I'm lost - how do I get back to the home page?
If you've registered, just click the little house icon toward the upper right of any page or click "Home" from the Member Panel on the left side of your page and you will be taken to your personal home page.
If you have not registered, click the little house icon and you will be taken back to the first page you saw after entering Conscious Friends.
If you wish to get back to The Conscious Living Foundation Home page, click the "CLF Home" menu item at the bottom of any page.
How Do I Upgrade From The Basic Free Membership To Free Gold?
First, log in. Then, from the left side Member Panel, select "Manage Membership". At the next screen, select "Free Gold" from the choices at the top of the screen.
Then, toward the bottom of the page select "No Payment Method", then press the "Continue" button.
How Does The Member Referral Rewards Program Work?
Our Rewards program works in 2 different ways depending on what kind of membership you have.� If you have a Free Gold Membership, you can earn additional free time on your membership by inviting your friends to join Conscious Friends.
If you have a paid membership (Silver or Gold), you can earn points to make purchases of Conscious Living Foundation products by inviting your friends to join Conscious Friends.
If You Have A Free Gold Membership - Everytime you refer a friend to our site and they sign up (for any kind of membership, including Free or Free Gold) your Free Gold Membership is extended back to the maximum 90 days of use. So, you can continually maintain your Free Gold membership at no cost for as long as you desire by just inviting friends to join.
If You Have A Paid Membership - If you have a paid membership, and your friend signs up for any kind of membership, you are awarded 1 Reward Point for each friend who joins us (regardless of membership type including Free and Free Gold). You can use your Reward points to purchase our products which specialize in personal and spiritual growth.� You can see the reward products that are currently available by clicking on the word "Rewards" at the bottom of any page within Conscious Friends.
How To Invite A Friend - In the links at the bottom of every page, click on the words "Invite A Friend".� This will send an email to your friend suggesting that he or she consider taking a look at our community.
How To Receive Your Rewards - You can verify the amount of time on your membership (if you have a Free Gold Membership)�or your current Reward Points total (if you have a Paid Membership)�after you log in, by looking under the heading "Since Last Log In".� There you will see "Days left for the expiry of membership" and "Number of Membership Referral Reward Points Received".
In the case of Reward Points, you can click on the above words and you will see the name of each person who has joined, identifying you as the person who referred them.
How To Make Purchases With Reward Points - To make purchases with your Reward Points, click on the link at the bottom of any page entitled "Rewards". Then you will see a complete listing of products which are available for purchase with points, a brief description and the number of points required to purchase.� Products range in value from 1 to 6 points.� Just click the "Order Now" button to make your purchase.
What methods of communication are available on Conscious Friends?
Conscious Friends is all about communication.� There are several different methods within our community that allow us to�communicate with each other.� They include:
Creating a Profile - Probably the most important form of communication is the creation of your profile.� Through answering a series of questions (mostly multiple choice) about your lifestyle and interests, you give others a portrait of who you are.� This is essential as this information is included when others do a search for friends who share common interests.� Completing your profile and uploading a few pictures are the foundation of helping Conscious Friends help you find and create new meaningful relationships.� All membership levels, including Free permit creation of a Profile.
Sending�and receiving�messages - This is very similar to an email sent privately from you to another person registered in Conscious Friends.� This communiation is not instantaneous, but if the recipient is not online, we will send an email to him or her notifying them that they have received a new message from a member of Conscious Friends.�
Messages are an excellent way of begining communication because you are not using your regular email address, but rather a messaging system unique to Conscious Friends.� That means the only method of someone initially responding to you is through Conscious Friends - thus maintaining your email privacy until you decide to broaden your communication methods.� All membership levels except Free, permit the sending of private messages.� The Free membership is able to respond to private messages once they are received, but is not able to initiate private messages.
To send a private message, first select the profile of the person you wish to contact.� Then, click on the words, "Send Message" beneath his or her picture.
Sending and receiving Instant Messages - This allows you to send a short message in real time directly to another member.� You will find the Instant Messenger program on the left side of your screen after you have registered.� This functionality is available only�if you are a Gold Member.� After you have registered for any membership level, including Free, select "Upgrade Membership" in order to see a comparison of all the membership levels and the functions associated with them.
Talking on�Forums - This is a message you leave on an open bulletin board.� Conversations are centered around�particular topics such as "Member Uploads",�"Meditation Discussion", "Prayer Requests"�or conversations of a more general nature.� Your message can be read by everyone else who has access to our forums and stimulates indepth group discussion.� This is not real time but is a great way of communicating and is available to all registered members including Free memberships.
Talking in Chat�Rooms�- This is a typed discussion you have in real time with others who are in the same chat room as yourself.� your messages can be read by everyone in the chat room.� This facilitates dynamic conversations in the moment.� You are also able to create and share a private chat room for more private conversations.� Use of the Chat Rooms is available to Gold Memberships only.
How do the various membership levels work?
Visitor -� A visitor can look around the site, read the various profiles and see how things work.� There is no registration required and there is no charge.� However, you can not create a profile, upload pictures, or participate in the various forms of communication which are available.
Free Member - This requires registration, but there is no charge.� You are able to create a profile and upload a maximum of 3 pictures.� This allows you to provide information so that other members can learn about you and send you messages to begin a conversation.� The information you create�is included when others do a search for compatible friends.� This is a great way to begin exploring the potential within Conscious Friends.� It allows others to learn about you and take the first step at creating a friendship.� However, you are not able to initiate communication with others through the use of Private Messages.� However, you are able to enter the Forums and read and send messages there.
Silver Member - This requires registration and payment of $5 per month.� Not only can you provide detailed information about yourself and your interests, you can upload up to�20 pictures.� In addition, you are able to place your photos in public or private albums.� Only allowing the people you choose to view the private albums.
You are also able to initiate communication with others by sending a message to their mailbox.� This is an excellent way of begining communication because you are not using your regular email address, but rather a messaging system unique to Conscious Friends.� That means the only method of someone initially responding to you is through Conscious Friends - thus maintaining your email privacy.� You can save up to 100 unique messages for future reference.
Another handy feature of Silver membership is your ability to identify others as a "buddy" which helps you to quickly identify their messages and other communications.� In addition, you are able to identify those withwhom you do not want to relate by "banning" them.� This makes their presence and any and all communications�within Conscious Friends totally invisible to you.� In essence, you can make them disappear.� At the same time, you become invisible to them, so they don't know when you are online and cannot see your profile or messages in the forums or chat rooms.
There are several other features associated with Silver membership, including your ability to perform an Extended Search allowing you to more particularly look for those withwhom you might share common interests and the use of our Forums.��You are also�able to manage events from within Conscious Friends.� For a detailed chart explaining the differences in membership levels, select "Compare Memberships" located on the upper left side of any screen.
Gold Member -� This level of membership requires registration and payment of $10 per month.� This is the highest level of membership and includes all the features of a Silver member plus the following:
The number of photos you can upload is increased from�20 to 80.� The number of messages you can maintain on the system is increased from 100 to 300.
Most significantly, you can send instant messages and�participate in the live chat rooms, thus significantly increasing your methods and speed�of communication.� After all, communication is the bridge to creating relationships and sharing.� Of course, Gold members are also able to use our forums.
For a detailed chart explaining the differences in membership levels, select "Compare Memberships" located on the upper left side of any screen.� For more information, also see the "Services" menu choice at the bottom of any page.
How do I upload pictures to my profile?
Once you have logged in, from the Member Panel on the left side, select "Manage Pictures".� Under the words "Main Picture", click the "Browse" button to select a picture from your hard drive.
After selecting your image file, decide whether the picture should be public, which is the default, or private.� If you select Private, you also have the option of creating a password in order to view the private picture.
Then, click "Upload".� When the Main Picture is uploaded, it will automatically create a "Thumbnail" of the picture as well, which is displayed when people view your profile or look at your picture albums.
Depending on your level of membership, you can upload quite a few photos, offering you the opportunity of sharing pictures of your family, hobbies, your favorite places or other interesting photos.
How do I change my email address or password?
You can change your email address�on the "edit your profile" page. Here you can change some other information including search preferences, address and other preferences about your daily routines, habits, hobbies etc.
You will find this link in the member panel menu, after you login.� After you've made your changes, click "Save" at the bottom of the page to save.
What is the purpose behind Instant Messenger, how do i get benefit from it?
This application is a faster way of communicating to other members of the site who�are online. Its lists all the members who are online. When you send a message, the recipient�will receive the message and reply. If�unfortunately�the recipient doesn't receive your message for some reason, then that message will be sent to his onsite message Inbox.
How does "My Matches" works?
My Matches works according to the basic profile and "search preferences" at the bottom of the�"edit profile" page.� This allows you to search exactly for the kind of interests and character traits you are looking for.� Once found and defined, you are able to perform the same search again as new members join - simplifying your finding new members with similar interests and attitudes.
When someone emails me, where does the email go and how do I respond?
When a member sends you a note, it goes straight into your onsite message Inbox. We then send an email to your personal email address to let you know that it's there.
To read the note, simply login to the site and go to your Inbox. If you decide to write back, simply click "reply", write your own note and send it on its way. Your note will go straight into the member's onsite Inbox, and we'll let them know it's there with an email to their personal email address.
All communications with other members stay onsite so that you never have to give out any personal information until you feel completely ready. Then when you are, you can exchange phone numbers and even meet in person.
How do I edit my profile? How do I hide my profile?
To update your profile, click "Edit Profile"�in Members Panel menu. Be sure to save your changes at the bottom of the screen when you're done.
Try to put your best foot forward with at least one photo and� detailed essays about your interests. The photo is key since most people feel more comfortable writing to members they can see. Try to stay positive in your essays and let the real you shine.
To hide your profile, select "No" for the option "Other members can see when I'm online?" on the�"Edit Profile" page. Keep in mind, however, that members who are most active on the site keep their profile visible in all places because it increases their chances of connecting with like-minded people. And you never know, someone may be looking for a friend just like you and never get to find you if your profile is hidden.
What Is My GMT Time?
Knowing your Greenwich Mean Time allows you to coordinate with people in different time zones all over the world.� This is handy, for instance, if you want to schedule a meeting in a chatroom.� You and your friends may be from different states in the U.S. or from different countries.� When you schedule in GMT, you're using a common "time language" we can all understand.
If you're from outside the United States and don't know your GMT, click this link and then look for your country name listed in the left hand column: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/info/time-zones.htm.� If you're from the U.S., you'll find your GMT on the following chart:
When I suspend my membership, does it end my subscription? Can I put my subscription on hold?
No. Once you purchase a subscription, it will remain active for the remainder of your initial term. Of course you can cancel your membership by selecting "Cancel Membership" at the bottom of the Member Panel on the left side of any page.
