Reflecting, Reconnecting, and Riding the Wave of Elevation at Gaia Gate Wellness

Welcome back to the Gaia Journal here at gaiagatewellness.com! Today is October 19, 2026, which means Halloween is just around the corner, and the crisp, transformative energy of autumn is fully in the air.

As we move through October, we also recognize that this month has been Indigenous Peoples Month, a vital time to honor the rich histories, enduring cultures, and profound wisdom of Native American communities. Indigenous stewardship of the earth has always centered on a sacred truth that we hold close at Gaia Gate Wellness: we belong to the planet, and protecting our natural world is non negotiable.

Honoring Indigenous Roots and the Lakota Tradition

October is a special time to reflect on heritage, ancestry, and deep rooted traditions. With Native American roots running deep on both sides of my family, from my Cherokee side to my Lakota side, ancestry is a profound part of who I am. While the roots on both sides are powerful, I naturally lean into and honor the Lakota tribe more closely in my daily life. Growing up, my family spoke of our Lakota heritage more often, and as I walked my own path, I consciously chose to honor those specific practices, values, and ways of living.

For the Lakota people, honoring Native heritage and Indigenous Peoples Month goes far beyond historical recognition. It is an active, living daily practice rooted in WoLakota, the Lakota way of life, which embodies peace, harmony, respect for all living things (Mitakuye Oyasin, “all my relations”), and deep reverence for the earth. It is about honoring the resilience of ancestors, passing down sacred oral histories, and remembering that humans are not owners of the land, but caretakers entrusted with protecting the water, the soil, and future generations.

Water Advocacy and the Hidden Cost of AI

That exact spirit of earth stewardship is why, lately here at Gaia Gate Wellness, we have been doing a lot of advocacy around water conservation and environmental awareness.

Artificial intelligence is an extraordinary, mind blowing tool that opens up incredible possibilities for productivity, creativity, and connection. However, we must learn how to use it much more responsibly. Behind the sleek screens, automated prompts, and instant generations lies a massive physical footprint. Did you know that just 12 artificially generated videos consume approximately 285 gallons of water?

That is an astonishing amount of water for just one person to use through digital generation alone. Now, multiply that by the millions of people utilizing these platforms daily across the globe. At Gaia Gate Wellness, we are fiercely for the Planet. Even if we weren’t facing mounting ecological pressures, water is life, and we can and must do better.

That is what we are here to help folks with: finding practical ways to engage more thoughtfully in society, reduce our footprint, and learn how to truly reconnect with our environment and each other.

Diving Into Our Current Read: Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams

For our current Gaia Gate Reader Circle selection, we chose a book that speaks directly to the complex reality of our modern technological world: Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn Williams. You can easily purchase your copy directly on our website at gaiagatewellness.com by checking the search menu under books!

Who Is the Author and What Is the Book About?

Sarah Wynn Williams is a former New Zealand diplomat and public policy expert who spent seven years working as a Director of Global Public Policy at Facebook (Meta). Taking its title from the famous F. Scott Fitzgerald quote in The Great Gatsby about people who “smash up things and creatures and then retreat back into their money… and let other people clean up the mess,” her memoir is a gripping, darkly funny, and deeply eye opening look inside the upper echelons of Silicon Valley.

Wynn Williams was initially inspired to write the book out of a profound sense of disillusionment. She joined the tech giant believing it could genuinely change the world for the better, only to watch idealistic visions give way to an insular corporate culture where vanity, greed, and reckless decision making routinely overshadowed human consequences and global wellbeing.

Why We Chose This Book for October

We selected Careless People because the entire world is currently grappling with the massive, sweeping impact of artificial intelligence and digital expansion. But here at Gaia Gate Wellness, our discussions dig deeper than surface level blame. While people are quick to point fingers solely at “Big Tech,” the truth is much more layered. These tech giants operate within systems that require government permissions, regulatory approvals, and global compliance. Who is truly to blame when corporate greed and government oversight intertwine?

Let’s be completely honest: while Sarah Wynn Williams’s book is an excellent, brave exposé giving a voice to an insider’s perspective, it also operates on some level as a brilliant PR strategy, and that is okay! It opens the door to critical conversations about the forces shaping our society. In our Reader Circle discussions, we aren’t just reading pages; we are peeling back the layers on how power, tech, and policy intersect, and how we as individuals can reclaim our autonomy.

The Gaia Gate Reader Circle: Reconnecting Through Literature

We kicked off our exploration of Careless People on October 15, and we will be reading, reflecting, and discussing it together through November 8.

$25 MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP

A little more than a book club. A community for readers, dreamers, learners, and lifelong explorers.

The Gaia Gate Wellness Reader Circle™ is a monthly membership experience created for individuals who believe that the right book can spark new ideas, broaden perspectives, inspire personal growth, and foster meaningful connection. Each month, we explore a selected book together through guided reading, blog insights, podcast discussions, and our signature monthly events.

Your Reader Circle™ Membership Includes:

📚 2 Monthly Gathering Formats

Dedicated Virtual Zoom Meeting: An interactive, standalone Zoom gathering designed for members joining from anywhere.

In Person Experience: A two part gathering featuring a one hour group discussion at a designated venue, followed by 60 to 90 minutes of dinner and continued conversation at a nearby restaurant. A live Zoom feed is available during in person events and dinners for remote participation! Members attending in person are responsible for their own meal and beverage purchases.

✨ Engage All Month Long

Access to the Gaia Gate Wellness Blog for chapter breakdowns, the Gaia Gate Wellness Newsletter for community news, and the Reader Circle™ Podcast for audio deep dives.

💚 Exclusive Member Savings

30% OFF your first eligible purchase, including a book, bookmark, or qualifying item upon joining. You can grab your copy of Careless People right on our site at gaiagatewellness.com!

15% OFF ongoing book related purchases.

7% OFF general store products storewide.

Upon completing your $25 monthly enrollment, you will receive a welcome email with your private portal access, member discount codes, and complete details for attending our upcoming gatherings. You can find the book and sign up for the membership right in our website search menu under Books or Gaia Gate Reader Circle Membership!

Special Halloween Week Plans at Gaia Gate Wellness!

Speaking of the spooky season, we are cooking up something extra special for Halloween! As we head into the final week of October, we’re putting together some unique treats, mindful practices, and surprises to celebrate the thinning of the veil and the shift into the deeper, darker half of the year. Keep a close eye on our announcements so you don’t miss out on what we have planned for Halloween week!

Stay in the Loop

The Reader Circle, our water advocacy, and our upcoming Halloween celebrations are just a few of the many programs and initiatives we have running right now to support your journey toward balance, conscious living, and community empowerment.

Stay tuned to the Gaia Journal and stay connected with us across our platforms as we continue exploring ways to honor our planet, elevate our minds, and build a brighter future together.