“The spirit of a gift is kept alive by its constant donation…”
– Lewis Hyde, The Gift: How the creative spirit transforms the world.
For many years, I have been exploring and researching ‘economia’/economy: one way of “keeping our home in order”; and as part of this, exploring the energy of money, my/our relationship to it and the monetary patterns enabling choice, compensation, and care.
Generally, at this time on the planet, money remains one of the ways of appreciating, exchanging and reciprocating the sharing of skills, goods and services; a necessary energy-form for sustaining life needs, nourishing choice and generating thrival. Currently, too, there are many monetary patterns to choose from: e.g., fixed pricing, suggested ‘bench-mark’ levels, minimum donations, donation ranges, sliding scales, top-ups, etc.
At this time, I am choosing to share my gifts and receive monetary compensation for my presence, time, skills and experience within the gift economy: Giving, with donation.
I value what I offer; hold and share my skills and experience in the spirit of the gift, and, celebrate the impulse, that “The spirit of a gift is kept alive by its constant donation…” – Lewis Hyde; giving, and receiving, in reciprocity and relationship.
A note from my OWN JOURNEY of giving, with donation:
In sharing my own work/offerings and in working with others, I experience the energy of donation as one way of aligning more fully with how nature works: in the spirit of sharing energy and resources as gifts-freely-given, and receiving in exchange for thrival; as a profound practice inviting contemplation, personal reflection, discernment, and conscious choice; and, as an amplifier of flow, generosity and appreciation.
Irrespective of whether the gift or donation is ‘set’ or ‘variable’, being given the choice to discern, and decide, slows me down, makes me think. For me, it is different to ‘paying a price’, and is essentially, life-giving.
