The Paradox of Spiritual Influencers
Social media is home to a unique breed of influencers and one that I am naturally drawn to- the spiritual intellectual. The one that probably wouldn’t identify as an influencer. The dreamy ethereal girl that uses the cloud, fountain, fairy, and mirror emoji religiously. Their account probably started as an anonymous meme page but their presence has evolved into some sort of a spiritual leader. The type where people (Patreon or Substack) subscribe to their musings, ideas and ask them for advice. They write and publish books and paragraphs and paragraphs on abstract ideas. They have probably appropriated some sort of religion.
On the surface, it may seem like a paradox that these spiritual leaders have gained such a following on the internet, a place known for its superficiality and distraction. How can someone be a spiritual intellectual while spending so much time on the internet, a platform that is often associated with shallowness and instant gratification?
Social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter have become a stage for spiritual influencers to share their perspectives on faith, community, and personal growth. They offer their followers a glimpse into their lives, sharing inspirational quotes, affirmations, and mantras. They also use their platforms to promote their books, speaking events, and retreats.
To me, it is a a question that haunts me. What do their daily lives look like? How are they able to spend hours upon hours recording, tweeting, sharing, liking, creating memes, content – and still create meaningful and enlightened work? Isn’t the internet a certifiable brain rotter? How do they keep the worms from invading their brain?
It’s a thin line they are treading and I wish I knew the secret. What I do know is that this genre of influencer baffles, intrigues, and will always have me in the palm of their hands as I wonder in their mystery.
xx
Lisette
Thank you for writing this. I read it about a year ago and it really made me think long and hard about the relationship my work had with instagram and thus the audience. Your work prompted an eventual and much needed shift of focus- thank you.