Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

This week, we're featuring a multi-faceted person who recently wrote in one of the groups on Gaia: “Funny how I get to express different sides of myself in the different pods.”

She's been on Gaia since it was Zaadz, and has been recently sharing suggestions about the community and how it can become more vibrant.

So we've  invited her here, and are throwing the floor open for questions. Ask away…if you can get a word in-between my questions!

And of course, as we do for each featured member, do take a look at her profile page or around Gaia and tell us where you have encountered her!

So: featuring  Multi-faceted yvette Soler ~ Teacher - Healer - Speaker, World Traveler.

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Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Psst! Everyone! I have discovered that it is Yvette's birthday today May 11th. She has also posted a special request on her blog that will make her the happiest girl in town - “If you want to give me a present, go to  http://www.inspirationsfrombinah.com
and either ask a question or make a donation.”

Yvette, what has inspired you to set up Inspirations From Binah?

And a very happy birthday! May you be the happiest girl in town.

warm regards, Terrill

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Happy birthday Yvette….and may you inspire us with your words…love  Ralph

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Happy Birthday Yvette!!  What a beautiful way to start out celebrating our feature player.  I look forward to being a part of gaining insight and wisdom.  I loved the vulnerability you brought to Diving Deeper, knowing you touched on something we all feel with writing each other rather than in person.  

I really want to validate you for bringing Gaia together and helping more people get involved, not only with sharing this as a social networking by trailblazing on tying in your other ventures.  This is what we should be doing here as its a very important part of our survival.  

I first met you on The Power of Light  and that sparked requesting friendship and now this.  What a great way to meet!  I am posting a vibrant picture of you from Infinite Connections for others to see … beautiful girl … beautiful energy!!!

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Wonderful picture Yvette - Happy Birthday to you - may your year be full of joy, laughter and infinite light and love
Many blessings on your life journey
Tai

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Sneaky, sneaky posting on my birthday Meenakshi right after I shut down my computer for the night.  ;)

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.  This last week on Gaia has been an exciting one!  It feels like everyone is awake after a long, lazy winter.  I love the energy that this time of year brings.  What a great time to have a birthday!!!

Terrill asked about Inspirations from Binah.  This project is at the very core of who I am.  It is a major part of my life purpose - to help others with practical advice/tools so that they can discover their inner godhod.  I am excited to announce that Inspriations from Binah will now be featured monthly in Voyager Growth e-magazine put out by the London College of Spirituality.  I mention this because in about two weeks the next issue will come out that will feature an article that gives the whole history of where my inspiration for the column came from.  To give you a hint, it was handed to me by a Pegasus on the Astral Plane…  I'll send a link to the full article when it comes out or you can subscribe to it yourself here.

My life is an open book so feel free to ask anything.  Part of who I am involves being comfortable enough with all that I do that I don't mind sharing it.  I think of it as an internal compass.  If I don't want to talk about it publicly, then I probably shouldn't be doing it.  Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but in general, it works pretty well.

Blessings

-yvette

Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://www.inspirationsfrombinah.com

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Can you tell us how you started “on the path” as there are many people pulled towards spiritual growth, and they're just not sure just where to start…

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

I have just met you, happy birthday!

love

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

I to have just met you.  You appear to lead quite the busy, and most charismatic life style. 
Blessings to you sweet thing, and a most happy, happy Birthday to you.

“V” and Love,
Rita

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Taikunping, that's a fantastic question.  Starting my path…  let's see…

I have always been interested in spirituality and the occult.  My mother was very open when I was a child.  She worked in different religious schools and studied metaphysics for many years.  She never taught us nor did we really talk about it, but it was around.  I knew she was a medium and I knew I was empathic, but neither of us really developed them.

By high school, I was interested in witchcraft and reading about all kinds of different things.  I can't really say that I learned much other than what I would consider to be the most important lesson of my life: to be open.  No true calling ever stuck so I went on dabbling.  Eventually, I moved far away from my family and left behind my spiritual lineage.

In that time, my mother found religion.  She needed something with more structure and found that in the Christian church.  My oldest brother used religion as a way to not deal with his problems - most often extreme denominations.  My other brother is a staunch atheist.  I just accepted that there was a higher power, but didn't really follow anything specific.

Then about 4 years ago I met this amazing community of hippie kids.  They blew me away.  They were living a life that I had only dreamed of, filled with music, spirituality, love and a genuine belief that the world was united through energy.  I had spent the previous 10 years focusing on my more practical/technical side and had just begun to re-explore my spiritual/artistic side.  I left behind the life I was living and joined this misfit community.  I taught them how they could be spiritual and practical at the same time and they taught me that you have nothing to fear but fear itself.  Parts of me long since dormant started to wake up and once I got my DNA Activation my awakening kicked into gear.  I was constantly surrounded by painters, musicians, dancers… and I was able to use my artistic and technical background (I have a degree in music engineering and electrical engineering) to create new avenues for them to express themselves.  The merging my my worlds had begun.

I started formally studying again with two mystery schools and a myriad of other sources.  Formal training in Kabbalah allows me to combine everything together to create my own personal path.

It was through all this that I discovered my true calling, “to make the dreams of others come true”.  I am a bridge.  I am here to show disparate groups that there are points of intersection and ways to work together.  I show people how to use the tools of this world, the beautiful kingdom of Malkuth we live in, to manifest.

I should probably stop there since I could easily branch off into a million different topics from here.  Needless to say, I found my calling.  I've had my hiccups, but I've been actively following my own dreams for the last four+ years.  I had many internal hurdles to jump and daemons to battle, but each day I thank the Universe for all that I have.  What an amazing life I lead!!


-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://www.inspirationsfrombinah.com

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

sounds glorious! hope you enjoyed a wonderful birthday. it's good to get to know you better,

Love,

Nicole

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

I see just how busy your are from reading your “inspirations from Binah,”site.  Your offerings to the world are my Deep Bows to you.

“V”

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Thank you so much for your answer yvette, can't wait to hear more on your experiences on your journey …..bridges offer wonderful ways to cross over and continue safely on our earth journeys…

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Good morning, Yvette- I know that for you it's probably mid-day already. I have to thank Terrill for pointing out your birthday to us! I kept feeling that 'pull' to feature you yesterday, and now I know why!

I'm enjoying this remarkable point of intersection going on right here, as Gaians who've been here together, doing remarkable work, get to know you and you them. There are many potential friendships right here!

I enjoyed getting to know about your language skills and plans as you shared them in Mikey's Multilingual group.

Here I jump in with a question. You mentioned :“Funny how I get to express different sides of myself in the different pods. ”
Could you elaborate on this thread: What do your different pods/groups mean to you?
[We like our featured members to leave footprints all over our group, and read other Gaians' responses! This way, this thread won't become too long and slow loading, and I'll link your reply here]

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Happy Birthday and happily ever after.  You are a gift to mankind.  It's terrific that you are living your dream.  The best thing is you have began to master the internet and the utilization of balancing networking with also booking gigs.  That is very well done!!!  May you trailblaze for others to do this great example.  Best to you always.  Lee

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Yvette, if you like, you could also link this feature to your profile page; this way, your friends on Gaia or elsewhere will know where to learn more about you!

Here's another link to know more about Yvette's work, in The Power of Light group.
Yvette, just seeing your photos, with the joyful energy, is such a delight! What's useful to know, is that you developed your business by traveling to different countries. ”It was only after I started traveling in Spain that I realized that I
needed to update my website to reflect all that I can teach, in  both
languages.  The website has only really been live for about two
months.  Before that, it was all word of mouth or online connections.”

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Yvette! I liked what Lee said:


Happy Birthday and happily ever after.
Lovely to have you on Diving Deeper, I'm looking forward to reading more of your writing..
Love,
Sandra

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

I just replied in that pod Meenakshi.  I hope I did it right.  hehe


-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://www.inspirationsfrombinah.com

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Thank you Yvette! Yes, that game was well played! You've also partially answered the next question, when you say: ”Social networking sites like Gaia are like school - I can be a teacher,
student, friend, and partner all at the same time.  Some are closer to
my heart than others and Gaia is quickly moving the closest. ;)”

So here come the next lot:

  Overall how important is the Gaia community in your life?   What do you most like about Gaia?   How are you helping to maintain/enhance it?  
Is there something you dislike about Gaia/wish would change? How are you helping to change that?   

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Second attempt at posting, So delighted that my newest friend on Gaia is being featured here! And Happy Birthday/Bon Anniversaire mon Amie. Am so looking fwd to welcoming you to my “home town' in June. And of course getting to know you,
M

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

You might be opening up a can of worms Meenakshi! 

How important is Gaia?  If I am truly honest, up until last month, not very important.  I found the conversations hard to follow.  I think the intellect level on Gaia is astounding, you are all BRILLIANT, but many of you seem to incorporate your spirituality differently.  Spirituality is very important in my life and I consider myself a
Kabbalist, Ritual Master and Student/Practitioner of Ceremonial
Magick.  That means all that I study is a part of everything I do and
say - from decisions on what to buy to what food I eat to how to plan
out my day.  I am very practical and I have large breath, but not much depth.  I capture ideas quickly and figure out how to incorporate them in my life.  I am constantly learning and adapting to the world around me.  Because of that, I don't consider myself an expert at anything, I just know lots of stuff. 

Gaia is full of experts.  You guys really like to dig deep into subjects.  For me, if I can't figure out how to use it in my personal life, I often get bored and won't read (there are exceptions to the rule, ask me about Root Races, progressive psytrance and 80s hair bands, hehe).  I also don't like super long posts nor do I appreciate when people copy whole articles.  I think it is better to summerize the author and then link to the site where the article is written.  Writers get paid based on how well their articles does.  If you don't click on the site, the publisher has no idea you read it and may think that the article did not appeal to many readers. 

But I digress…  it is only in the last month that I have seen a change in Gaia.  It seems like there is less long, in-depth pondering and more conversation.  I LOVE conversation.  I love to feel like a thread is a chit-chat between friends where we are discussing something or helping each other improve.  I love to read about what others are doing and figure out how to incorporate parts of it in my life.  If I post in a thread, it is because I learned something from it.  Even when I am giving advice, I am actively learning at the same time.

As for what I dislike about Gaia: the UI.  I find the long, skinny threads hard to read.  I would prefer for the real-estate of the screen to be better used.  And I find it to be slow and hard to navigate.  I click on maybe four links, other than that, I have no idea why there are so many.  To get from the sign-in page to my pods takes too many clicks.  It should 1 or 2 max.  Message inbox is 1 click and that is fabulous.  I also have no idea how the Grapevine works, though several people have tried to explain it to me, nor who sees it or my status updates.  I update my status out of habit, but I have no idea how to see the status of my friends.  Overall, the UI is visually stunning, I love the colors, but it could use some usability work.  Again, this is all my personal opinion and does not require anyone else to do anything about it.  I work through my issues as best I can.

Gaia is also slow to load.  All the fancy UI pieces are putting stress on the servers and I find that I have to wait a long time for things to actually pop into place.  From what I can tell, when I click on the link to a pod it loads the pod and then loads my last settings.  This requires a double refresh of some pieces which increases how long it takes before I can start using it.  And given that I don't really understand the sections in most pods, I would love to bypass that and just go to the recent activity.

My way of helping to change things is to be vocal to, what I hope is, the right people.  I've been pretty consistent in my feedback to the moderators and ambassadors.  I feel that all I can do is explain what my issues are and provide usability feedback as requested.  At the same time, I am mindful that I am one person.  It could be that others like the way things have been going around here.  If I am in the minority, then I would rather just use what I like and go somewhere else for the rest.  I'm not here to force people to do things my way.  Feedback is to be used when it applies, otherwise, I don't feel bad if you discard it. ;)

-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://www.inspirationsfrombinah.com

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

One silly comment:
I spell my first name with a lower case y.  Don't ask me why because I don't have a good answer for you.  It just looks wrong to me with an upper case Y.  I don't mind when people do it, but if you ask me my preference, lower case all the time.

Hugs!

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Good point about your name - I've changed it in the first post so that succeeding posts get it. If O.M. one of our co-mods, had been here, she'd have pointed that out to me!

The points about the UI have been made by others too - the Gaia Team looks at them if they're in the Think Tank. I like the way the team is pretty responsive to our suggestions. Not all, of course; but this is quite a hands-on co-creating community.

As to 1-click for groups: one tip I'd give is, to click on the “New” image from the groups listing on your profile page. You immediately go to the recent posts in the group. If you have lots of groups [like me] - make your groups page your home page.

Grapevine is such fun for quick messages! For instance when you read mine in yours, and you want to reply - click on Reply BELOW my message, and you'll come to my grapevine where  you can leave a message. Try it!

The FAQs that the team has put together might be worth a read for the other features; because I suspect that we're going to see more of you around Gaia and I'm sure you're a quick study once you set your mind to it!

There really are light-hearted groups here - though I wonder why you're yourself being drawn to the serious ones ;p [wish we could put smileys in posts! ] If you look at the list of groups described here, I bet you'll find them. If you haven't, by the end of the week, ask and someone will point you to them. [I'm guessing which ones you'll like and we'll compare notes in a day or two- I wonder if I've guessed correctly !]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

yvette, thank you for playing this game; it's late night for you now, so you can answer this tonight or tomorrow:

yvette, do you have a vision of an ideal world? How do you think the Gaia community can contribute to that vision? What benefit do you think that the Gaia community provides - or can provide -  to your life?

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

tilde ~ to you -yvette, what's with the dash?

~lars

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Hi yvette ~ I love conversation too - on social websites.  Thanks for the conversations your have brought to Gaia!  This has been so helpful.  I recommend this thread be presented to the devs as you have UI <user interface> tips that will transcend like a song into the future.  The concepts of getting around with less clicks & also feeling safe to post is key.

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - Yvette

Appreciate that you let us know yvette.

Having one of those names that seems to be difficult for people to spell if they hear it and pronounce if they see it written, I can appreciate your letting us know that you prefer your name written in lower case. I have other people in my life who do that and their reason is that they don't one the “ego self” to get the lions share of identity in their living.

warm regard Terrill

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

I've never really thought of why I put a dash before my name FastDart, but now that you mention it I think it comes from my old ascii days.  When I first started going online, back in the day of PINE email on UNIX systems, all you could do was ascii art.  I used to have this amazing signature that included a musical staff.  It stayed around for about 10 years from college to my first job at RealNetworks.  For a long time I refused to send HTML email because I thought that plain text was better and faster.  Eventually, I was convinced that I had to start using HTML and ditched my signature line.  The only thing I kept was the dash.  I feel naked not including it.  I usually sign all my e-mails with -yvette and a link of some sort.


As for my ideal world Meenakshi, I can sum it up in one word… acceptance.  In my ideal world people accept each other, themselves and all that surrounds them.  In my ideal world we listen first before trying to past judgement.  That is one of the things I like about online communications.

In the real world, we use visual stereotypes so often in discerning.  Those stereotypes are built from our personal experiences, and though stereotypes can be useful, they can also limit our perceptions.  When we are online, we get to read another's words and base our understanding on that.  Clearly we are lacking emotions and gestures which communicate so much, but at the same time you have a clean slate of just words to interpret.  You can ask for as much clarification as needed and take the time to read and compose your messages.  Written communication has given me the ability to improve how I present myself and allows me to focus on reading the words and energy behind them, thus enhancing my empathic abilities.  Does that make any sense?

The other way Gaia helps with finding acceptance is that we are exposed to people and places from all over the world.  Since you don't have geographical barriers, you are able to learn across boundaries.  The more we are exposed to, the less fear and prejudices we have.  We can share ideas, learn new cultures, hear about distant lands, view pictures we never thought we'd see and get to know people for who they truly are.

Given the demographics of Gaia, I think that there is an amazing opportunity to unite highly educated people in clusters they would not normally associate with.  Pods bring people together based on shared interests, not economic or social backgrounds.  What an amazing opportunity that is!  Can you imagine having a conversation between a millionaire that went to Yale and a poorly educated Spaniard that lives in the local shelter?  Or what about the hippie kid that couch surfs across the country and the housewife that has three kids?  All this can, and does, happen in a pod!


-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://www.inspirationsfrombinah.com

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

yvette, like you, that is what I have so enjoyed about online communicating: that we can relate to each other at a level deeper than the overt looks, or accent, or socio-economic category, and to some extent, education. We immediately jump into the level of ideas.

[I'm itching to link some threads that I'd love your input in - but I'll go with one, if you feel drawn: How do you deal with shadows & disagreements?

BTW, have you seen that in another thread here, one of our co-mods, O.M., is back - we'd started a discussion on her when she took an extended leave while moving, and we're delighted she's back [and hope to soon see her in your thread too! ] I'm enjoying all this to-ing and fro-ing and hope you are too!

So, dear giver of advice,do you have any advice to offer someone who's new to Gaia? How can someone who's new, settle in?

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Just looking at your bright smile is such a joy, Yvette. Perhaps you will show me how to be more light-hearted! I'm so looking forward to meeting you when you come to Miami.

So –have you decided on the fun groups you're going to join here?

On your profile you say you're an 80's rocker - my daughter's [ early teens] been invited to an 80s theme party. What would that mean in terms of what they wear?

Any ideas?

 

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Inspirations from Binah - just read through your website and you are amazing with your work.  You are naturally gifted and an amazing talent.

I have a question.  What websites should one join when promoting their works?  How can we tie them back and forth to our Gaia profiles?  Since we are in a social community do you have a group that you have formed on Binah? 

Thanks,
Lee

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Yvette, how do you bring play into your life/work/offline/online multi-faceted self? One way I feel it is the tremendous energy with which you remind us about your website - you have it in your signature, in your Interests, your heroes, your teachers…. It is like an irrepressible force that runs through your profile page. It brings a smile to the face, and yet the feeling of someone very sure of herself and her offering.

Quite remarkable!

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Wow…  so many questions to answer. My apologies for disappearing yesterday.  I taught a workshop and find that I need time to compose myself both before and after class.  ;)

Were to start?  Let's start with Meenakshi's question: So, dear giver of advice,do you have any advice to offer someone who's new to Gaia? How can someone who's new, settle in?

I guess I would say start clicking, reading and writing.  What else can you really tell anyone?  Social sites for me are about getting to know people through their posts.  Sometimes I look at blogs, but as I've said, I'm all about the conversations.  Maybe if my initial dashboard had pods, blogs, status and grapevine, I would see more, but since it doesn't, I just focus on the pods.  That is one thing that Facebook, Tribe and Myspace do really well - they show you the complete update on what is going on.  Gaia has the dashboard, but it is somewhat crippled because I have to click out of it to get to my pods.  I would much rather have widgets for status, pods, grapevine (maybe then I'll understand the difference between it and status), and blogs than have my horoscope or the weather.

Moving through the questions, I see you're wondering if I am going to join any fun pods.  I join the ones I find and interest me.  I search the active pods and then connect.  I probably won't go looking through the full list of pods.  I read for over 2+ hours a day as it is, can you imagine what that would look like if I went searching for more to add?  If a “fun” pod shows up in the list the next time I venture into the Active pods, then I might join it.  Who know what the future will bring… hehe

As for your daughter at her 80s party - headband/bandana, tight jeans, big sweater and a super thick belt.  …and don't forget the hair.  It must be teased beyond belief and as big as possible.  Oh how I miss those days!

What types of works are you trying to promote Lee?  Each website has a demographic of people that predominantly use them.  Myspace is really good for artists and musicians, Facebook is a free for all, Hi5 is better for Spain and Portugal, Gaia is more spiritual, but not necessarily esoteric, Tribe is spiritual, alternative and esoteric…  as you can see it divides up into a million pieces.  On top of that you have blogs, forums and specialty sites like etsy, deviantart, Linkedin, plaxo and so forth.  Choosing where to create profiles is about who you are trying to reach.

I've almost started an Inspirations from Binah pod here about three times and each time I stop because I'm not sure what the response will be.  Given this long thread maybe it is time.  If anyone has any connections to magazines, please feel free to show them the site.  My goal is for Inspriations from Binah to be syndicated in as many websites and magazines as possible.  The first emag goes live next week - exciting times!!!

Meenakshi you touch on a very important point that was very hard for me to reach on Gaia.  When I first started contributing again, I was slapped by a few moderators for including my signature line (I think you may have been one of them, hehe).  For a while I stopped posting all together.  Then I started posting and linked my website to my name, making it less visible.  After I while, I realized that my site is a part of who I am and what I do.  I believe in what I offer.  I believe that the Gaia base would appreciate going there.  And if they don't, it is just one line in a post that they can easily ignore.  I don't push my product or advertise, I just include this one link that you can follow if you are interested.  You are right, I am very sure of myself when it comes to my work and I feel that I know my limits when it comes to blatent advertising.  If a moderator really does't want me to include it, then I will happily leave the pod.  It might sound extreme, but it is choice I make and I respect the moderator for having a way he/she wants to run the pod.  Another reason is because I can't keep track of who minds and who doesn't.  Oh, and BTW, please don't ever modify someone's post.  As a moderator you have the right to delete a post you feel is inappropriate, but you should never modify someone else's content.  Someone did that here and on Facebook once and I was extremely upset.  I felt violated.  Next time, just delete it or ask me to change it.

On a happier note, The beauty of what I do is that I feel no guilt when I spend a few extra hours just playing.  I work all the time so when an opportunity presents itself, I go.  I read books, watch movies or series (I can't have a TV because I become addicted easily so I have to buy/rent what I want to watch on DVD), and hang out with friends.  When the weather is good I go out to the park and hula hoop or just spend the afternoon with people.  I love dancing and am part of a vibrant psytrance community that allows me to combine all of my passions: music, art, dance, creativity, and spirituality.  Given that I travel so much, I have really intense periods where I am out all the time and then times when I don't leave the house for days.  I consider myself a social-hermit. ;)

Whew…  that was a long one.  Next time I think I will break it up.

Hope you're having a great day!
-yvette

Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://ww.inspirationsfrombinah.com

 

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Wonderfully put -yvette.  Please start the group pod on Inspirations from Binah

Thanks for being open and honest with your answers.  When i read Brian's business plan on his blogs you are doing a similar thing.  Starting the group, there are others here that can share radio and magazines for your works.

You are a shining star and I admire that you trail blaze what possibilities there are to make a more survival world for all.  I agree with you about finding one's demographics. It takes a bit of work and that is the fun part.  I agree it's not advertising and we can tell the difference here when things are spammy on purpose…especially from e-mails.  Posting and helping here is great exchange for the thousands of people that read this site.

Thanks for being featured. Lee

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

I agree with Lee to start a group.  Meenakshi - brilliant questions… and -yvette I am enjoying your viewpoints so much.  Thanks for sharing so abundantly. ~kes

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

yvette, thank you for those tips for my daughter's party. I was talking to another mom and we wondered where we were in the time of these “80s”!! It wasn't the same where we lived ! [India, Sweden]. I think she'll enjoy the dress up as much/ perhaps more than, the party!

I would love to see your Inspirations getting syndicated, and perhaps you will be able to help others who have similar aspirations too! I'd asked in this group once if being on Gaia - actually, at that time, it was Zaadz - and promoting a business, helps. So far, I haven't got anyone to share that aspect of their experience! Perhaps one day you will! [eternal optimist here]!

As more people are being drawn to make a business out of their passion, will you be helping with that in your group too?

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Removing my mod hat and wearing my friend hat, yvette -

What are you interested in, about your friends on Gaia? Are you likely to read our blogs, or comment on our them, or post on our grapevine, or….?  How do you reach out to your friends on Gaia?

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

yvette, responding to your suggestions about widgets and so on in the dashboard- are you likely to be giving them as suggestions in the Think Tank?

And may I give you a one -line answer for:
maybe then I'll understand the difference between it [grapevine] and status

Grapevine on your page is for others to write to you
Status on your page is for you to tell others about yourself
 

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Ok, ok…  you twisted my arm.  Ta da: http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Now that you're a group cultivator -CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm delighted at this opportunity for another facet of yours to emerge.

Dearest yvette, I'm delighted you mentioned that episode between you and me at The Power of Light, when I deleted your tag line and linked it to your name [as it does seem even now to me as an advertising line rather than a link to your website]. When it's a long post, it seems in place; but when it's a 1-line post,then a two-line signature line can overwhelm the message. So partly I took a style approach; partly a mother-hen approach, to help you adapt into Gaia [I thought you were new here, but you've been here longer than me!] , where we have other such luminaries, but somehow no one has a tag line as we do in other places. So yes - that was me, and I am so thankful that you did not leave the group as a result of that episode. I was in two minds when I did that and possibly now will err on the side of letting things be.

It's such a joy to be able to discuss something like this openly, as I wanted to -but wasn't sure if it should be you or me who broaches it.  Discussing it openly shows a community how we don't need to stay stuck in spaces.  As I like to say, “The right thing always happens..” In this case, I think it's alerted you to a different way that readers may view your post; and me to be more mindful of the feelings that such an incident can evoke.

Somehow, I feel the community is growing up, from a time of intense emotion when mods needed to ensure that one member doesn't step on another's toes…perhaps we mods are becoming more relaxed!

I see you, yvette, as the gift, the inspiration, the energy - just that name evokes it all.  Now I'll head over to that new group that's sprouting up in Gaia! Delighted that this feature has been witness to such a birth!

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Congratulations on your new pod, Yvette!

I am also one of those 'tiresome mods' who deleted your signature :). In my group, Walking the Labyrinth, part of the group text which I also send when welcoming members says:

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Lucky for you Meenakshi, I'm terrible at grudges.  I have an rubbish memory and never remember who did what.  The positive side is that it allows me to release lots of negativity.  You can't harbor what you can't remember. ;)

-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Beautiful! and that in itself is an inspiration. Along with a no-grudge zone, we need a very-slow-to-get-offended zone, which is what I practice, so that our relating can stay light.

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

What a great thread that has been woven into a lovely garment of possibility, respect and caring. yvette, as a social entrepreneur working with women leaders I too have struggle with expressing what to me is an artificial separation between me as a person and me as in my work. In my conversations with other gaians who also have this integrated presence in our community the discussion about signature links is a tension that is likely to surface again and again - which is a good thing, because it is through this conversation that we will discover our various comfort levels.

I appreciate yvette your clarity about who you are and in doing so the space you create for others to be who they are. My on-line behaviour mirrors my reall-time preferences and behaviour. I have spent little time in pod conversations and most of my time posting and responding to other blog posts. At a cocktail party I will seek out 2 or 3 people to have deep conversation with - all the while wishing there wasn't so much noise in the room. If I am really enjoying the person, I will invite them for tea or a walk so that we can have a relaxing one-on-one conversation. However, if I am invited to do a “job” in a group setting, I am content and happy to be there and fulfill my responsibilities:)

yvette (and others) what has been your greatest learning or highlight through this profile thread?

Terrill

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

I've learned just how differently we perceive online communities.  I had a long Skype call with my mother earlier today.  During the call, she was trying to learn how to use Craigslist and Facebook.  It was interesting to hear her describe how she perceived Facebook before and after our talk.  While before it was a play thing, afterwards it became a way to connect with friends and possible customers.  She never even thought of it that way.

This thread has taught me that Gaia is a diverse community.  It is something very organic and beautiful.  I have learned much about how the community operates and the people that so tenderly care for every aspect.  It reminds me of the early days of Tribe, when they were well funded and our network of friends spanned the globe.  We were protective of the space we created and didn't want anything that would hurt it.

Though I really enjoy the richness of the Gaian community, I hope I don't end up falling short of the expectations created for me.  Yes, I will be a part of the community, but I have a business to run and friends to engage with.  Wow…  there I go again sounding much more harsh than I want to…  I'm just saying that each of us contributes at different levels and while I created a pod and have truly enjoyed being a part of this thread, that does not mean I will join additional pods or take on more responsibilities here.  I think that each contribution by Gaian members is unique and I hope there is a place for each of us.

Blessings!
-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

I'm still learning new things about Gaia, there is so much depth and dimension to it.. thank you yvette for sharing yourself and your inspirational approach.
Blessings to you
Tai

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

I don't normally cut and paste a previous message, but this is one of those things that drives me a bit batty… Earlier today, Meenakshi posted the following message on this thread:

yvette,responding to your suggestions about widgets and so on in thedashboard- are you likely to be giving them as suggestions in the ThinkTank?

And may I give you a one -line answer for:
maybe then I'll understand the difference between it [grapevine] and status

Grapevine on your page is for others to write to you
Status on your page is for you to tell others about yourself

Why is this buried in the middle of the thread?  I would never have seen it had it not been that I recently turned on e-mail alerts.  I know that the thinking is that it is a response to an earlier post, but I would prefer for it to be at the top with a link to what it is a response to or for the person to just make a comment for reference.  Something to ponder.

Another $0.02 by moi! hehe

-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

In response to Meenakshi's question about giving my suggestion to Think Tank, if it means joining another pod, probably not.  I think that cultivators and ambassadors that work with the development team should filter the suggestions given by individual members up to the right people.  If all of us give the developers our feedback directly, they will be inundated. ;)

Blessings!
-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Actually, the developers mayn't mind us all posting on the Think Tank; but your point about joining another group is well taken- and I'm going to ask Chris if he could come by and take a look!

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Hi Yvette,

~Matthew here… cultivator of the Think Tank (our very first group/pod on the site!)  I just wanted to stop by and give you a warm hug, a “thank you,” and let you know that I / we (all of us on the team) are absolutely ecstatic to see you participating here again :)

Also, we appreciate when suggestions are thrown on the Think Tank.  We all read those suggestions, and it doesn't inundate us.  In fact, aggregating all the suggestions on one group helps us gauge what the all-important users (like you!) are seeking, in general.  I'd actually prefer to see more activity in that group, not less.  My two cents.

Big BIG hugs!!
~Matthew

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

yvette: I don't normally cut and paste a previous message, but this is one of those things that drives me a bit batty…Why is this buried in the middle of the thread?  I would never haveseen it had it not been that I recently turned on e-mail alerts.  Iknow that the thinking is that it is a response to an earlier post, butI would prefer for it to be at the top with a link to what it is aresponse to or for the person to just make a comment for reference. Something to ponder.

OK, can't have you driven batty! That's actually why I cut and paste so you know what I'm responding to! As to new posts; the best way to deal with a long and busy thread, with the way things are organized on Gaia; is to put the thread on 'newest first'; and cut and paste the part of the other's post you're replying to! We've to learn to work with the interface!

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Gaia members give so freely helping in the business of being human & spiraling upwards. Just pick a blog and get enhancement each day.

Knowing the artist needs to make themselves known constantly  by meeting and coming out of non-existence a lot until the get into a power condition, I cultivated a pod with Gaia called Dreams of Artists™ This is not to change the subject but to make a point and validate the things I have gained by reading everything on this feature with links. To help market our artists on Gaia, I have about 15 different Rooms to cover all of the various forms of art on the planet.

In the Spotlight Room currently I am helping promote
Sherrilene runs Human Quality Headquarters 
Mila runs fine crafts with a conscious Phlege Napal &
Terrill is an executive coach, & authored 

Leading Raspberry Jam Visions: Women's Way

I have been helping C.G. Walters get his book known

and he is delivering to that Group & his website his podcast & slideshow

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

I see how important it is for Gaia to be open to those who want to come and be involved; but don't have too much time to post in various places. I think we are open to friends who are here for a specific purpose, and that's fine too- I don't think you're being harsh, yvette; actually I think it is so important to be up front and clear about how we want to interact with others - or not.

Since I now have more than 500 friends here, I can't even imagine how many things I must be missing; however much I try to stay on top of things.

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Wow, more than 500 friends, Meenakshi! A lot to keep up with :)

Like Kathy, I'm looking forward to hearing more about your artist side, yvette,

Love,

Nicole

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

How do you set a thread to newest first Meenakshi?  I haven't seen that setting.  I would love to find that. ;)

I loved your comment Kathy.  Spotlighting our businesses is just as important as sharing about our personal lives.  For those of us that have small businesses, we know that they are an integral part of who we are.  Plus, I'd rather think of a friend when I have to buy something or looking for a service than seek out a stranger or big store.

As for my artistic side, it is just as varied and complex as everything else you have read so far.  Let's see…  I was a dancer for much of my younger life.  Then I moved into music.  I'm not the best musician in the world, so I quickly moved behind the scenes and got a degree in Music Engineering and Electrical Engineering.  With that I happily worked in technology exposing people to music and video through software.

At some point, it wasn't enough to satisfy my creative side so I decided to start singing again.  My principal instrument in college was piano, which I'm rubbish at, so I found myself singing in the choir more than accompanying.  I started taking voice lessons again and about a year later my teacher encouraged me to go out and audition for stuff.  I should stop and explain that I'm a pretty naturally, dramatic person.  My mother always thought I would be an actor. hehe

Anywho, I decided to take my teacher's advice, found an acting coach and started auditioning.  I got a few parts here and there in straight plays, musicals, films and commercials.  I did one feature-length SAG experimental film called TammyTown that can actually be purchased via Netflix or some other site like that.  It was doing a part in a musical that I met the hippy kids I talked about in my earlier post.

After a while, the acting thing became too much for what I really wanted to do with my life.  Up until I moved away from the US, I still did commercials and industrial videos since those were usually one day shots.  Other than that, my creative pursuits went in much different directions.  The hippy kids eventually let me to open my own production company called Infinite Connections.  I LOVE everything about my company and if I was still in the US It would probably be my active focus in addition to my teaching.  Through IC I produced large scale dance parties that combined music, art, and performance in unusual settings.  My events are all about taking you to places you never thought you'd experience.

It was through this that I got involved with the circus world.  I started hiring performance groups for different events and eventually stumbled into a troupe called PURE Cirkus.  I eventually became a co-owner (have since stepped away from them) and learned how to stilt-walk, hoop, eat fire and pierce for suspensions.  Ah suspensions…. another passion of mine I don't spend enough time doing.  I love piercing and being a safety technician for suspensions.  Technically, I'm part of a troupe calle CoRE (Constructs of Ritual Evolution), though since they perform mainly in the US, I don't get a chance to see them very much.

I'm not sure where to go next since that pretty much sums up my artistic side.  I try to keep all of those pieces alive, but I must admit I haven't sung in a while.  I do have a hula hoop with me that I need to practice with more.  My stilts are in storage in the US, but I might bring them back with me if I can figure out how.  It's funny, though I don't perform often, it is all still a big part of my life.  The music and performance is all a part of my community both online and in person.  I have made more friends in the last four years than all the rest of my life and I owe it all to psytrance music, Burning Man, circus arts and social networks!

BTW Meenakshi, I have over 1111 friends on Facebook, almost 600 on Tribe and if you add up all the other networks, proabably another 100 or so more in different languages.  I gave up trying to keep track of them a long time ago.  I am thankful that Facebook has ways to group them together or I'd be totally lost.

After writing all this I'm realizing that my life is pretty unusual.  Any aspiring writers want to ghost write a book?  hehehehehehehe

Hugs!
-yvette
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

WOW all I can say is TMII (to much interesting information), this thread is chock full of fascinating stuff. Yvette 
yvette, I've also worked as a stilt-walker, singer, danser but mostly as an actor, and though I'm an aspiring writer, don't feel able to ghostwrite your book- it's too much, but we'll certainly have lots to discuss when you come to Paris, (et en français, en plus)

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

yvette, see the very first post in this thread; just above it, in blue, you'll see
threaded | unthreaded | newest first

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

I can't believe I didn't see that link before Meenakshi.  I guess from it's position, I just assumed they were next and previous links and didn't bother to read the text.  Silly me!

Thanks for the comment Matthew.  When I catch up, I'll take a look at Think Tank.  There are definitely some suggestions for improved flow that I would suggest.  BTW, speaking again about new posts being embedded in a post, can we have some kind of Phrase in a different color at the top of the post that shows that this is new?  I love the way Tribe does its posting.  When there is a long thread, i just scan for red text that says, “New Post” to see what I haven't read before.

Back to reading through my pods…

Love & Light!
-yvette

Need advice? Looking for inspiration http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

This was a wonderful read this early morning as I came back online………..-yvette,you have lived such a full and interesting life and share it from heart and mind….thank you so much for opening the pages and filling us with inspiration…insight….and eliciting great responses..merci beaucoup….ralph~

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

yvette, such delightful sides that I hadn't even anticipated when I named this thread– stilt walking and fire eating! 

I was wondering how you feel about having more than 1000 friends. Just as you are unable to keep up with them; do you think they also can't keep up with you? I keep wondering about the issue of number of friends; esp on Gaia where I think we make friends more mindfully than in other sites [though that may be more to do with who we are than the website we're on!]

I wonder if having a large number of friends is actually counter-productive: if it keeps people from reading our blogs or contacting us; thinking that we may be too busy or uninterested or that someone else will read and comment or make the friend feel welcome on Gaia….

Any insights on this?

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

That is what I like about Facebook, it allows me to group my friends. I have about 10 different groups depending on the level of closeness. Some people are just business contacts while others are true friends. When you are building a network, there are times when it is good tohave lots of people on it.  In Facebook, I may not know what all my”friends” are doing, but people can keep track of my classes and otheractivity easily.

In Facebook I follow status updates, in Tribe I look through blogs andpictures.  On Myspace, when I connect with someone that is a truefriend or that I want to track, I subscribe to their profile so I cankeep track of their status.  On Gaia, I just look at my pods.  Maybe asfriendships develop and I understand the UI better, that will change,but for now, I just don't find the UI conducive for keeping track ofpeople.  For example, why do I have to look at my own profile all thetime?  The whole middle real estate is taken up by my own information. I would prefer to be able to see updates from my friends there.  Justseeing the top three of four posts in each section is not enough for meand the website loads so slowly that I hesitate clicking for moreinformation.

There are many ways to use your network of friends.  I think thathaving more can be good if you know who you want to track vs who isjust an acquaintance.

Hugs!
Need advice? Looking for inspiration? http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

 I would prefer to be able to see updates from my friends there.

I am so with  you on this one. I wish we could see from our friends icons who has recently written a blog, for instance,or updated their status where they may be calling out to their friends. Right now,I click on Friends Activity from that bar on the left, and then can select which level of activity I want to see. I too like the feature of FB where we can set levels of friends though as things stand, I don't enjoy being there as I do here. Lots of fluff to wade through, sometimes! Which, come to think of it, is why I liked Gaia  [well, Zaadz, then] rather than those 'let's meet for lunch ' [and not talk about anything important] ! It's fun once in a very rare while.

Have you taken a look at MyGaia dashboard? I'm not sure how many people use that- I don't but just clicked on that yesterday as you've been talking abt the dashboard. When you have a chance, let me know your take on that.

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

I tried to use MyGaia a while ago, but found that there were no widgets for pods or blogs so I still have to click away from it to look at the things that are most important to me.  I'm going to try it again.

BTW, what's up with these new “expanding” ads?  I don't mind ads, I'm one of the rare people that actually likes ads, but I do hate that every time I accidentally mouse over one, it grows in size.  Right now, it is stuck in its expanded size so that I can only see half of the post above.  I am afraid to try to close it because if I click on it somewhere it might take me to another site and then I have to wait for Gaia to load again.  Is this a bug or expected behavior?

Lovg & Light!
Need advice? Looking for inspiration? http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

yvette ~  I enjoyed your write up on money and cross posted it to your feature here because whoever wrote the thread is no longer there. Have a good time in London.
Lee

“I'm cross-posting my own response from a thread on a different pod:

Money is just energy.  Whether money existed or not, we would still have the same imbalance unless we change our mentality around it.

Instead of thinking of the price as something fixed, think of it as a unit of energy.  Does the amount of energy going in (what you pay for the class), equal what you will get out (knowledge).  When you start to see money in these terms, you will realize that there is no inherent evil in paying for something as long as you are getting something of equal value in return.

I have to admit that I am starting to get a little fed up with the idea that everyone that has money is inherently greedy and corrupt.  Do you think it is possible to amount great wealth and still be an amazing person?  I put someone like Mother Theresa on the same level as Bill Gates when it comes to wealth.  He chooses to give through his products and foundation (one of the biggest in the world supporting many causes and fighting to stop diseases); she chose to give through personal service.

I should probably stop because this is one of those conversations that I think is best done in person.  I think that people would be much happier in their relationship with money when they realized that it is not evil - it is just another form of energy to be used.  If you don't like the price of the class, you can either not take it or propose a different energy exchange with the teacher.  Many will accept it.

Either way, I would ask you to stop judging others that have money.  You have no idea what went into putting that class together.  Though it may sound expensive to you, it may turn out that after all the expenses, the teacher gets very little.  Or it could be that the teacher gets lots because that is the value of the teachings.  Either way, as enlightened beings, it would probably be better to learn to
accept or walk away.  Judging others is beneath us…  we're much better than that.”

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Thanks Lee!  I just arrived in London on Wednesday and I'm finally getting some time to look through Gaia…  it's been a crazy few days.

Ahh…  the money problem.  Funny how so many have poverty mentality and think that making money the root of all evil is going to end it.  A friend of mine recently became a fan of Money on Facebook (it's a silly thing people do, creating fun pages for all kinds of things from hugs to oceans).  She wrote how much resistance she had to clicking the button and truly anouncing to the world that she was a fan of money.  Once she did, she realized that she was creating her own internal obstacles to attracting abundance in her life.

Are you a fan of money?  I know I am…  money, energy exchanges and all the abundance I deserve!

Hugs
Need Advice? Looking for Inpspiration? http://groups.gaia.com/inspirationsfrombinah

Re: Multi-faceted Gaian - yvette

Hi ~yvette!  Good post!  Money can buy you in and out of everything and you are right.  Unlike the character of our incredibly diverse people of our uniquely pluralistic society, neither melting pot nor patchwork quilt but a human composition its simply ok to have this energy exchange called money.  It represents things.  It's a substitute for goods and services.  When we perform a valuable service we exchange it through an item called money.  It represents delivered production.  It is a substitute for wealth but is not itself wealth.  It is only valid to the degree it can substitute for actual wealth and to the degree it can purchase things of value. It is just an idea backed by confidence.  Thanks for sharing about it. ~k