When I started the TT course one of the things that attracted me most strongly was the free offering of valuable material. Our dominant culture has commercialized everything. What used to be done for love has been transformed into services done for money. You used to go to your momma if you needed therapy or a massage or nutritional counseling and to your daddy if you fell out of the apple tree and needed to get a splint for your broken arm. Now you pay for these services and the quality is different.
After I retired from university teaching, I wanted to continue doing some of the work that gave me most satisfaction and I came to understand that what I was paid for was not all the service I provided. Students enrolled at the university got three credit hours for a course on The American Revolution and whatever information they put into their notes and/or their memories. Most students who came to office hours only wanted me to sign a form or untangle an administrative glitch. But a few came to office hours because they were in search of mentoring.
I came to think of what I was doing as a university professor as divided into two sorts of service: I provided facts and reading lists and certification for three credit hours in return for my paycheck, and for those who came to my office looking for something more I provided something for free. This is the same thing that shamans do--they work their day job as farmers and when they channel spiritual power they give a gift.
In our culture it is hard to sort out what one does for a living from what one gives as a gift. This is particularly difficult when one attempts to make a living from the same talents that constitute one's greatest potential. For artists, this is inevitably a choice with no right answer. If one uses one's artistic talent in a day job as an advertising graphic artist this is likely to taint one's ability to do visionary painting with no commercial value. If one works at a day job cleaning people's houses, an artist will have to accept living in poverty and doing art after the best energy of the day has been spent.
So what happens when one has a call to do a great good work that requires funds to make it happen? I identify with Fred's mission with PEERS because I also started a project--The Minerva Center for the study of women and war-- that required me to invest thousands of dollars every year to keep it going. I did not have Fred's courage, however, because my day job as a university professor meant I never put my retirement income at risk.
My day job meant that when I retired ten years ago I had more than a comfortable income. My family was poor--I wore second hand clothes--but by some quirk I managed to survive in the system, winning scholarships and awards, and ended up with the kind of income that made me feel rich--I could afford to live in a house by the water and buy any book I wanted. My pension even left me with an excess that I could use to give to good causes, and that gives me a lot of pleasure.
When I began the TT course, as I said above, I was most attracted by the offering of a free gift--not because I could not afford to pay but because of my own experience of the difference of what I did for love and what I did for money. Love was mentoring and money was three credit hours and a bibliography. I have attended new age events which left a sour taste in my mouth when it became clear that the "suggested love offering" was what the presenter was stressed about not being large enough to pay the rent.
I made a monthly contribution pledge to TT when I had done only a few lessons because I could see clearly that the work of PEERS was enormously valuable, not just for me but for the planet. Now I have to risk rubbing a sore point, because I have to say that when I came to the end of the final lesson I found what felt like a hard sell to contribute, and I had to take some deep breaths.
There is a story (sorry, too lazy to go for the footnotes) told by Benjamin Franklin attending a sermon by an inspirational preacher during the Great Awakening in the early eighteenth century. After the preacher had made his opening remarks, Franklin was so inspired that he decided to put five pounds in the plate when the collection was taken. But the preacher went on and on, and when the plate came around instead of putting in five pounds he took out five shillings. I tell this story to suggest that less may be more when seeking to attract monetary support for a good cause like TT.
I think it was Dave who posted saying that he believed most people drawn to TT would be poor. I agree. People who are diagnosed as "profoundly gifted" as I was sixty years ago, or as Indigo or bipolar or ADD or whatever as they are today, are at high risk for ending up in poverty--or in prison or mental institutions. Poor people give a higher percentage of their incomes to charitable causes than rich people do, but like the biblical "widow's mite" their donation of $5 is a lot more in relative terms than the thousands donated by people making six figure incomes. And when one has just a small mite to give, a local soup kitchen or even a homeless friend might be the best choice of beneficiary.
All this is leading up to a suggestion for the last page of the TT course. I am no Bill Gates, but I feel rich and I feel blessed to be able to give dollars to good causes. But I am turned off when the fundraising from a good cause feels fearful and therefore grasping for contributions. I want to share the appeal that goes out from one of the good causes I support, a one person operation that specifically excludes low income people from its requests. I give more because I know Information Clearing House is sensitive to the poverty of most of its readers.
NOW MORE THAN EVER:
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To all those who have helped in the past. Thank you. - Peace & Joy. Tom
...better than I did. The artist's dilemma you so truthfully sketched is one of the main reasons I gave up painting almost 20 years ago. Now I'd like to take it up again, if I can just find an easel somewhere. For now, I'm propping my canvasses on a chair.
I also was attracted by the free part, not because I want something for nothing, but because I do not believe truth has a price. I'm blessed to be able to attract a certain number of young people who just like to go hiking with the old fart, or hang out with Nafetah and me, and I think some of the mentoring I am able to do is worthwhile. This is free; I would not think of charging. I believe in paying it forward. And yes, I am poor: I can't afford to buy courses, otherwise I'd be a registered nutritionist, aromatherapist, massage therapist and herbalist. What I can do is read, ask, learn, and help others do the same. This works, even if it's not strictly what I'm paid for. I fully understand the need for financial support for a project like the Transformation Team, and I've thought the whole time I've been here how I can begin to create enough prosperity to support both myself and a few of my favorite causes. It'll happen. Meanwhile, I promised Fred I'd send him a few bucks, and so far I haven't done it. My bad.
8-D
This discussion has had 16 reads and one comment. Now I really cannot believe that out of 16 people only 1 person had any opinion about what they have read. I posted a comment on Linda's other post and that had 20 reads and 2 comments. Please all the members of this Portal, lets work together, support each other and be a part of the group!
Seeing I am on a roll, it would also be very nice if more people posted their photos. I had also not ever posted a photo on any site and found it quite easy to do. I know that many people are afraid of being scammed or whatever, but at some stage one has to have the power of one's convictions. You are all here on the Portal for a reason. You all went to a lot of trouble and did a great deal of reading and research to get here. You wanted to join a community, well, then do so. Make a commitment and join with your hearts and with love!
Love U
P.S. I have an issue with money or the lack thereof which is one of the things I am working to overcome in myself. This is why I have not posted a relevant answer here. I agree with what Linda says and she has put it very succintly. It is just one of those things that so many people have issues with. I have not quite worked out how to get my financial abundance flowing in a more steady stream. I know I am protected and cared for, but it is still a very contentious space for me.
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In visualizing the New World, many people can't conceive of a way of living that doesn't involve money. When I say that money is part of the old paradigm, they say, "You can't have a technological society without money. With only barter we wouldn't have any modern conveniences." (By the way, this response comes because I like to say I see the New World as the Garden of Eden with indoor plumbing.)
I think there is a contrast between Money as Debt, as the video explains it, and Money as Gift where the only reason for creating anything is to give it away. Of course, this assumes everyone has basic human needs met--but the Earth provides basic needs for all other forms of animal life, so it would be natural that it would do the same for us if we didn't mess up the system with ego and greed. As the Bible says, "Consider the lilies of the field. . ."
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Here is what I've been reaching for--the vision of a world where no one works out of need. Another element in such a world is that no one feels they must work in order to have an identity. It is bad enough to identify one's Self with a useful occupation--farmer or baker--but most of the jobs in the modern world are things we'd be bettor off not having. For example, when the physicians in Israel went on strike, the death rate went down.
Our pre-enlightenment society considers people without jobs as people of no value, even as subhuman as many comments on lists discussing the disabled show. Old people without jobs, even (or maybe especially) wealthy old people are conceived of solely as consumers of medical services with their consumption of these services an essential for the economy. An old person who is not sick is viewed with suspicion. If you are not sick, you are still expected to go for examinations and tests so that something can be found that needs treatment. After all your insurance company or Medicare is paying for it and it is your patriotic duty to get that money pumped into the system even if it kills you.
Another observation: an old person who wants to volunteer can have trouble finding a setting in which to offer gifts. Or maybe, to be fair, I should say a "gifted" or "Indigo" or otherwise weird old person has trouble finding a setting. I wanted to mentor gifted children because I was a gifted survivor, but parents are frightened of me. If I set myself up as a therapist, they'd understand; but what is this old lady who just wants to mentor for love? I can see the archetype of the wicked witch reflected in their eyes. The seniors in the senior center are frightened too--who is this person who wants us to do more than play bingo and talk about our illnesses? All you need for a capella singing is breath and a heartbeat, yet I am told by the local community college that coordinates programs for senior centers that seniors are not interested in singing.
In the New World, we will all live more like Stefa. What a beautiful thing to visualize.
Perfect prompting, well said and you are definitely not alone (concerning our relationship to money) due to capitalistic, feudal wealth creation paradigms in the west that mean to create a contentious space. I believe we are swiftly moving toward a paradigm shift that will effect concepts and perception of wealth, abundance and what that is...
This discussion ROCKS!!!
Chris
You are on a ROLL! Once again, perfectly said with erudite clarity. I find nothing I can add to these posts (except a resounding affirmation), and you know how much I like to blabber eloquent blah blah's...
In profound appreciation for all I'm reading lately,
Chris
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As the title of this post suggests, it tends to be seen as an either / or issue. I can have love but not money, or I can have money but not love.
Why should those who are committed to transforming themselves be poor?
I think this is a common core belief that helps to keep us poor so that the ruling monied classes can hang onto their power. It is only our perception of it that is distorted. Let's all pledge to transform these beliefs about money - it's as natural as is air, grass, blue sky, rain and yes, even love.
We can all create whatever we wish to by using affirmations, and clearing out the limiting beliefs with EFT. And isn't that what we all signed up for - transformation? Even of the so-called 'rules' of money?
with love and light
Marian
http://www.thestillpoint.co.uk
http://www.marianmills.blog.co.uk
The current meltdown of the money system worries people who worry about money, but I have a sense that it will simply push people into the simpler style of living that would make everyone much happier. Somehow, I don't think this meltdown is going to make the condition of the people now living on less than $2 a day any worse. If the people collecting interest disappeared, would this increase the hunger in Africa?
http://counterpunch.org/whitney03132008.html
I am watching what is happening with great interest and in full faith that the story will have a happy ending.
I'm right there with you Linda! "I am watching what is happening with great interest and in full faith that the story will have a happy ending". It's funny, the people who will not be effected by the money meltdown are the ones who have been paying the price for this feudal system. The first shall be last and the last shall be...
Here's to being excited about and hopeful for things to come,
Chris
Why are we relating money to wealth in the first place? Money systems running the world right now are based on a fiat system - an illusion of cash flow of printed money based on absolutely nothing but an agreement between those printing the money and the states/societies that agree with the monetary system being offered. And monetary systems should never be in private hands, but they are. Further more, this so called "money" is further diluted by our fractional reserve system that requires banks to hold only 10% of this worthless cash reserve to represent all their outstanding loans and investments. This is an illusion on steroids! We are operating in a broken system that serves only those who print the fiat currency and then charge states and banks interest who turn around and charge us interest. The fiat part of this illusion is fine, but the interest has to go. We would do well to remember how broken and fixed this system is as we discuss the subject of wealth... Here is a video link for a quick 6min. rundown of the origin of our current monetary system http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwAzCgNTu18
Here's to eyes wide open
Chris
Why are we relating money to wealth in the first place?
I totally agree! I sure could use more money, but there's no denying the abundance in my life. In so many ways, life has simply gotten better and better. The hard times have been, well, hard....but in hindsight I'm not sorry for them. It all taught me, stretched me, made me strong. We call the sunlight glorious, but it would not be so if it did not follow the blackness of night. It's funny, you know: some people actually feel sorry for me. They can't imagine living the way we do. Yes, we're frugal. We call it simple. We still find more ways to give than to get. Yes, I work hard. Keeps me out of the bingo hall, and focused on something other than myself. We have material abundance in the form of antiques that have come our way, many potted plants which turn our patio into the most beautiful in the complex, music, not to mention more luxurious personal-care products than money can buy. We have friends, we have love, and we have the necessities. We even have cable, though we rarely turn on the TV. Compared to most of the souls on the planet, we're ridiculously rich, even in money. To many of the ridiculously rich in money, we're ridiculously rich in everything else.
8-D
I also believe in the happy ending. Everything that's breaking down is useless; everything that is vibrant is finding its strength. Things are going to turn out just fine. After some really bad times.
8-D
Hi all,
Hey, I finally got a chance to read this thread. I have many rich, wonderful, and sometimes quite challenging things going on in my life, including continual work on the transformation course and this portal. I apologize that for this reason, I generally have time to read only a few things posted here in the portal. Andrey and Beth -- the other two main facilitators of all of this -- are the same way. I hear that some of you found the appeal for donations at the end of the course to be grating. I will bring this up with Andrey and Beth at our next weekly meeting.
I honestly am not sure at this point if it is best to change the wording of our appeal or not. The donations we've been receiving have been awesome! Over 60% of people who have completed the course have donated, and the average donation has been over $100. This would lead me to believe what we've got is helping to bring in significant financial support. Yet maybe it would work even better if we changed the wording.
As our numbers are still low, even with the great donations, I'm still pouring thousands of dollars of my limited retirement money to keep this going. I look forward to the time when it becomes self sustaining. I will not ever be paid back for my financial contributions which now total over $25,000, as they are truly donations. Yet eventually, I hope to be paid a modest salary for the many thousands of hours of work I've put into this love of mine. Does that seem reasonable?
Is it really such a bad thing to invite people to consider donating just the cost of a meal or a movie? I find this is about transforming our relationship with money and looking at a contribution as an energy exchange. Even if someone contributes just $2, which means very little to us financially, I am thrilled, because it shows that they are willing to share some energy in that way and let go of any scarcity beliefs.
Yet I am also very open to changing what we've written. I ask all of you to join me in praying for whatever is best in this matter. Andrey, Beth, and I collectively came up with what we've written on that appeal. We will certainly give it more thought and consider how we might improve it while asking for divine guidance and for suggestions from you.
I very much welcome your thoughts. Yet also please realize that I will only very occasionally be checking in here to read comments and there's no guarantee that Beth or Andrey will ever make it here. If it's really important, please send me a personal message. I check those daily. Thanks so much to all of you for sharing your love and wisdom in our beautiful community and for supporting the team working continually to improve it in whatever way you do. Together, we are powerfully transforming our world!
With lots of love and deep gratitude,
Fred
I think it's absolutely proper to ask for donations. I and some others have found the way it's been approached pretty abrasive. I can tell you that my wife, who's midway through the TC now, has had the same reaction. I've made it clear that our budget is more than tight, and the point has also been made that the majority of those who complete the course are likely to be people of limited means. I think what offended me was the implicit notion that if you weren't giving money, you had nothing of value to offer. That's inherently disempowering toward people who are use to being disempowered and were hoping for better. It just seems to me that equating personal worth with financial worth is thoroughly and completely Old Paradigm.
One thing I would suggest is that instead of picking guides from the numbers of those who've donated, try asking those who can't donate money to give of their time in this way - perhaps for a specific period, or number of students. There are probably other ways that those with various abilities could add value to the community. Perhaps those with specific skills or knowledge could be put to use, maybe assisting with web design, or even holding a series of in-chat or online workshops. I've done this, for instance, in soapmaking on other sites.
Just my 2¢ worth, which is all my spare change, I'm afraid.
8-D
.... don't try to fix it!
I for one didn't feel any resentment at being asked to donate money. It is, after all, just a request and therefore everyone is completely free to choose to respond either YES or NO - and it remains privately within.
Any negative reactions to what is there now can be seen as yet another wonderful opportunity to spot core challenges which can then be ...... transformed!! Yippee
with love and light
Marian
Marian nailed it with, "Any negative reactions to what is there now can be seen as yet another wonderful opportunity to spot core challenges which can then be ...... transformed!! Yippee" Do what you can and if you cannot, don't sweat it...
Chris
A sense of entitlement is said to be a characteristic of indigo children. From a positive perspective this can be interpreted as what will be the natural sense of the transformed human who, as a co-creator, will not have to work for a living. The curse on Adam will be lifted, and all good things will come as gifts. All work will be done because it is fun and everything produced beyond necessities will be shared freely with others.
From the perspective of older generations who grew up in the Planetary Cycle back in the twentieth century, the indigo sense of being deserving tends to be irritating. The old folks describe the millennial youngsters, the oldest of whom are now in their twenties, as lacking self-discipline, not wanting to work in school or at a job while at the same time demanding everything the consumer culture has programmed them to want. Employers have had to make adjustments in the working environment so that the work is "fun" or their "irresponsible" workers will just walk away.
I don't think lusting for material things is natural for the indigo children, but marketing begins with birth and adults find it almost impossible to protect the younger generation from this mind control. Suppose young people felt "entitled" without being greedy? Would that be desirable?
Is the idea that you should reciprocate when someone gives you something valuable old fashioned? I was taught as a girl that it was wrong to give someone a less expensive gift for their birthday than they had given to you. My mother would be embarassed if a friend gave her a gift she could not afford to match. Is it ok to accept something valuable--like the TT course--and not give a gift in return? Dave suggests giving a gift of service instead of money. Marian says it's easy to just say no to requests we do not feel like granting even though we could easily afford it. Does everyone find this easy to do or are there twinges of guilt?
Very interesting and restorative take on Indigo children Linda! I believe you are right about creating value. If we do not find a way to honor the value we have received, we run the "cause and effect" risk of losing or misplacing the value. Much of this work can be done with the practice of appreciation, but there do come those times we must put up or shut up. I really believe there is a "law" of nature associated with this honoring of an appreciated gift to fully establish the appreciation's duration and efficacy.
Chris
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Very Well Said Elizabeth!
I too will be donating again very soon.
It becomes somewhat of a ticket to ride the wave of appreciation for me personally.
And the art of appreciation will always mean more to me than the falling US dollar.
WELL SAID EVERYONE!!!!!
Chris