I think most of us have a complex psychological relationship with money.

I am constantly pondering and examining my own relationship to this ancient form of energy exchange. These are a few of my thoughts on money, as promised in my last blog post.

I charge money for my services: my yoga classes, my yoga trainings, my art, my time in general. I consider all of my creations and teachings to be my career. I have devoted considerable time, study, and yes money, establishing myself as a professional in these fields. I do offer donation-based options for all of my teachings and offerings. I won’t turn people away for lack of funds, but I do think it is important to offer an exchange of energy for any service.

I once read about a conversation with the great yogi, Sri Swami Satchidananada of Integral Yoga, in regards to money. It is said that he was asked why he charged money for his yoga classes and his teachings. If he was so spiritual, why should he want or have attachment to money in exchange for these important teachings? He said that he didn’t charge money for the teachings—they were free. But he had to charge money for the electricity, for the heat, for the rent, for food, etc, Because those things were not free for him or for the Ashram, he needed to ask for money. Otherwise he would have needed to earn money some other way and there would have been less time for teaching, if any time at all. 

It is hard to argue with that logic.

Historian, philosopher, and author Yuval Noah Harari has some pretty interesting insights on humanity in general. I highly recommend his books and his talks. Dr. Harari is a lecturer at the Department of History in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His bestselling book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, has a wonderful chapter on the development of money in human civilizations.

Dr. Harari defines money as: “anything people are willing to use in order to represent systematically the value of other things for the purpose of exchanging goods and services” (Harari, 177). He goes on to explain that the value of money only exists in our collected human imaginations, and that “money is the most universal and most efficient system of mutual trust ever devised.” (Harari, 180).

No, we don’t have to use a money system—this is simply the system our current culture uses, and at the moment, we are kind of stuck in it. There have been other successful economic systems across the ages. I learned that the Incas had one of the most successful non-money and non-market based economic systems ever devised. 

Money gets a pretty bad reputation, especially in spiritual circles. It is often considered “the root of all evil.” Certainly unchecked greed and endless desire for more materialism has caused incredible pain and atrocities across the globe. But is it really money that has done that? Or is it gluttony and power?

Money is not an inherent evil, nor should money be the only goal or measurement of a good life. The hard truth is that in our current system, money means survival. We have many twisted relationships and beliefs about money, such as: to succeed, you should have as much of it as possible. But if you have too much of it, or you have any boundaries around money exchange, you must be greedy. To be considered “good and kind,” means you won’t care about money at all. I think our culture has extremely disordered expectations and relationships with money. It is exactly like an eating disorder. For example: we need money to survive, and in many ways we binge on money (grasping at as much of it as possible, or spending indiscriminately). But because money also seems like a bad thing, and we can’t have too much of it, then to be good we have to starve ourselves of money or feel shame for asking for money. This is just not a healthy way to live in relationship with money.

I have certainly found myself on both ends of this spectrum with money as I try to find my money-compass as a self-employed person. What I have learned is that I need to practice a more middle path with my relationship to money. No, I don’t need to accumulate as much as I can grasp, but I also need to have certain boundaries and expectations when navigating the energy exchange of money.

The concept of “bread and roses” helps me to better cultivate a healthy relationship with money. In 1912, textile workers in Lawrence, MA, marched the streets demanding fair wages as they proclaimed their need for “bread and roses.” This slogan meant that they needed fair wages not just for their basic needs, but also for the dignity and beauty of full and joyful lives. We should demand more than just the bare necessities of survival. Most people would not opt for only the very basics of survival–just enough food to not starve, just enough clothing and shelter to not freeze or be overexposed to the elements. We need to have our roses too.

It is important but often difficult to remember, that money isn’t personal. A major mistake is made when we think that any money is “ours.” This shows up in money exchange when we hold tight expectations around how money we have given or paid should be used. We don’t own money in the same way that we don’t own the air, the water, or the electricity. We can’t take money with us when we die. Money is a form of energy exchange that simply flows through and connects us in the same way that the air and water connect us.

We shouldn’t shun money, nor should we want more and more money as though we were in some kind of battle or race to win the most. Money serves a very specific purpose in our life and in our culture as it provides our basic needs as well as opportunities for education, art, beauty, and joy. There is no need to hate money or think of it as evil. Dr. Harari even goes as far to say that “Money is the only trust system that can bridge any cultural gap, and does not discriminate. …Thanks to money, even people who don’t know each other and don’t trust each other can nevertheless cooperate effectively.” (Harari, 186). 

Here are a few guiding questions that have helped to refine my relationship with money: 

How much money do I need for both bread and roses? This isn’t a set figure—it is unique to each person, circumstance, and changes over time. But having a destination of sorts helps me to navigate my choices, decide how I want to spend my time, and can keep excess attachment in check. 

What are my physical and emotional reactions around and towards money? Can I notice feelings in my gut, my heart, my breath when I get into conversations about money? This helps me to understand when money is getting personal and when I need to create a little space. This is similar to observation of body and breath in a meditation practice. Changing emotions isn’t as important as noticing when they arise. 

Am I prioritizing self-care: care for my spirit and care for my body? Don’t forget to take care of YOU: take time off, get rest, do fun things just for yourself, and spend time with those you love. Money, efficiency, and productivity are all over-prioritized.  The hustle mindset will only cause yourself exhaustion and stress.

Here is a recent article in the Peaceful Dumpling regarding personal habits around money.

And here are some quotes to help you find balance with this ancient form of energy exchange.

Quotes…

“A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.” 

—Jonathan Swift, Author of Gulliver’s Travel

“How can I best serve the world?” Takes precedence over “What can I get out of this?” Within that realm, we naturally do get a job, we naturally do create money, and we naturally do produce an outer prosperity that reflects the prosperity in our hearts.” 

― Marianne Williamson, The Law of Divine Compensation: On Work, Money, and Miracles

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”

― Epictetus, Stoic Philosopher

“It does not matter how long you are spending on the earth, how much money you have gathered or how much attention you have received. It is the amount of positive vibration you have radiated in life that matters,”

― Amit Ray, Meditation: Insights and Inspirations

“Don't think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.”

― Voltaire