Transparency and Accountability Regarding AI Usage

 


(Image made through Canva without AI)

Dear Readers of The Contemporary Mystic, 


In past blog posts, I have used AI (Artificial Intelligence) from Canva or ChatGPT to create images to convey the topics. However, after further research and understanding of the dangers and concerns of AI, I will no longer be using AI moving forward. Outside of managing my digital journal, I am a professional artist and often use my spiritual experiences to enchant or inspire certain pieces. For me, art is an integral part of my devotional practice as well, to honor the Divine. 


I now fully understand that the AI models steal from any content online to generate images, books, and more. “The language models and image generators need samples before they can generate anything – they can’t create text or images from nothing. The companies call this “training” – the AI is being provided huge datasets that are run through several algorithms. Where does that data come from? From us. Human creations. Books, media, the internet.”  (Julia Bausenhardt, 2026) In a world of capitalism and mass production, I want to ensure I support individuals rather than contributing to a cog in the machine–I do not want to participate in lining the pockets of companies that are morally corrupt.  


I currently live in Appalachia. I am seeing companies purchase beautiful, rural land to build data centers for AI. This is appalling to me and reminiscent of coal mining companies taking over–causing permanent damage to Gaia we still see decades later, and especially to the people of my community. After coal mining, big pharma targeted the vulnerable folks who were exploited and then suffered from permanent health conditions afterwards. All for what? The greed of others. 


Coal mining created and continues the vicious cycle of addiction, poverty, and child abuse in the United States. Mary Kutter wrote a song about this called The Devil Wore a Lab Coat. I see the impacts personally in my volunteer work–the generational trauma that can be traced back to mining companies. The desecration of families due to company towns still impacts many individuals today. A company town is a place where all or most of the stores and housing in the town are owned by the same company that is also the main employer. Company towns are horrific tales of abundance and abandonment, boom and bust, plenty and poverty. It leaves tragedy behind with no tools for people to cope or heal. Now, in an ironic twist of repeating history but in a different form, tech companies are eyeing our rural landscapes with dreadful, ambitious plans to power the artificial intelligence revolution.


Floods have been increasing in the remaining mountain ways as well because of Mountain Top Removal (MTR) Mining. “For years, researchers have warned that land warped by mountaintop removal may be more prone to flooding, due to the resulting lack of vegetation to prevent runoff. Without trees to buffer the rain and soil to soak it up, water pools together and heads for the least resistant path—downhill.” (Wired, 2022) Database centers also use a significant amount of water. CEO’s deny this and say the centers are the equivalent of a restaurant with their water usage and are hiding behind nondisclosure agreements to avoid transparency to the public. (Branscome, 2026) AI businesses rank within the top ten water-consuming commercial industries in America. The United Nations announced that we have entered the “Era of Global Water Bankrupty”. (United Nations, 2026) I cannot use AI programs while keeping my personal integrity and values intact.


Big tech companies, like ChatGPT, are confirmed to have contributed to the Trump administration. “OpenAI president Greg Brockman famously donated $25 million to a Trump Super PAC in 2025, while ICE uses an AI tool powered by ChatGPT for recruitment.” (Wilkens, 2026) The horrors that have happened in Minneapolis are appalling. Every day, I open the news and see more horrific deaths at the hands of ICE agents. 


Healers. Protectors. Advocates. Children. Families. They are dying and being ripped apart. AI has stained hands in this, too. We must hold them accountable.


I acknowledge that my use of AI contributed to this, unknowingly. I revoke all access I allowed to these vile, greedy, and corrupt ‘leaders’ that have created AI. I reclaim my power and my voice, and I will continue to support the vulnerable and historically underserved communities. As I have stated before, I may be a feminine-presenting person and in a straight-passing relationship: I am queer woman and always will be. 


I am not a safe person for bigotry, transphobia, and homophobia. I stand with my community, all of my brothers, sisters, and siblings. With what is happening in the states, I am on the side of true justice. The detestable violence shown by ICE is disgusting, and everyone should be appalled. 


Growing up in Arizona, I have a great respect for Hispanic and Latin American culture. Many of my fond memories of my Catholic upbringing are embedded in Spanish customs. I've had fierce, honorary abelia protectors and attended many Dia de los Muertos celebrations. I taught workshops on how to make papier-mache masks for people to honor their ancestors and march in processions. We are all one people. We are all America. 


I will do everything I can to honor differing cultures and take care of my fellow neighbors. Bishop Mariann Budde directly addressed President Trump, emphasizing that "we were all once strangers in this land". 


We have to take care of each other. 


In this digital age, I cherish authenticity within my friendships, work, and spirituality greater than ever before. I never want anyone, including my readers, to be skeptical of my genuineness with the content that I create online. Embodiment of one’s true self is healing for the world, “authenticity is the highest vibrational frequency’. Authenticity is a journey home to oneself; it is freedom from outside pressures and social conditioning. It is embracing your nature, which opens you up to unconditional love for yourself and others–that is the foundation for the path home to God. (Rivello, 2025)


Thank you to those who have supported The Contemporary Mystic and my writing. After this hiatus of reflecting on my personal values and the usage of AI, I will be back to sharing my journey and spiritual practice with you all. With love, light, and authenticity–always. 


TLDR: Fuck AI.


Sincerely, 

Calla Marie Rowan


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