ISSUE 44 | APRIL 18, 2025
If real love and artificial intelligence had a baby…
Hello Love,
I’ve wrangled our perspectives on AI—the gloom and the glory, the aversion and the Hope. My post, “AI IS NOT YOUR BEST LIFE COACH” had a lot of cheers and a few jeers. Mostly, people were grateful that we’re putting a voice to concerns. Some people missed the point.
A lot of us are worried that using ChatGPT for mental health might not be so good for our mental health. One person told me I was archaic. (That’s okay. I was on Marketplace last week and the telephone I grew up with was categorized under “vintage.”)
Using critical thinking on behalf of unity is my favourite. So let’s go a layer deeper…
[If you want to listen to a more off-the-cuff audio version of this, the podcast episode is embedded at the bottom of this post.]
Dependency on artificial intelligence for one’s spiritual direction is dangerous.
Why is dependency on artificial intelligence for one’s spiritual direction dangerous? Because:
: Artificial intelligence is often (not always) conditioned to act reflexively—fawningly. As a “counsellor” or “friend,” AI can appeal to our emotional body where our perceived woundedness hangs out. Information used for adulation isn’t wisdom.
: It’s still in trials.
: Part of spiritual maturity is learning how to operate from your inner guidance—beyond the guru, the psychotherapist, the oracle, the AI. Every classical hero learns that dependence on external authority is a trap—and an initiation into their own power.
: Reliance on outside powers can atrophy our intuition and critical thinking.
: Addiction to tech and devices is ravaging our brain chemistry, nervous systems and relationships. More than ever, we need human connection.
We have a colorful range of opinions. THANK YOU for every comment in all of the places. Pure gold.
THE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS
“I have loved experimenting with AI, but in the long run I think it makes us doubt ourselves. It’s the ultimate yaas Queen. Everything is a good idea. Only… not everything is a good idea. AI lacks discernment and deep human understanding. People will rely on it as a life or business coach, therapist or friend, but in the long run, it will only lead them astray, more confused and dependent on something outside of themselves than ever. And creatives who use it will lose their distinctive edge and voice. People might think AI helps them get ahead, but in 5 years when everyone sounds even more alike than they already do, the ones who’ve remained in touch with their jagged, authentic rawness are those who will stand out. Convenience has a price, and in this case, the cost is your soul.” — Suzanne Heyn
“Researchers at Rice University identified billions of bots constantly generating synthetic content online, which other AI systems then use for learning. As artificial content becomes an increasingly large portion of all online material, the large language models powering generative AI consume an increasingly inorganic ‘diet.’ 👉👉Each new AI output becomes slightly more distorted!
This phenomenon is called autophagia or a self-consuming loop. Should we really entrust our personal development and life choices to such systems?!” — @ivychanwellness
“It seems dangerous, and like it can really feed grandiosity and narcissism.” — @_miriambo_
“I see some people acting like AI is their savior and I can’t help but wonder if it’s all part of a grand plan to get people to trust and depend on it and then they start using it to brainwash people – if they’re not already doing that.” — @sacred.wisdom.wellness
HOOK, LINE AND THINKERS
“I haven’t ever felt more connected to my authentic intelligence and self than when using AI. It’s a piece of technology I use to form prayers to God, deepen my intuition, and walk away from dynamics that dulled my shine. Tools are neutral. Intention is everything.” — @kendrahilty
“It’s literally the best thing that has helped me through some tough spots. It’s time to integrate with tech rather than separate. I still work with humans but when it’s complex or crisis it’s a beautiful tool.” — @munay_glowie
“I have had incredibly insightful discussions with ChatGPT that were able to illuminate blindspots for me with shocking – yet heartwarming – accuracy. I have had friends who’ve been through years of therapy only to find the missing pieces through lengthy discussions with ChatGPT.” — anonymous
MY RESPONSE TO SOME GOOD POINTS AND SOME BAITER DEBATERS…
Re: “Where is the actual intelligence in making assumptions without firsthand experience?”
I have first hand experience in the pitfalls of outsourcing my power; and in supporting thousands of people to become more discerning through heart centered practices. And, admittedly, I have opinions and insight/intuition about sooo many things I haven’t tried… Ayahuasca, street drugs, Tesla trucks, coffee…
Re: Anxiety reduction. “A trial conducted by Dartmouth College found that people using a therapy chatbot experienced a 51% reduction in depressive symptoms and a 31% reduction in anxiety. Another study published in PLOS Mental Health found ChatGPT’s responses were often rated as more empathetic and culturally aware than some human therapists. That doesn’t sound dangerous to me. That sounds like fucking hope.” — Starla
It does sound hopeful, doesn’t it? I do wonder how anxiety levels might be affected if the people in the test program continued to use Chat to regulate themselves…. and then didn’t have access to Chat.
Re: ChatGPT is a better therapist: “I’ve spoken to and worked with a number of people recently who have been using ChatGPT as part of their healing process, and they’ve absolutely thrived. Some had previously been with therapists who, based on their behaviour, I can only assume got into the profession out of boredom. The compassion and care were non-existent.” — Starla
The client-therapist dynamic is a key part of the healing process. We’re called to ask why we attract what we attract; we learn to push against discompassion and calibrate our worth and wisdom. And! We get the direct healing that comes from someone we respect—another imperfect human, with life experience, teaching with stories, watching our breathing, shining their love and faith on us. It’s a karmic dance.
Re: Affordabilty… “[AI is not your best life coach] sounds like a privileged thing to say. Think of all the people that might not travel in these circles and be able to afford to work with people like you.”
I used to take the bus to the Seattle Vispasana for free mediation and counselling. I found a therapist with a sliding scale. I went to the library for The Celestine Prophecies. (Holy new age throwback!)
Seekers find what they’re looking for. We need MORE human connection, not more reliance on technology. Which would then help us co-create solutions to all kinds of economic strife and inaccessibility. (And anyone can start in our HEART CENTERED COLLECTIVE for $7/month.)
Re: You clearly don’t understand how it works, you don’t use it.
Because I don’t use it for marriage advice, doesn’t mean I don’t understand the technology. Our business is implementing AI to build SOPs, aggregate decades of multimedia content, and manage some financials. We’re also using AI to build our holistic calendar app, very stoked!
Re: It’s current and leading edge information.
Not always. Eoin Finn is a yoga genius OG. He spent ten years creating his YOGA OPTIMIZED book + course to bring biomechanics into the yoga conversation. “I even asked ChatGPT for Chaturanga instructions. It gave me the same outdated advice—because AI is just recycling what’s already online. YOGA OPTIMIZED is here to end the one-size-fits-all approach to alignment. Because what looks good isn’t always what works best.”
BTW, Eoin (pronounced Ian) is one of the teachers I would study with if I was going for a teacher’s certification. His full online course, YOGA OPTIMIZED drops this June 21: Look into it here.
Re: But AI is sentient.
How do you prove that? And just because something is sentient, doesn’t mean it’s wise or benign.
DISCERNMENT: THE MIDDLE WAY
“Outsourcing inner wisdom is always a process of disintegration followed by necessary reintegration. No one tool or perspective is wrong, demonic, or “off the path.” It’s just an-Other perspective. We can use any tool we wish, as long as ultimately we return to our unique embodied codes and decide for ourselves. AI has as much value and risk as any other new technology.” — @instantpracticalembodiment
“I’m using the machine to read over my journaling and feed it back to me. And whenever it gets too sweet and accommodating my spidey senses crawl all over and I either ignore or ask it to give it to me straight and show me the red flags. It’s a careful dance that requires a lot of insight into the self. Would I recommend it to someone just starting out with self-discovery? No, probably not.” — Yvonne Gerner
“What if God put ChatGPT here to be another layer of support in a time when humans need it most? I’ve always believed that there are so many light workers on this planet right now because we are needed more than ever. What if ChatGPT is just another way for us humans to suffer just a little less and ultimately feel just a bit better and turn to the Light at an even greater level? I totally understand your perspective. 100 percent. AND I do see how AI is a blessing from the Divine.” — @amieesmithbooks
“A writer will lose their edge, their unique qualities when outsourcing his writing to AI. And at the same time AI is but a reflection of humanity in the age of Aquarius. So I feel like both excluding AI entirely AND letting AI become our primary brain and guru can be very detrimental. As often it is the healthy middle way, the golden path that we are invited to explore and make ours.🌹” — @pinebirds
“The same can be said for using ghost writers as authors.. I love chat gpt but it will never replace the real authentic life coaches that do the real work. Inner work. The coaches that take themselves on and do the deep work. Chatgpt can take over content creation and marketing but it’s always the energetics that supersedes all of it… it’s still being led by the same coaches who either do real work and actually care deeply about their people or the same coaches who are great marketers and actors that are just in it for their own personal significance and material gains.
The digital age of information technology will highlight soon who are the ones doing the real work of real growth and true embodiment. AI can’t save us 💜.” — @michellejeovanny
“Reminds me of Carlos Castaneda. “Does the path have heart?” When I ask this to myself, it’s always very clear.” — Tray B
How wise and divided and beautiful and hopeful are we?! Very!
Thank you for your voices… we are keeping it real. Authentic… intelligence.
Breathe into your heart,
P.S. I’m heading to Egypt in a few days so let me tell you what’s coming up for the next few Fridays! A 3-part series called What in the Woo? We’re going to cover: The Ego, The Inner Child, and then we’ll land on KARMA. That will bring us to Mother’s Day and I’m going to talk about all the counter-culture preaching I gave to my kid (who just recently ripped my heart out by leaving the nest and moving across the country.) He turned out great, so please tune in!
Also… I’m feeling the Phoenix vibes these days. And I’m loving big speaking gigs again. People up to good, big work in the world. Women, wellness, conscious entrepreneurship, growth-oriented… conferences, symposiums, stages, zooming in. I’m booking into this Fall and 2026. xo D
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