A few weeks ago i participated in a dialogue on money between artists of all different backgrounds. It's always amazing to me how quickly talking about money becomes a discussion of nearly everything it touches - our social identities, our relationships, our family stories and memories, the political and economic forces around us, the value of art, how we spend our time. And then there's my actual JOB!
Over and over I notice people just like me grappling big time with money: creative, dedicated in spiritual practice, politically engaged- and self-described "bad with money." Especially as artists, there's an extra "damned if you do, damned if you don't" feel. Recently it has started to kind of piss me off - I don't want us to be so bullied by this thing.
For the past five years, money kinda became my transformation partner. I've read a bunch of books and taken a few of classes to learn how to use it clearly, skillfully and with integrity. I thought you might like some of these resources too! These are the ones that continue to be most supportive as I practice.
THE ENERGY OF MONEY: MARIA NEMETH This book has probably shaped me more than any other: Because money is so black and white specific, Nemeth argues how we do money is how we do our lives. (WILD.) Who are we willing to be with money? What our our standards of integrity with money, and what stories are we willing to leave behind?
FREE YOUR MONEY I took a class with Isaak Brown and love his set of articles at freeyourmoney.org/blog. My biggest take away: What if earning money is giving value? How does that change how I think about what I charge, and how I provide for myself?
THE SCIENCE OF GETTING RICH: WALLACE WATTLES This book is from 1910, written by a potato farmer! Wattles defines money as energy to unpack our purpose on behalf of the divine. In my class we read 4 chapters every day for 90 days - If I missed a day, I started over. (I missed lots of days before I set up a support team! Big learning.)
We read chapters 4, 7, 11, & 14: Having clear Vision, practicing Gratitude, doing the Action in front of my with my whole heart and mind, being above all else a person of Service & Increase.
MONEY SPIRITUALITY & CONSCIOUSNESS: MAYURI ONERHEIM I'm reading this one right now with my dad! Since money impacts every part of our lives, what if it were the primary practice ground for spiritual principles? What if the broken economic system is the result of separating it from our spiritual nature? I really like this idea of money as the meeting place of our divine nature and animal body.
Send me your favorite money book! Let me know what you think!
Love to you on the path,
Melanie