gaia
October 2008 
Powered by Love. :)
Posted on Feb 14th, 2008
by 
Gaia Team
Gaia Team
What a day!
First off, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. I'm a reformed Valentine cynic (I think there's more than a few of these on the Team); I used to cringe at the commercialism and couples-centric nature of the Hallmark holiday, but one year I decided to just commit to out-loving those aspects.
(I'd so much rather expand my definition than contract my heart. :)
So today (if you look up to the right) you'll see we're "powered by Love." And today the seeds are mini-valentines instead. And today I'm making a point of letting people know that they're loved, and that there's so much more to love than just the romantic variety. So Happy Valentine's Day, again, to those of you with your sweeties and for those of you who have a wider circle of loves to celebrate.
And.... today we launched Gaia+. (If you could give a little round of applause, wherever you are, for our wonderful developers and all the work they've done, please do. They might not be able to hear you but I think those little things make a difference.) As I wrote earlier, this little offering allows you to turn off the ads on your page: no more Googlishness on the bottom, no more banners up top, no more boxes to the side.
We've also made it so that no one can tell that you're a subscriber (I've been using the feature for a while, if you'd like to see what it looks like--or doesn't look like--from your side), so there'll be no division or distance from the community. You'll just get a more spacious, uncluttered, commercial-free space. (And yes, these things are a rarity online.)
With Gaia+ comes one more neat little feature, though. We've been dreaming and playing for a while with the notion of 'resonance' in the community. (I do think, as I've said before, there's a bit of a reason people are drawn to this site, and that this reason has very little to do with the tools and features and very much to do with the intentions and the people here. I think you know what I mean. :)
So the ad-free service comes with a little 'resonance box' that picks up possible connections between people, and recommends others who might share a bit of that same energy or passion or intention. (While we've already had more than a few soul mates find each other here, this might just as easily uncover kindred spirits or someone with the answer to a question you've had).
This is another one of those that I've been lucky enough to play with behind the scenes. Fun isn't quite the word for it; instead, there's something sweet and appealing about being able to pop over to an inbox with the message that Gaia had sent you.
If you feel like trying this out, well, you've probably already noticed the box up top. (Orjust click here. :) The ad-free service is $3 a month (around 75¢ a week, with a discount if you subscribe for a year), and we're looking into adding a few more fun little bonuses as we go... again with that reminder that this isn't meant to distinguish paying members from those who don't mind the free site.
What else? We'll also be announcing the winners of this past scholarship search soon (I'll let our judges weigh in on both how wonderful it was to read all the submissions and how difficult it was to pick), so keep an eye here for news on that.
And last but not least, the Terms of Service... new ones are up, and the discussion continues. (Thank you already to those who've weighed in)
Big warm (it snowed LOTS here this morning...) Valentine-y hugs, and big love to you and all those you love.
Posted by: Siona
Access: Public
Thank you for all the hard work you do and for spreadin' the love…
Resonance? A little hint…
And that's just the beginning…
Michele: Thank you (again :).
And Chris? I think just reading your profile is an even better hint. To resonance. (And another deep bow for all the energy and intentionality you brought to that piece.)
Great job Gaia Comm! I'm really enjoying the newly found space on the site and happy to be contributing to such forward thinking. I hope it's a success!
Grrrrr!!!!
I'm not feelin' too much love right now. After wandering around for 20 minutes trying to figure out how to activate Gaia Plus (maybe hidden in the banner ad header isn't the best place for that?! Maybe a link on the settings page….), I find that I have to live in the US, UK or Canada in order to use the service.
Nice one, guys. :(
Maybe instead of “Let's change the world” it should be “Let's change North America and the UK”?
Sorry, just frustrated lately….
~G
Grey, good point. We will look into how we can make it such that we can offer these programs up to outside of N.A.
Sorry for the confusion on where to find the access to the clubs. That is a #1 priority for us and you can expect to see more prominence of Plus on the site in the next few days.
How about PayPal?
I don't know, it just seems you may have a hard time living up to your name and slogan if you can't except payments from most of the world.
Cheers,
Grey
Grey! I'm so sorry; as Jason wrote, we're going to keep churning and working to live up to our name. And I'm sure we can work something out for you in the time being. :)
And phew. I'm glad that the biggest complaint is that it's too hard to find. We'll be adding a few links about the site (under the ads, say… and the setting pages is a great idea) so that people can sign up more easily, but I was just concerned about being too heavy-handed or obnoxious with too much of a SIGN UP NOW!!! presence. I don't want to bother those who aren't interested!
NAMASTE SIONAJEE,a warm n cheering Good Morning ( May this morning radiate charms calmness n soothing vibes upon you and conjure up your mind richly ),
well sionajee I do not know much about the above comments being discussed, but know onething only and very well and perfectly and precisely, that your efforts and dedication, your persevere dilligency to shine this community, and your interesting n sensible Q&R regularly ( hmm.. where's today ? awww must have eaten down with your last dinner - lol ).
your sensual, wise, informative, beneficial, prolific and utterly grasping writings being posted by you either in pods or blogs or comments are much a commendable job by you.
I bow earnestly with much gratitude to respect your dwelling noble divinity within you and I do salute you solely for your incredible industrious pertaining to this community.
Wishing you a good and much pleasant day !
I wish for sionajee be happy always, reach to harmonious state, lead to enlightened, truthness and loving state, I Wish keep on ascent with wisdom n lightness likewise !
I hold you into my reverence and pure thoughts !
OWAIS
I'd also like to take a moment to thank the gaia team and siona for doing all the wonderul work in the background, keeping the transition process flowing smoothly and the comunication as transparent as could be done under the terms and protocols. I'd love to see ways the resonance factor, groups, minority voices (like mine as in “deep conscious capitalism”) can be harnessed beyond pods and blogs (too many for many of us to keep forming meaningful alliances).
Much love and gratitude
mita
Let me also put in my heartfelt thanks to you and your team for your continuing efforts to make gaia rise to its highest potential and in the process doing so too for each and everyone of us.
What a remarkable day to launch gaia on the day of love! I think it's most significant!
I just went over the My Gaia page and hmmmm… I'll be back to recreate it!
Love and namaste,
Mila
Thank you. Change always is difficult and sometimes some of the changes are well-conceived but the execution of them suffers. It works out. All is well.
Peace, blessings and much love to you, Gaia team
Hey, that yellow “New” thingy in the corner is a huge improvement! Well done!
~G
I admit that I cant get on the computer very much (way too busy!!) but this website is a really great idea and very impowering!! Way to go!
Gr8 work guys! I really want to subscribe, but want to pay with a PayPal billing agreement only – any idea when or if this will be an option? Thanks!
I appreciate your subtlety in how you approached announcing the Gaia plus option, Siona. It was really sensitive to those who made it clear they don't like the ads and would pay for ad-free space. (I am not among them as I don't mind the ads being there as they are all our friends here, are they not?)
I also appreciate how quickly the team responded to Grey's invaluable input and rose–and are rising–to the challenge of being as globally accessible as possible. These things do take time and I have complete faith that the team is working out the gliches.
Thanks for walking the talk, ya'll. You've won my heart!
And Siona, I am so glad you are now a reformed valentive cynic. i love what you wrote about that:
“I'd so much rather expand my definition than contract my heart. :)”
Amen, sister, me too!
love,
mary
Actually, I like the ads. They contribute to expanding my horizons! That's one of the cools things about this - at other sites, the ads are annoying and I wish to avoid them as much as possible - I mean, why would I want to click on the money? But here, I actually click on the ads and I love it!
Hi Team
I'm pleased to see some action happening. Sure the whole world won't have access to it, but that's just life. I'm in the Caribbean and I assure you, this is more the rule than the exception. At least I have internet. :D
In agreement with Susmita, however, some of the more progressive 'institutions' that might qualify as social enterprises, which are, generally broke financially but rich spiritually, but are serving a very positive cause for the world or the universe, should perhaps be given some attention and space on this site, sponsored by some of the more financially equipped … What are your thoughts on this?
Pods and blogs are definitely plentiful but not necessarily the best forum for 'other than random' postings and updates.
Keep up the good work. You have my support throughout.
Rgds, Sherri. Happily from Barbados
simply wonderful work that you've done in creating a place like this for all of us to gather. you can be assured that the love you offer to us is readily returned.
namaste.
BethanY
I just wanted to say that I did sign up for Gaia +, not because the ads matter to me one way or another but because I do love this community and am willing to contribute financially to its well being. The amount of money so minor.
Don't know about that resonance thing yet. Should prove interesting, I would at least hope.
Deborah
I actually like the ads (shh-it's a secret). I like seeing what wares are for sale and feel better about a company that supports Gaia. It may be that you should have some way for people to subscribe and still get the ads, lol!
Liz
and just so folks know if you have firefox you can get adblock plus for free and it does the same thing. I have had zero ads on my page for a long time. Firefox is a free browser too btw.
The resonance thing sounds pretty cool though.
Plus friends? Here's a walkthru to get you started on resonance…
http://galtenberg.gaia.com/blog/2008/2/gaia_resonance_-_start_here
I'm in the same boat as Liz up there!
I'd like to subscribe - to gain access to the resonance engine, and to help support Gaia. However, I'd also like to be able to see the ads still - I find them useful!
Is this an option once I've subscribed, or are they automatically turned off?
Thank you all, so, so much. It was kind of a big week; this was one of those HUGE steps for the site. I'm so proud of the dev team for getting such a complicated piece in place, and it makes me so ridiculously happy to see the rest of the community sharing in that encouragement.
(I got a few wonderful little notes on Valentine's Day from people who were just relishing the spirit of this place, and this is one of those threads that just quivers with that energy. I'm so glad.) And I'm grinning at all the requests FOR the ads! Janice? Liz? Kundan? As of next week, turning the ads on and off will be an option for Gaia+ subscribers. We're just going to add an additional toggle, so it'll be up to you whether you see them or not.
Even better, when that happens we'll be accepting international orders, too. :)
Wow you guys really pulled through, and fast, on these issues. I love the idea of toggling the ads. There are those advanced practitioners who can be consistently aware of their envirnonment, but for the rest of us peons, turning on the ads will mean really seeing them. That's great for your advertisers, too.
Liz
Awesome stuff, thank you!
I'm with you, completely, on the ads. And options are always good. :)
(Also, for those who'd like to see our sponsor page, we have one set up here. It needs updating, but if you'd like to see some of those on our list, there you go!)
When there is so much love within a community, it has no place to go but outwards. There is no place to go but up when the seeds for this site have been planted and have already begun to sprout. And to quote my son, when work gets to overwhelming…”Don't sweat the small stuff”
Fantastic Job.
I love Gaia in every form Siona! A huge hug of gratitude for making this all happen! I feel like I come home every time I log in! And options are always good! TY :-)
I'm not against ads either; else how would the flow of money change direction if we don't get to know of the new directions it can go in? Now, am I going to place my money on Gaiaplus? Perhaps not right away. Love it out here!
I am going to have to try out this paid service soon! Thanks for putting it together!