Pulling the Strings of the Algorithm
the intersection of signs and technology
Oh the algorithm. We talk about it as though it's some force that operates outside of time and space, driven by its own devices. Watching it serve us inane and unhelpful suggestions and forced interests alongside actual, useful information, it's easy to forget there are hands guiding its direction. Bearing that in mind makes this follow-up question to the upsides and perils of signs all the more interesting.
Q | Once the algorithm takes over, does it still count as a sign?
The short answer is — Yes!! No!! All of the above!!!
The Human Component
Let's tackle the human component first. Real people are writing the code behind the algorithmic programming. Their interests and objectives and biases and flights of fancy influence what we see on our screens. This holds true whether we're talking Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, web searches, or the creep of AI technologies. The code didn't appear out of nowhere.
Even if these individuals and companies wanted to produce something unbiased without the infusion of their personal leanings, that's impossible. We are the composite of our lived experiences. Our work reflects that. Gather enough people in a room and the individual influences dilute. Still, you're certain to encounter ideological leanings of one sort or another.
That premise assumes that the companies keeping us glued to our phones want to eradicate these influences in their code and by virtue their algorithms. They don't. Whether the motives are fiscal, political, or downright diabolical, these apps are meant to shape us. It's best to remain skeptical when watching the meteoric rise of a new influencer or burgeoning online celebrity. Is it as organic as we think? (Spoiler. It's not.)
How does this apply to signs?
The push of a certain idea or image may not be organic. Remember when pineapples were all the rage? Part of that was based on people wanting to jump on the latest trend. That trend emerged because large trend forecasting firms labeled pineapples as "the next big thing." They sold that idea to retailers who plastered the tropical fruit on clothing and sculpted any home decor they could think of into that pointy shape.
Sure, some people loved pineapples prior to the surge of availability and will continue to adore them as Pottery Barn and Home Goods mark those wares on clearance. Psych (2006-2014) inserted the running gag of a pineapple in every episode years before the trend was given the green light. The unseen influence of trend forecasting first structures a great deal of what we see in the retail market. The hands coding the algorithm further extend the reach.
It's best to ask if your sign is popular in the mainstream before making major life decisions based on seeing it.
The Alien Component
For all of the easily trackable influences in the algorithm, there are a whole host of them that exist in dimensions beyond this physical world. Yes, yes. I'm referring to demons and aliens, though in this case it really is more alien than demon. Demons follow orders. Aliens pull the strings.
Had we broached this topic six years ago, I would have told you that my ghost friends planted videos and posts within the scroll for me to see. Even typing that makes the energy around me wobble. In retrospect, I'm not certain that those bright spots of interest weren't plants to seduce me to work with the darkness. At this point, I'm highly skeptical of any "signs" that come via technology. The mechanics of it are far too malleable by malevolent hands. The alien influence in tech only strengthens with each passing day.
Remember that those who wish us harm rarely appear as monsters, at least not out of the gate. The darkness intertwines with answers to our longings, exciting opportunities, and treasures we actually want. That's the lure. Once you're on the hook, the game changes.
One aspect I failed to mention when addressing The Law of Attraction and the Illusion of Safety is the superiority complex that accompanies “I manifested the thing, and you didn’t.” Choose an influencer selling her methodologies for a six figure income and a phenomenal life, and you'll readily observe an example of this dynamic. The separation of those knocking The Law of Attraction out of the park and those still struggling creates a further feedback loop telling us, "If you're not fulfilled with all of the things that you've ever wanted, you must be doing attraction wrong, wrong, wrong." Does that intentional divide sound benevolent? Not to my ears.
Make no mistake, the alien reach of manipulating signs extends far beyond the realm of technology. The digital landscape is merely where they have the most power to exert their influence.
Numbers Are Not to Be Trusted
We see a million numbers a day. They don’t register unless they already mean something to us. It’s self reinforcing. Look at how people choose lottery numbers. Catching the microwave flashing 11:11 validates whatever predetermined meaning you've assigned. It's human nature to convince ourselves that an encounter is chock full of significance, only to realize that there was nothing to it. Such a mentality goes hand in hand with approaching the world with awe and wonder. Make sure to offset your amazement with a bit of grounding so that you don't drift away.
Signs As Counter Indications
Let's also not assume that all signs are positive. Without fail, a certain person appears in my messages when and only when I'm just about to kick some evil to the curb. Her presence indicates that nefarious forces are trying to sneak through the back door attached to an unsuspecting but willing courier. Her choice to blindly ignore the distinction of good and evil makes her a perfect patsy.
Tells of a Genuine Sign
Skeptic though I may be that the vast majority of what people infuse with meaning are the signs they believe them to be, I do know that they are out there. The proliferation is simply far sparser than many would like to acknowledge and is certainly not embedded in the "latest and greatest" coaching program for $444.44.
I can't provide a definitive list for what is a sign and what it isn't. Evil is far too adept at imitating good.
At the very least, the presence of what you believe to be a sign should feel organic — unlike when YouTube shows up like an overly excited Golden Retriever with a stick who noticed that you watched a single video on pencils and then pushes thirteen more. (Okay I actually watched two. There was a follow-up.) You can palpably feel the difference.
I knew that I was seeing videos on pencils as a direct result of my viewing history. Not a sign.
On the other hand, apricots appearing on their own. Sign potential.
Now, if watching a lone video with an apricot recipe had resulted in an influx of stone fruit themed content, the algorithm would have overpowered any relevance of a sign, at least for the time being. If that's the case, whoever was behind the sign in the first place would need an alternate way to communicate the message.
I went on at length about the dangers of asking for a highly specific sign when addressing the work of Gabby Bernstein since demanding signs is a significant aspect of her teachings. Gabby often suggests, "Ask for a sign today, if you’re having a difficult experience. Say, guides…" When you're this explicit, you leave yourself wide open to alien manipulation. Is it always aliens answering your pleas? Not necessarily, but your odds significantly increase. The malevolent beings of the fourth dimension are looking for any opportunity to worm their way into our lives.
Again, I'm highly dubious of any insights with the algorithm as a delivery system or that you have demanded along with your "Daddy, I want a golden goose" appeals. We're playing out this scenario as a hypothetical.
Bottom line — there's no hard and fast answer here. That's what simultaneously makes signs tricky and empowering. It's up to you to use your keen sense of awareness to know the difference of when unseen forces are helping versus manipulating. Put the power back in your own hands.
All of this talk of signs is leading to an examination of AI. Stay tuned.