves further from nature, soul, and the wisdom of the unseen realms.
The question is: how do we engage with AI consciously, ensuring it serves humanity rather than diminishes it? What do you think—can AI be guided toward a more balanced, holistic role in our evolution?"
Wow, Camilla! What a thorough response!
I don’t even know where to begin. So I’ll just say this — because I did a philosophy degree a few years back, I spent a lot of time (back then) thinking about AI and the many conundrums your raised. And eventually, I reached a point where I just sort of decided for myself that, as least as possible (without hamstringing myself) I don’t really want to use it. Because in essence, I feel it’s coming in either way, and so, at least for now, while it’s not fully ‘here’ — I’m just gonna enjoy my human existence as much as possible and shovel snow so to speak and write about the funny things that happen in the process.
It is a bit of a ‘head in the sand’ approach, I’ll admit, but after all my thinking about it, that’s where I landed. :)
yeah, you can tell where I've been spending my 'thinking energy'😁 and I completely respect where you're landing too. Fascinating times we're living in!
Truly fascinating! It’s very interesting to see where we will be in regards to AI in like five years.
Beautiful.
Thanks for being here Jeanine❤️🙏🕊️
This part I really liked - from AI, right? "A force long suppressed but never extinguished was rising—the Divine Feminine."
Yes, it's really blowing my mind what a powerful tool AI can be! I'm very curious to see how the whole realm of AI and writing will unfold... I have a sense that it may change how writers write, and in turn, I wonder if/how it may change Substack...
Or, everything? I wonder if it will create its own guard rails (just being silly here). Time as always will tell.
Yes re everything - my husband has been playing with it testing how it writes computer programs. I also have a friend who is a therapist who said that some therapists will type in, "What is a good program to treat this form of anxiety..."
You gave me a chuckle me with, "I wonder if it will create its own guard rails"😆
And yes, time as always will tell. And in the meantime, I was also fascinated by typing into ChatGPT: "What's the shadow side of AI" - some of the answers I shared in the comments with Michael.
Will check them out!