What’s Quietly Changing in the Online World (Subtle shifts with soulful potential)

A Gentle Pause, A Soulful Re-Entry

This is the first summer I’ve truly stepped away from work. A real break, after decades of rarely switching off. From deadlines. From caring for others. From holding it all together.

As I slowed down, I kept spotting things that pinged. Ideas, quotes, posts, conversations... little sparks that felt like messages from the universe (or maybe just a very intuitive algorithm).

It wasn’t that my mind was racing. It was more of a quiet noticing. A gentle hum in the background kept drawing my attention to things that felt resonant.

So I started saving them. Not with any plan or pressure. Just to come back to it later, when the time felt right.

While I had space, these three sparks of inspiration crossed my path. Each one offering a reflection of where many of us seem to be heading: toward greater Authenticity, Alignment, and a more soulful relationship with AI.

This isn’t a blog about chasing trends but it is about noticing them.

The online space is evolving quickly, and for those of us building businesses with soul, it’s helpful to pause and sense where things are shifting. What I’m sharing here isn’t about hype or hacks. It’s about the sparks of inspiration that feel aligned, spacious, and quietly powerful. Consider this a soft curation for spiritual entrepreneurs. Part reflection, part invitation, with links included so you can explore what resonates.

Spark 1: The Quiet Rise of Carousels (and Why I’m Loving It)

 📺 Watch the video: 8 GENIUS Instagram Carousel Ideas to Get More Followers & Engagement by Build Your Tribe

You may have noticed it too. A gentle shift happening on Instagram.
After years of chasing Reels and video, something quieter is coming back into focus: the humble carousel.

Not the old blocky kind with 10 slides of text. These are more creative, more thoughtful, and honestly… more human.

I’ve found myself saving more of them lately. They slow me down, make me feel, and often leave me with something to ponder. There’s something deeply resonant about being able to swipe through at your own pace, like reading a story or flipping through a thoughtful magazine.

And I’m not alone. Carousels are quietly trending again, not because they’re flashy, but because:

• People are craving slower, more intentional content
  
• They’re easier to save and revisit than fast-moving video
  
• You don’t need to perform or dance or even show your face
  
• Instagram seems to be favouring them in the algorithm right now because longer swipe time means more engagement
  
  

One of the videos that sparked this for me was a YouTube video from Build Your Tribe called “8 GENIUS Instagram Carousel Ideas to Get More Followers & Engagement!”, hosted by Brock Johnson. It offered a fresh, grounded perspective on carousels that felt aligned and spacious, not performative. A reminder that content can be both powerful and peaceful.

Here are the 8 carousel types mentioned in the video:

1. Hook Slide Carousel
   Two slides only: a gripping hook on slide one, and your content or context on slide two. Designed to get that first swipe.
   
   
2. Freeze Frame Carousels
   Like a comic strip: you show two frames per slide with captions of spoken words. Perfect for short bits from podcasts or interviews.
   
   
3. Refreshed Version of Old Carousels
   Take that old photo-dump style and overlay text. Makes the visuals pop while still sharing your message.
   
   
4. Collage Style Carousels
   A grid-style collage across multiple slides. Great for event recaps or showcasing lots of related visuals.
   
   
5. Same Meme, Different Meaning
   Use the same meme across slides but switch up the captions. Super engaging for multiple audience slices.
   
   
6. Curated Collection
   A mood board of quotes or visuals under a theme. Each slide stands on its own but builds a cohesive vibe.
   
   
7. Interactive Carousel
   Let your audience "play" by swiping through choices or outcomes. Like picking a race car and watching who wins.
   
   
8. Flip Book Carousel
   Create a mini stop-motion effect. Hold the dots below the carousel and swipe back and forth to animate your visuals.
   
   

Why They Might Be Making a Comeback

We’re in a moment where people are craving content that feels meaningful. Something that doesn’t scream for attention. These carousel formats are refreshing. They invite participation, not just consumption.

When paired with gentle music (yes, even carousels can include sound), they create a softer, more immersive experience. The music adds emotional depth, helps slow the scroll, and can even improve visibility by placing your post in the Reels tab.

If Reels aren't feeling aligned right now, you're not alone. These carousel styles might offer a more peaceful, creative way to share your message. One that feels more like expression than performance.

Spark 2: Creating a Clear, Aligned Path for Your Audience

📺 Watch the video: Marketing Funnels Are Broken (Here’s What Works Now) by ScoreApp

I recently watched a video that explored sales funnels in a way that felt aligned, grounded, and spacious. Not pushy. Not manipulative. Just… clear, intentional steps that support someone’s journey with room to move at their own pace.

The video was “Marketing Funnels Are Broken (Here’s What Works Now)” by ScoreApp, and it really shifted something for me.

It’s not about ads > landing page > lead magnet > limited-time offer. That formula is behind us.

Instead, it offered a three-part flow that feels much more human and much more like the way I want to support people (maybe you too):

🔼 Top of Funnel: Discovery and Trust-Building

In the video, this first phase is called the “top of the funnel.” If that word makes you cringe a little, think of it instead as the beginning of a relationship. It’s the stage where someone starts noticing you. Recognition builds, and trust begins to grow.

The idea is to show up at least 11 times within 90 days, across four platforms. That might look like short-form content such as videos, posts, carousels, or images. From there, people are gently guided toward longer-form content like blog posts, podcasts, or YouTube videos.

You can also build trust by showing up in aligned spaces, such as guest features or collaborations. The video calls this “trust by association,” and it works beautifully when your energy resonates with the audience there.

This phase is not about pushing. It’s about being visible in a way that feels real and recognisable, so the people you're meant to serve can start to see you.

🎡 The Messy Middle: A Gentle Playground of Possibility

This isn’t a gap. It’s a softly lit space where your audience can explore who you are and what you offer, without pressure or noise. Think of it as a playground, not a funnel. A space filled with loosely connected touchpoints they can engage with at their own pace.

• 🛍️ E-commerce store – a space to browse, dream, and follow what draws them in
  
• 🎥 Workshop replays – a low-pressure way to experience your energy or teaching style
  
• 📚 Educational content – blog posts, guides or tutorials to help them learn and connect
  
• 💌 Newsletters – reflective stories and insights they can return to when the moment feels right
  
• 🎙️ Podcast interviews or guest features – letting them hear your voice and values in different spaces
  
• 🧪 Mini courses or online assessments – immersive experiences that support learning and discovery
  
• 🎟️ Event invites and replays – allowing them to dip into your world in their own time
  

Each piece in the Messy Middle is lightly connected. It is not a maze to solve or a checklist to complete. It is an open invitation to explore, in whatever way feels right.

People do not need to be pushed through a process. What they truly need is space to feel safe, seen, and gently guided in their own time.

The truth is, most journeys are not linear. They are often beautifully chaotic. Someone might discover your work through a Reel, then go quiet for a while, only to return weeks later and read a blog post that deeply resonates. They might join your list, forget about it, then open an email months later because the subject line lands just right.

That is the rhythm of the Messy Middle. A gentle dance of curiosity, trust, and timing, until something quietly clicks into place.

🔽 Bottom of Funnel: Live Connection and Conversion

This is where commitment becomes real. Not because of urgency, but because the time feels right.

At this stage, people are willing to show up live. That might look like a one to one session, a strategy call, a private consult, or a gentle invitation to go deeper.

Or it could be a one to many experience, like a small group workshop, an intimate webinar, a live training, or a Q&A session.

These moments are more focused and often more personal. They don’t need to be big or flashy. They just need to offer the right level of connection for someone who is almost ready to step in.

Why This Might Resonate With You

This approach feels like a breath of fresh air. It honours free will and inner wisdom.
It allows space.
It supports soul-led decisions.

Instead of pushing people through a process, it helps create a world they are naturally drawn into. A space where they can move at their own pace and choose the path that feels right.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about what that first step should be, especially when it comes to your social media, you’re not alone. Sometimes all it takes is a gentle shift in perspective to bring clarity.

If you’re ready to create a clearer and more aligned path for the people you’re here to serve, I’d be honoured to support you. Together, we can build something that feels true to you and magnetic to the right people.

Spark 3: A Soulful Lens on How We Engage With AI

📺 Watch the video: Both by Matt and Joy Kahn

1. A Survival Guide for the Era of A.I.

2. The Surprising Truth A.I. Is Revealing About YOU
   
   

I’ve followed Matt Kahn for years. His calm, grounded presence helped me through some messy life chapters. Though honestly, he had dropped off my radar for a while.

That is, until he started talking about AI. And not just as a tool, but as a mirror. That immediately caught my attention.

I've noticed this more and more lately. Spiritual leaders speaking about AI not from fear or hype, but from a deeper, more conscious place. It sparked a new kind of curiosity for me.

In sharing this spark, my intention is to offer a soulful lens on AI. One that isn’t about keeping up or getting ahead, but about checking in with the energy we bring into our work.

What you’ll find here isn’t tech advice. It’s something softer:
🌿 A reflection on the spiritual patterns we bring into our creative process
🌿 A reminder that AI meets us where we are, whether rushed or grounded
🌿 A moment of self-awareness before using tools like ChatGPT
🌿 Permission to relate to technology in a way that honours your energy

If you’ve ever wondered how to stay true to your soul while experimenting with AI, this is for you.

🎥 The Two Conversations That Sparked This

These two conversations found me just as I was easing into my summer break. I wasn’t looking for content about AI, but something about them drew me in.

In the first video, Joy shared how she had started using AI like she used to overuse oracle cards. Asking again and again. Seeking instant answers. Not co-creating, but extracting.

That insight felt like a mirror. I’ve seen it in myself and in others, the temptation to look outward instead of inward.

Then Matt said something that stopped me in my tracks:
AI might be mirroring how we relate to the divine.

How we engage with AI, whether we try to control it, rely on it, or resist it, can reflect how we seek safety, guidance, or power in life.

Why This Might Resonate With You

AI is not neutral. It often reflects the energy we bring to it.

When we show up feeling frazzled, disconnected, or uncertain, it tends to meet us there. When we come in clear, curious, or open, it responds differently. The interaction changes. So does the outcome.

This perspective offers a gentle reframe. AI doesn’t have to be something to master or avoid. It can become something to be in relationship with. That shift in energy can change everything.

Something to Try

Next time you sit down to use a tool like ChatGPT, pause for a moment.

Ask yourself:
💬 Am I coming from trust or from tension?
💬 From curiosity or from control?
💬 From groundedness or from pressure?

That small check-in might shift your entire experience. It can also change what you create from it.

These sparks helped me reconnect with how I want to show up online, with more clarity, calm, and intention.

If you're craving a more soulful and sustainable way to create content, one that truly honours your energy, your voice, and your pace, something special is on the way.

A gentle 3-day workshop to help you reset how you show up online.

No pressure. No performance. Just realignment.

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