Charging for Spirituality

One of my favorite purposes of life is to come meet contrasts that cause us to expand and see our truth.

When we meet one another in differences of opinion and thought, we come into a place of being able to think about it and counter in a way that is in alignment with our beliefs. One such way that is often brought up is the subject of paying for spirituality, energy work or healing in this modern world of ours.

Many moons ago, tribes would have healers, medicine people, shamans and other spiritual leaders that played a vital function in the day to day lives and well being of the tribe. Because they lived in a co-creative and cohabited sort of environment , the healers might not have been compensated directly for their daily efforts, but had food, shelter, and respect.

Fast forward to 2015, and we don't all have the benefit of living in the same tribe (wouldn't that totally rock though?)

Our daily lives are as such that we take care of our needs like food and shelter, and these things cost money. Our way of living in communities has been separated and with that our ability to see the value in the healers. Here are some thoughts I have on the subject, which are merely opinions and observations.

1) Those that bawk at healers don't see the damage that they do with their scrutiny. These healers have likely taken years at their craft, taken schooling, done seminars and practiced endlessly. It takes huge courage to stand up, dust yourself off and say "Hello world, I have something to bring to you." This is something that often gets met with huge scrutiny because of being misunderstood.

The truth is you wouldn't like it if someone stood up and shot you down immediately just because you weren't in alignment with what they are offering. You may not want a banana today but you don't walk up to the grocery store manager and demand they take them off the shelf. It's ok if you don't require or want what they are offering, but someone out there might require this person or service. To each their own right?

I think back to the gypsy tarot reader that has been an integral thread on my own path and I can't imagine having done it without her. On the flip side my mother was big into Sylvia Browne who I never really resonated with, but she benefited her greatly. To each their own.

I think to the energy workers, the herbalists, the writers, the healers that work with oils, the artists and visionaries that I have consulted over the years (despite criticism from external sources), and wonder where I would be if someone had convinced them to quit simply because of the opinion of others.

2) To put an investment into something makes you value it more. It's true. Look back on all the times parents tell kids to save for their first vehicle as putting their own money into will make them respect it more.

I've seen brilliant leaders put things out for free out of a place of not feeling their worth and having most of the participants really not be invested in it (I'm not saying all, I'm saying most). When you "put some skin in the game" this gives you a stake in the outcome, a reason to actually be present with what is happening. 

[3) Everyone has every right to spend their money where they wish. This is their free right. However where I have an issue is the shaming that can occur in the direction of the one that is making the offering. Again, this is 2015.

We live in a big world with a lot of beliefs, and there is room for everyone's even if you don't believe in what someone else is doing. Keep the shaming to yourself and move on. There is no need to try to hurt someone else because you're not in alignment with what they're offering. (And truthfully it brings negative energy back if this is what your focus becomes reality.)

4) There is nothing wrong with exchanges for spiritual service if it works for the two parties involved, but now a days it's not likely to work as well if what you're trying to pay is a mortgage.

We live in a world where (unfortunately) we can't pay the cable bill with tarot readings or reiki. We can however pay it from money earned working with divine gifts that we have within us.

I understand we don't live in a perfect world and you do hear tales of all sort from all ends of the spectrum about individuals in all industries who tend to mislead people (like the advertisers in conventional sales that are targeting the imperfect view we hold of ourselves and selling us things to make our lives better with airbrushed lies.)

Each of us should exercise being savvy shoppers and choose what is right for us by following our guts and our personal needs, and following our intuition on what is best for us and our experience.

Each of us has gifts and talents that we should be celebrated for and never shamed, judged or ridiculed. May we all embrace the abundance of the Universe and know there is more than enough for every one of us and room for our sacred talents.

Celebrating you in love and light,