“Money is evil and it should never come into the domain of spiritual practice!”
“You’re not a REAL spiritual person if you charge money for your spiritual services!”
“You should never want more money if you’re a spiritual person – show gratitude for what you’ve got!”
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“Everything that you do should be given to others for free – THAT is the only loving way of doing things.”
“Stop being a peddler!”
Through the years, I’ve heard a lot of passionate – and frankly dogmatic – opinions regarding spirituality and money.
These opinions range from extreme views such as money always taints and corrupts spirituality and spiritual services should never have a price tag, all the way to polar views that we should invest as much money as we have in spiritual practice.
Let me be clear: I’m not a person of extremes. I seek and respect balance, so my perspective falls somewhere in the middle.
I don’t believe charging for spiritual services is wrong nor do I believe that you should invest all the money you have in spiritual materials, courses, and teachers. I’ll explain why below.
But before we proceed I want to be clear: money and spirituality can be a heated topic. I respect everyone’s right to have different opinions so long as they don’t shove them into the faces of others.
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Ironically so much unkindness and “unspiritual” behavior can occur when discussing money and spirituality. Let’s keep the comment area civil and mature.
Is Money Evil?
Let’s start off with a super basic question. Is money evil? After all, many of us have been conditioned to believe the religious idea that “money is the root of all evil.”
My simple answer to this question is no, money is not evil.
Why?
Money is paper – literally, it’s paper that WE have given value and meaning. By itself, it means nothing.
Saying money is evil is like saying the spoon you used to gouge that guy’s eyes out is evil. No, the spoon itself is not evil – it was your behavior that was the issue.
Do you see what I mean?
Money is a symbolic item we use to give and exchange items. In and of itself it is not evil – the problems stem from our minds and hearts, not from the flimsy piece of paper that we hold in our hands.
Why it Makes Sense to Be Suspicious of Money and Spirituality
I understand the fear surrounding money because, sometimes, I experience it as well. It sounds something like this:
Is that person really genuine?
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Is that spiritual message a slick marketing campaign or does it carry genuine truth?
Can I rely on that person if they are charging me money?
Does that person care about me or my money?
Are they going to try and scam me?
What motivates that person – greed or love?
And all these concerns are legitimate.
The reality is that yes, there are sharks out there swimming in the water wanting to make a quick buck. There are deceitful and sly people out there who market themselves as spiritual “gurus” and teachers. There are people who dress up as beings of light but are fuelled by dark motives. There are people who will use you for your money – and discard of you when you no longer pay their bills.
It’s not only sensible to feel this way but it is also crucial. Without a little bit of healthy skepticism, we approach the arena of spirituality with wide-eyed naivety and gullibility. Being suspicious and cautious allows us to practice discernment which cuts through the bullshit and protects us from being used and abused.
But there is a big difference between carrying healthy caution and completely rejecting all those who charge money for their services.
I’ll explain why …
Is it Okay to Charge Money For Spiritual Services?
My answer is: it depends.
If you are motivated purely by greed (or the desire to accumulate great wealth and “get rich”), then you need to rethink your motivations. People are not stupid and they can sniff out BS and insincerity ten miles away.
So not only is being motivated by money for money’s sake disrespectful towards those you serve, but it is also a bad idea for your business and damaging to nearly all aspects of your life.
If – on the other hand – you’re motivated by the desire to make a living from doing what you love (which is helping others), then charging for your spiritual services is appropriate and acceptable.
Why?
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Shouldn’t “a genuinely spiritual person offer all of their help free of charge?” – as I’ve heard numerous people proclaim.
My answer is that sure, if you feel called to offer your spiritual services free of charge, that is wonderful. Sol and I do it here on lonerwolf every single week (as do many other people in the spiritual field).
But expecting that a person should offer all their time and energy for free (in the name of “spirituality”) is unrealistic. I can tell you for a start that this entire website would not exist without the financial support from our readers and donators.
And I’ll go on the explain more below. But first, let’s explore some arguments for and against involving money in the spiritual domain.
Arguments For and Against
Here are a few common arguments against money and spirituality, with my response below each:
1. If you’re spiritual you shouldn’t want money – people who want money are greedy and materialistic.
My response: So long as you are motivated by the genuine desire to help others, making money isn’t a problem. It is a gross generalization and misconception to say that those who want money are greedy and materialistic. Perhaps they want money to help support their families? Perhaps they want money to pay the bills? Perhaps they want money to support their sick loved ones? Perhaps they want money to pay for an education that will help them spread knowledge throughout the world?
2. You shouldn’t be charging money for a gift you’ve gained freely from the universe!
My response: You ARE the Universe. Free will and personal sovereignty mean that you can share that gift with the world in whatever way you like. It’s time to stop thinking about your gifts like they’re handouts and start owning them as qualities of your own Soul.
3. Spirituality is about personal sacrifice, it’s not about personal profit!
My response: Spirituality is not solely about personal sacrifice – although that forms a part of it. Spirituality is also about personal fulfillment, helping others, and spreading your message through the world – all of which are supported and furthered by money.
4. As soon as you make a business out of spirituality you’ve stopped being spiritual because you’re motivated by money now.
My response: Just because you have a spiritual business that generates profit doesn’t mean you are driven exclusively by getting rich. Authentic spiritual businesses use money as a way to further their message to help others.
Here are some other reasons why I believe money and spirituality can coexist harmoniously (in the right hands):
- Money helps to spread and propagate a message throughout the world – websites, books, videos, and workshops don’t just materialize out of thin air, they require money to make, edit, product, and spread
- Money allows you to do what you love for a living and feel a sense of self-fulfillment
- Money allows you to pay the bills while also helping others
- Money is an equal exchange of energy – it allows others to give something for receiving something
- Charging money for your services is a sign of self-respect – it signifies that you believe in and trust what you do enough to place value on it
- Money is an investment of time and energy – basic psychology shows that people value what they pay for way more than what they receive for free
Do I think those that all spiritual services should have a price tag? No, of course not. Not everyone has the privilege of being able to afford premium services. Not everyone has money to spare or a wealthy cultural background, and that’s okay. This is where balance is needed. I believe that heart-centered spiritual businesses need to offer both free and paid content.
We don’t have to be self-sacrificing martyrs who give away all of our time and energy, nor do we need to be gluttons who focus on making big bucks. We can walk the middle path, respect what we have to offer, use money to spread our message and pay our bills, while also helping those who can’t afford premium services with free content or products.
As a heart-centered business owner, I can tell you that lonerwolf would have died long ago if it wasn’t for the help of advertisements and products. Furthermore, without generating some kind of profit, I wouldn’t be able to pay the bills and do what I love for a living – instead, I’d be dutifully working in some mediocre job not fulfilling my potential.
I have money to thank for the propagation of this website and its ability to spread the messages here worldwide to millions of people. Thanks to money I’ve been able to make my dream a reality and create a ripple effect of positive change in the world.
What about Money, Spirituality, and Manifesting?
Manifesting is a popular topic that is spoken about a lot in the spiritual community.
Essentially, manifesting is the art of creating what you want. It works on the principles of like attracts like. For example, if you think, feel, and believe that you will receive something, the law of the Universe dictates that eventually, you will receive that thing.
However, there’s a lot of woo-woo BS connected with manifesting. You can read more about that in our Law of Attraction article.
For the purposes of this article we’re talking specifically about manifesting and money. So the question is: Is it okay to try and manifest money?
Let’s face it, money is what makes our capitalist societies turn around – we need it to pay our bills, get healthcare, move from A to B, eat, drink, and support our families. If you are lacking money, there is nothing wrong with asking the Universe (or whatever higher power you believe in) for help.
But there is a difference between asking for help and giving the Universe a shopping list. Trying to “manifest more money” simply for the purposes of being wealthier verges on spiritual materialism. Spiritual materialism is a term coined by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and describes the practice of using spirituality as a justification to pursue empty desires and attachments.
As described in my article about why the law of attraction creates so much suffering:
There is nothing wrong with wanting to have more money, find your true love or achieve your goals. But when you believe all of these things will bring you the happiness you want, you’re stuck on another hamster wheel of suffering. The LOA starts to reinforce enslavement and obsession with desires rather than being a valuable tool to use mindfully. The more you try to chase and “manifest” things, the further you get from the truth that true happiness can be found right here, in the present moment, regardless of what you do or don’t have. Even when you DO get what you so desperately wanted, you start fearing that it will be taken away from you! So you start clinging to, protecting, and fighting to keep what you’ve been given. Does this sound like a recipe for peace or well being to you?
So no, it’s not unhealthy to ask the Universe to help you make more money. This is a perfectly normal and healthy drive, especially because making money is a fundamental survival need.
But when your spiritual practice is driven solely by the desire to accumulate more wealth just for the sake of being rich, you have a problem.
Money and Spirituality – It’s All About the Intention
As we’ve seen, money and spirituality can coexist harmoniously.
When you have money, you have the resources to reach thousands, even millions of people with your message.
Money also helps us all to do what we love (while paying the bills), serves as a respectful exchange of energy, and attracts those who are willing to sincerely invest in our work.
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$3Money itself is not evil, it is our intentions that can be tainted with dark motives. In other words, it’s all about the motives we have and what we carry within our hearts.
In order to maintain a healthy relationship with money in your spiritual practice it’s vital to:
- Be conscious of your motivations
- Live in alignment with your values
- Be ethical and transparent
- Be generous
- Be grateful for what you receive
I hope this article has created a bit more clarity surrounding the complex topic of money and spirituality.
What are your thoughts and perceptions on this topic? Share below and start a conversation!
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A very wise man, and close family friend, once said to me in response to my statement, ” money is the root of all evil in the world”. ” Money can’t be evil, it is the LOVE OF MONEY that is the root of evil.”
It took me many, many years till i finally, truly understood what that meant. Although it seems evident, when you think you’ve got it all figured out, and then one day realize how ignorant and adolescent you really are it has a whole new and amazing sensation about it. I want to call it an epiphany.
And yet, i am still so ignorant and naive to a lot of things in the universe. My grandfather used to say, “the day you stop learning is the day you stop breathing.” That too has had an incredibly awakening sensation for me as I’ve gotten older.
Thank you so very much for all of your information, guidance, and selfless acts. I know personally, I’ve learned something new each day since the universe brought us together. Thank you.
Money is energy, much like emotions. So it will go wherever is your intent. If you want it to do good, that is where it will go. If you want it for not so great purposes, that is where it will go and you will most likely lose it. Money wants to circulate, so using it to further goals is what it wants to do.
Well said Eileen
When I do Tarot readings I have an opening statement ” Do NOT tell me your question! Concentrate on it, the cards will understand. They will tell me a story, which I will read to you. If the story makes sense to you, use the advice, if not they are only 78 pieces of cardboard, what can they know? If you think you received value please leave something.” Is this wrong?
Hi Arthur, are you able to clarify what you mean by this: “When I do Tarot readings I have an opening statement.” Thank you. :)
Me and money is a great mystery. Many times I have assumed things just are for free when they arent, and it is not even very sensicle to assume that something is free since most things costs money!
I am not very good with money, learning more.
Hello. I am not exactly sure who I am speaking to here, but I would like to share my thoughts on this topic, but I do not understand the tech involved in all those formats of corresponding in open discussions etc. Anyway, here goes, and I am hoping that the author of this topic is reading this at some point. Money and spirituality? Co-existing, balance are the words I see and hear over and over. There is a parable in the bible I believe is what it is called. I do not profess to know the exact terminology or references, but the story goes something like this. Many many centuries ago, before really commerce of any kind existed, just plain exchange of goods items taking place. And one day a fortune teller of some kind came to see the king of all the lands and told the king that it has been foreseen that there will be five years of bumper crops, good living, abundance and surplus, but following those five years would be five years of severe drought, famine. What did the king do. I am sure some people know already, but for those of us who don’t ( I only heard this with my spirit recently) the king decided to keep this news to himself, made the fortune teller swear not to tell anyone. During those five years he had extra graineries built, and storage areas for all the surplus that he stocked away during those five years of wonderful abundance, and there was. But then came the five years of drought and famine, and what the king did next is what is wrong with our society, it is what is wrong with money, and why basically we are destined to live under the control of money for a very very long time to come. He took advantage of the situation, he took advantage of people’s basic needs of life, and created the mind set that we have today. The king sold off the food to people for higher and higher prices, and as the need grew higher, the prices went higher. People were forced to sell any of their possessions of value for very little in return, sell their homes again for next to nothing to the king because they had to eat and live, feed their families etc, until after those five years the king owned everything and everyone. Then he sold the people back their homes and properties and prices way higher than what he had given them back during the famine days. It is that mentality that dooms us and our commerce model. It goes way beyond fair trade. It is the drive we have to get as much as we can from customers for the services and objects provided. It doesn’t matter what things are worth anymore, it’s how much can we get for this thing we are selling mentality that is at the wheel of our existence. The fact of how much the item is worth simply does not matter any more. Don’t kid yourself, this is the foundation of our lives today, regardless of how you rationalize it. Hey you opened the topic. We have been lead astray, first they tell us what we want, then they price it at some ridiculous price, then we go in debt further, usually finding out later the item we wanted they told us we did now sits in the corner of the garage, or the drawer, or in my files on the computer, and…….the price was astronomical, but the sellers got rich proving yet again you too can be rich. Doesn’t matter how many people bought something they could not afford. Doesn’t matter that the profit side was huge. Doesn’t matter that certain environmental impacts will have to be over looked. The idea that you too can be rich is BS. Sure a small percentage of the population will be rich, and the rest will only dream of being rich someday, until you get old enough to know that money really can’t buy what is really important anyways! You know what, by the very nature of believing that our society should be based on the fact that we can get rich if you do it just right is ok. It’s ok to have rich people in the world, then by the very nature of what you are choosing to believe in and base our world on demands that there must be poor people too then! In my mind, that is unacceptable, regardless of how you spin it. Not everyone can be rich, theres just no way. By believing that it is ok for some of the people for whatever the reasons are, should be allowed to be rich then there will always be poor people, always! The rich will get rich on the backs of the working poor, and just plain poor people. It will not matter what things are truly worth, because we believe that it’s ok to charge as much as we can get for an item/service. And we believe it’s ok. It’s ok that they sold me my first cell phone however many years ago it was, and that origina cellphone I bought back then was pretty much as capable as the one I have now. They have been just reselling me the same phone over and over with new advertising and something either turned on in the phone or the network reconfigured. Meanwhile we are ok with that, no big deal, because it’s ok, we believe it’s ok in the business world to get as much as we can for the “item”, and it’s ok to create the conditions that set us up with the desire of need in the first place via manipulation, advertising etc.
Ok, I have spent a bit of time setting this up here. Your campaign about money and spirituality seems to set you in quite a defensive position throughout your article, and really steering the article towards why it’s ok for you yourselves to be paid for the work you are doing. The easiest and simplest answer is for me here is what is it worth, what is it’s true value. Just because you have knowledge about something, doesn’t really make you owner of that knowledge or should it set you in a power position to use over people. Especially people in NEED, or people who are SUFFERING. If you are advertising, and creating advertisement campaigns to focus on specific groups of people that you can direct your campaigns at with expectations of maximum return rates, then yes there is a problem there. Are you charging fees that make sense to everyone, or make sense only to you? Really, are your fees reasonable, or set at the most you think people will pay? How satisfied are your customers, and what do they say about the value of your service?
Closing.
I don’t know the answers, but that does not stop me from trying to understand why? Or. How did this happen to us? Or What’s next?
Peace and love
Hi,
Luna wrote the article and she reads the comments.
I agree with nearly everything you’ve said, which is why I believe we need to start spreading the message of anti-capitalism into the collective consciousness. We need to start working towards some form of anti-captitalist society (whether that be anarchist, sydicalist, communist – whatever the words people use, the point is that capitalism is harmful to people and nature and we ultimately need to move in a different direction).
While I agree with you that our society is indeed built on extracting value rather than on fair trade, I think you may have misread Luna’s point. The thing is, whether we are aware or not, and whether we consent to it or not, the fact is that we live under this heierarchical structure where not only does most consumption involve unethical practices, but where we are forced on literal threat of death to participate in this money-driven system (to be able to have shelter, food, and medical care). In this way, I believe a balanced person should not feel guilty or unspiritual for wanting to make a living doing their life’s work. Nothing will ever be perfect, but you can aim to spread your message in a way that is accessible and affordable for most people, while making sure that you and those you love are comfortable. Who would deny anyone living under this system the right to take care of themselves?
Until we can take care of ourselves and each other without money (which I believe is possible), we still have to live in the world the way it is. And perhaps it is this way for a purpose – which doesn’t mean don’t try to make things better – but recognize the value in acceptance and trust in the Divine.
Yes, I do believe we all have to do something to make a living. And sharing good ideas, peaceful ways, and love is a wonderful way to do that if that is your calling. I did not close my discussion very well. What I was trying to say in the end as the provider of the services offered here you tell us, are your motives ethical, are your prices reflective of the services provided? Ii think that you will have to decide this in the end, and not look to us to tell you if what you are doing is right. What I do know is that things have to change. The mentality of business, economy, trade. The idea that getting the consumer to pay the highest price we can get for something, needs to end. That maybe good business, but it results in the world we presently live in. So please I am not saying you are one or the other, I don’t know.
Just my thoughts, offered only with love, peace, and best wishes for spiritual living in our world today
You are talking about price vs. value. You also need to consider the cost. The cost of a product or service is what is spent to produce it – but this can be difficult to actually determine because it not only consists of the money spent on tools and materials, but the time spent on production (which is time that could be used doing something else). Cost also includes things like producer’s health and well-being, which are affected by performing the work, and the environmental cost. The price is what is charged for providing the product or service. The value is what the customer believes the product or service is worth to them.
Value is never going to be agreed upon, because it is incredibly subjective. How can you determine what food is actually worth, or shelter? You can only make a guess based on current market trends – but these are always changing and are often manipulated. What about the things we call “priceless” because of their immense importance in our lives? Some of the most valuable things are free, yet some of the most useless are incredibly expensive.
I agree with you. Things need to change. And for now, yes, it is up to the mindful individual to determine for themselves if they think the prices they charge are ethical and fair – both to the provider of the service and to the customer. I think Luna was actually saying that. She wasn’t asking us to confirm that her prices are good. The key is being transparent and doing your best to draw a line between self-sufficiency and greed. Also keep in mind that for something like Lonerwolf, any profit beyond what they need for themselves can be put back into improving the product and more effectively spreading the message. It will always be a work in progress.
I find it funny, strange and a bit scary how much I don’t really care for money.
It’s materalistic, and while not root to evil, it still occupies a lot of people’s mind and desire.
For me? Yes, money for food, drinks and paying bills are nice. Maybe even give yourself a little something once in a while, but I’ve never been rich. Most month’s I rarely getting by, and I don’t like asking for money. I never find myself really happy with money, nor good with it, I spend it all up. Never been able to save.
Somehow I end up with scenarios of the universe wanting me to survive, it wants me to make it, and I always end up with getting by each month, even if it’s barely, it’s still making it. Paying my bills for having a roof over my head each month, and some food.
It’s life, and I think it’s interesting. Whenever people want to be generous and spend money on me I feel humble and wish to refuse, but they won’t let me, and then I accept. In oppertunities that I can I tend to be generous back to those I love and desire. Even everything in between if I “can”. My friends know that I’m usually low on money, and they know that I would have done the same if I had the money, and even if I don’t often do as them, they still want to surprise me with things.
My point is. Money does not make me happy. Being with individuals I love, and spend time with them, no matter what, that’s what makes me happy. Money is just a necessity for survival.
Money and Spirituality – Can They Coexist? YES and to find proof, look around. As long as YOU realize that money doesn’t make things happen. Sincere (un)conscious thought & feelings do! Alas, even if those thoughts and feeling are driven by gaining more money. This is where the balance needs to be found. Just as the balance between the evil and the good wolf …
I mean, Money is energy
apologies for the little mistake
I use my own formula to attract money in my life creating abundance. Energy is money and have to be constantly in movement what ever you ask for, you have to be precise and determined, and of course before all be grateful.
Here I like to share my formula that work after while,
“Thank you Infinite Creator for blessing me
with this unexpected flow of money abundance
into my life now and for ever.
Each time you use this formula, repeat 3 time when ever you like to activate
and be grateful for it to our Infinite Creator,
with love from Atlantis,
OtreboR
Spirituality is about having faith in and a connection to the Divine. Being aware of this is to be “enlightened”. It’s a connection of your soul to Source and it resonates in the entirety of your being, in your bones. It doesn’t have a price tag…..ever. Anything else is a business model between provider and consumer for services rendered. It’s entertainment. Let the buyer beware for more than likely the purveyor is a shyster. The true ask for donations or give their knowledge and gifts freely. They are humble servants of the Divine.