Money and Healing Work-Right Relationship Part 2

I feel the layer of right relationship surrounding money and compensation for any kind of healing work deserves its own sharing, part 1 can be found here: https://www.theheartofrose.com/post/right-relationship-with-plants

This is is an unpacking of my own continuing process in my relationship with money and integrity, as well as a reflection for those both providing and seeking healing work to consider in what tends to be an uncomfortable and emotionally charged subject for most of us. I recently re-evaluated my exchange for all of the work I do, and raised nearly everything as a result of this deeper examination.

My path as a "provider" began over a decade ago through offering Reiki sessions on a donation basis or for free, in addition to working a "normal" 40 hour per week job that paid my living expenses. At the time, being very new to healing work, this felt totally appropriate. After some years, I began to feel a desire to shift away from what felt like a very unfulfilling, draining, and stressful job, to create the time and space to do healing work in place of it, something that felt exciting, inspiring, deeply fulfilling on a core soul level, and brought me so much joy.

The shift into charging a set amount for my work was difficult on many levels, and brought up a complex range of emotional processes on a personal level. The same happened when my work became more focused on holding ceremonial plant medicine spaces.

I see it stated in so many of these medicine and spiritual communities, still, that someone who charges money for their work is out of integrity, doing it for the money, or otherwise corrupt and greedy in some way, and many still seem to feel that that healing work should be given freely, and that practitioners should financially support themselves through a more traditional job like everyone else.

I feel this is in part a cellular imprint from ancient times in humanity when healing work WAS free, because the role of a healer or shaman was the role that was played for the community, and all of their needs were met through this role.

What I have come to find for myself, particularly when it comes comes holding ceremonial plant spaces full time, is that the daily lifestyle, level of energetic hygiene, continual self work and examination, and the level level time and financial investment involved in "continuing education" required to be a clear and pure vessel for the plants, does not leave any space to work 40 hours a week on top of it.

For me personally, this is not just what I do for a living, but something I live and embody--my very day to day existence and connection with Spirit. It is my passion, the reason I feel I am on this planet, and something I relate to as a full lifetime commitment.

For many years, my pricing for this work was very low in comparison to what is "typical" because I felt both layers of guilt and insecurity when it came to asking an equal or higher exchange for the 1 on 1 containers I hold with plant medicines than the many retreat centers offering this work in groups.

What I noticed in this time period of asking a low amount, is that it was truly impossible to work enough at that price point to even provide financially for my basic living expenses. I found myself in continual anxiety over buying healthy food and paying my rent, and realized this anxiety and scarcity was present in my energetic field in the spaces I held.

I could not truly "show up" in fullness for my clients with this background energy of survival in my field and consciousness. I realized this energetic dynamic in itself was very out of integrity and right relationship, more so than asking for a higher exchange.

I have played around with different pricing models over the years, settling in this moment at an amount that is over my basic financial needs, so that I am able to pay my teachers when I feel called to work with them and deepen my learning of how to hold these delicate spaces, and to cover the unexpected expenses that are inherently a part of life, without going into debt or needing to ask for support from my family and community.

The absence of this long standing anxiety has in turn allowed me to be more deeply in right relationship and integrity, because I can show up fully for each person I serve without anything influencing my absolute focus, presence, dedication, and commitment.

This is also why I choose to continue to focus on 1 on 1 containers, it has been so beautiful to enter such a deeply intimate and vulnerable space with someone where the only process present is theirs, and my attention is not diluted by a group. The level of trust, vulnerability, and safety that is created by this setting has allowed for a depth of work and healing that I have never experienced in a group setting, whether my role was holding space or receiving.

At times, the plants do directly guide me to offer something freely, without financial exchange or for a deep discount, and for me part of right relationship has been honoring and listening to this call when it is truly in alignment. This is why I have this blog public in the first place, it is a free sharing of reflections that many find valuable and energetic transmissions in themselves, as well as a library of free Icaro. In cases when I gift someone my more extensive work, I am asked to lean into trust that I am still fully supported and give without expectation or attachment to what is received. The ability to receive an exchange beyond what is "needed " has crested space for those who truly have nothing or very little to contribute to receive whatever it is they need through me.

As always, I am open to any reflections on my sharings, whether publicly in this blog comments or privately. Blessed be, and may we all experience abundance in all it's forms!