We’ve made a big change and we’re so excited about it! After a few months of offering healing sessions for a cost, we feel guided to evolve to a donation system. Instead of us trying to put a price on the miracles that occur, we encourage everyone to give an amount they feel good about. This allows us to facilitate more healings, and it’s very satisfying on a personal level, too.

Lauren’s Take:
There’s been a thought in my mind that has existed as far back as I can recall. Maybe you’ve had it, too. As a child, when I was told an item was “too expensive” I would often think “Well, why do people charge so much for things? Why doesn’t everyone give everything away for free? Then we’d all have everything we want or need. Isn’t that the Golden Rule?” And that is when an adult would sigh and summarily explain, “the world doesn’t work that way”. That answer has never, and will never, satisfy me. Even today, despite knowledge about “how the world works” and hearing most people swear that evolving beyond capitalism is impossible, my heart tells me otherwise.

I don’t know all the details of how our world will make the switch to a barter system (and then eventually to just true giving), but I’ve always felt that it was both possible and necessary. In fact, this decision strikes me as so funny because I frequently catch myself saying that “money is the Old Ways and will soon make way for something better”. But when? And how? It was as if I was waiting for someone else to have a genius idea and lead the way.

You know the saying “change starts with me”. This world needs to see a new way to live: one in which all of the needs of all people are met. Regardless of one’s financial situation (or the root energetic causes for lack of abundance), I want to give of myself if I am able to help a person. I don’t want something as ephemeral and symbolic and illusory as money to stop that flow of love! It’s going to take everyone working together to make this our new reality, and I feel very honored and excited to try my hand at it.

A section in Conversations with God book 2 mentions this lofty, but achievable idea:

When the chief aim and goal of your society (as it is in all truly enlightened societies) is the survival of all; the benefit, equality, of all; the providing of a good life for all, then your need for secrecy and quiet dealings and under the table maneuverings and money which can be hidden will disappear.

The secret here, the watchword here, is visibility.

Visibility is simply another word for truth.

Can you imagine what corporations would do if they had to put two figures on every price tag – the price and their cost? Would that bring prices down, or what! Would that increase competition, and boost fair trade? … not only would you know more about each other; you would know more about everything.

It seems radical in primitive societies, yes. In enlightened societies, it seems obviously appropriate.

Well said, eh? So we’re moving ahead on faith, knowing that even though we’re just 2 people, our intention and accompanying actions are creating ripples throughout all of Creation. We’re grateful for the opportunity to hop on the burgeoning no-fee bandwagon and experience first hand what miracles come from it. While there is absolutely nothing “wrong” with charging money, having money, or wanting money, we are excited to see what the next step in our economic evolution will be.

Sean touches on some other important factors in our decision, so I will turn this post over to him now.

Sean’s Take:

When I first started playing with energy healing I felt very called to helping others heal for free. It felt like a simple truth… like it was based on love… like that’s just the way it’s “supposed to be”. Then I think I started listening to my ego and it’s fear-based ideas.

Before I get too far ahead I want to explain a bit of my history before I even considered “being a healer”. I was a teenager when the Internet came to our home back in ‘96 or so and one my favorite things about computers was that a the core truth is that software is all 1’s and 0’s. It’s all in how those 1’s and 0’s are arranged that creates the software. (I didn’t realize at the time, but it’s easy for me to see now that this concept is analogous to “everything is energy” in our physical reality.) This meant to me that any software restriction or company imposed limits has a work around. In other words, the entire functionality is there, they just wont let you use it without $$. Well I learned rather quickly that we just needed a key/serial number/etc. to unlock it. Unlock it to it’s full potential, that is. (Again, this is a perfect analogy for spiritual healing.) With a little searching it was easy to find other people who felt this way and then I read about this strange thing called open source. “Open source” just means the source code (the special arrangement of 1’s and 0’s) of a particular software is made available to the public. You know, like true sharing. There has always been a little voice in me that asks “If a person really thought their software could help the world why wouldn’t they want everyone to have it, thus benefiting the entire world?”

As the years go by, I was able to teach myself (due to “cracked” software and free online tutorials) the skills necessary to use software to create anything on the Internet that I want. I was then able to use these skills in my corporate job as well as at home to make money. Soon I got to help teach my new life partner what I learned, thus empowering her as well. That’s right, I felt empowered to have these digital insights and therefore skills. We could take them anywhere. We took them straight home and stopped working for someone else and started working for ourselves. In hindsight, I feel that we finally felt empowered enough to “make it on our own” and become our own source of income. Isn’t this what a lot of people want: to be free from someone elses rules? We did.

I started working as a mobile computer technician for anyone who asked. Now when you start working for yourself in a service based position, I thought you have to decide how much you are “worth” per hour. Sounds weird when I present it that way, but pricing has always been a facet in business. My love for everyone encouraged me to charge a small price so I could be available to all. I’m going to say that again: so my skills could be available to ALL. Then I started hearing my ego again, and other people’s fear based ideas, and they all sounded like reasonable ideas! Other people were telling me to aim high, because “I had the skills” and “businesses will pay that/are used to it” and hey I’ll admit it … I still had a fear of lack of money. So I settled on a price somewhere between my love-sponsored idea and the fear-sponsored idea.

Much of the computer work was so “easy” for me that, after a few years and a couple price increases, I felt like I was “ripping people off” again. Discussing the idea of pricing with friends and online encouraged me to “remember my worth.” So I begrudgingly stuck with my hourly price, and while I was happy to get cash for my help, I was also happy to give people discounts. Or a free visit if it seemed like someone was hurting for money, which was a sly way to get around my ego’s “need to charge”.

It was about here where I discovered energy healing and what it can do, and that there are many other people doing this. Then it happened again… I felt so much joy and love for this new toy… this new gift… that I really wanted to offer it for free! So that’s what Lauren and I each said to one another… we are going to do healings for free!

Shortly after, I followed a calling and went to the Reconnective Healing workshop. It was there that I not only witnessed and participated in miracle healings, but also got to hear, in lecture format, why we should all charge for our services. They were, and still are, great ideas for reasoning out why healing practitioners should get paid money in exchange for the facilitation of a healing. These ideas were so appealing that my ego said, “See! They are doing it for money, they probably have loads of cash, are still livin’ a satisfying spiritual life, and feel good about themselves.” So I was stoked that I was feeling good about charging $$ for a healing because of all the reasons they helped us all talk about: musicians and artists get $$ to share their “gift”, Jesus practiced equal exchange and had benefactors, these healings show results, because your time is worth it, and that customers actually say “I feel like I’m getting more by going to the person who charges more than the others that do the same thing”, and plenty more legitimate Truths.

At the deepest level though, I feel that these are all based in lack mentality: the fear that there is a lack of $$ in the world, or that if I truly gave of myself by offering free services, that God/Spirit/the Universe wouldn’t take care of me. That’s actually quite silly to think of now. ::sarcasm:: Yeah, you can work hard helping heal God’s children, but you won’t get help in retrun. ::end sarcasm:: Like God has limits … sheesh!

So after a couple months of trying to get clients, and setting my price nice and high so I am perceived as reputable – but not so high as to be unreachable – and trying to advertise, and maybe come up with discounts, rebates, and special group rates, or package deals, etc… I got tired of it. We both did. It just still didn’t feel right. Here we were offering God-given miracles: healings of body, mind, and soul, but for a fee. Although $100 is a small price to pay for a miracle healing, it still felt as though we had to “convince” others why paying us $$ was necessary. Why?

I think because we weren’t in right relationship with God. The Universe said software is free, art is free, gifts from God are free, and to “do” this work takes zero resources besides yourself, so why not share it freely? Would I not want a free healing if I was in pain, and had to “save up cash” so I could get some energy healing? Heck yes I would want it for free!

That is why I like this no-fee service plan. It feels right and true… for me.
I am now putting my trust in God, and the awesome power of the Universe to take care of all my needs as I share my God-given gifts with the world. I know that simply by sharing our true joy, the Universe will supply all the right people and situations to make sure all our needs are met. I’m done relying on the man-made system and I’m now relaxing in the comfort that our Creator knows better, and has grander things in store for me than I could possibly imagine. So here I am stepping into that truth.

And so it is. Thank you all for listening and we hope our story can help shed some light onto your journey, too All individuals, organizations, and companies, are blessings to the Earth, regardless of their payment structure or lack of. This set-up feels right for us at this point in our journey. We wish you peace in whatever phase you are in with your relationship to money.

And what is money? For each of us, it is simply My Own Natural Energy Yield

Do you offer your services at no cost, in the spirit of true giving? Do you know of a company that does? Please spread the love and let us know about it in the comments.

When “manifesting”, it is often taught that one should be very specific in stating one’s goals. If I want a house with 7 bedrooms and an Olympic sized pool, then that’s what I should tell the Universe! After all, each of us is a unique Soul with unique goals. Yet we are simultaneously encouraged to let go of our expectations and to allow God to bring us something better than we could have imagined ourselves.

In our studies of the Law of Attraction, Conversations with God, and other manifesting wisdom, this seeming contradiction always showed up. We were confused and felt as if some important piece of information had been left out that would help us understand the dichotomy. Is there an ideal time to be specific about intent? When is it in our best interest to just “let go and let God”? Are we somehow supposed to be focused and unattached at the same time?

What I received is that one’s level of consciousness is the key. Variables change between the levels of consciousness, and so the “rules” change, too.

At lower levels of consciousness the ego will most likely suggest a supposed “best” interest. Being ego-based, the Soul will probably not be in full support since it has a far grander goal in mind. Imagine having a blank check, being told to enter any amount, and then filling it in for $5. Our ego minds are wonderful partners, but they are notoriously short-sighted, self-deprecating, and willing to settle for next to nothing! While we occupy lower levels of consciousness – either briefly or long-term – we are simply not capable of perceiving what our highest and best good is. The ego mind has not been quieted, and it drowns out that still small voice inside. Its various arguments for why the dream is impossible will still be quite audible and distracting. All that fear inherent in the conscious mind means that we lack the faith and gratitude necessary to manifest positive changes. Also, diligence in properly using the creative forces of thought, word, and deed will likely be missing. Even if God’s grace allows a person with a low level of consciousness to discern what goals are in her best good, they are unlikely to manifest when the 3 creative forces are not being properly applied. It is in these lower frequencies that one may be best served by simply expecting the “best possible outcome” without getting too specific. Until we are able to hear the voice of our Creator, of our higher self, it is suggested to truly “let go and let God”.

But as we increase our level of consciousness, the variables change again. This is a part of the evolution of consciousness. As our awareness grows, the time comes for us to re-member – while incarnated – how to co-create. Instead of being on the sidelines and gratefully awaiting whatever the Universe brings us, we will be active participants in co-creating our new realities. 

At higher levels of consciousness the ego no longer runs the show, so to speak. This quieting of the conscious mind makes it possible for the Soul’s true desires to be heard. In this scenario, the Soul and the ego mind can be teammates, working to achieve the same goal. This spiritual support fosters a sense of inner peace, making progress towards the goals even easier. The first-hand experience we have gained by this time shouts encouragement to us, replacing the fearful excuses of the ego. Our self-limiting Beliefs have been replaced with a Faith that we are limitless. As experienced manifestors, the Law of Attraction will be engaged to speedily bring to us everything we have asked for: even if it is incredibly specific. In this scenario, we have reclaimed our power as co-creators and take another leap towards our personal Awakening. Yet even those with higher consciousness can simply expect “the best”, as they feel guided. It is at these levels that one can truly discern the path that is right for her, at that time.

Matthew 6:33 says it well: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” In choosing to first develop ourselves spiritually, we automatically make our way into a higher consciousness where all things are possible. We can literally, and rapidly, manifest that 7 bedroom home of our dreams! If you want to clearly hear the voice of your higher self and to manifest a life of continual joy, seek God in whatever ways you feel called. It is from that place of conscious connection that we will always know when to be specific and when to let go.

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These are my insights and understandings. What are yours? How do you decide when to get specific and when to let go and let God? Add to the dialogue and share your thoughts below.