Does your tradition allow for the payment of people for their 'spirituality'? (Creator, Earth)

[Feathers in Hair]

This stems from a discussion in the Native American thread.

Does your tradition (either your personal interpretation or the tradition itself) allow for people to recieve payment (either in the form of money, goods, or some other way) in exchange for their healing and/ or knowledge? That is, can you ethically accept 'payment' for your spirituality?

[painted wolf]

NO... you can earn respect and admeration... but not profit.

as soon as you expect payment for such as thing as spirituality... you loose that sacredness.

Modern society is too caught up with cash and physical rewards, everything is for sale and thus nothing is sacred.

People sell the earth, the water, other living things and our sacred objects and beliefs.... these are thing that were given to everybody by creator to share equily... not to profit by but to learn from and share.
If you want to share your spiritual knowledge, wonderful, people need to and want to learn. If you want money... then you really don't want to share do you?

wa:do

[kreeden]

Personally , I could sell my time . But I couldn't sell my Spirituality . It isn't mine alone to sell .

[Darkdale]

The Heathen community does have religious leaders and they are pretty much the founders and organizers of local kindreds. I don't belong to a kindred, but I have never heard of one that requires you to pay anyone for joining.

[Shadow Wolf]

I know this one girl who only asked for tips after a Tarrot reading. Thats the only type of payment system I would have, if I did have one. I think for a complete stranger that I know nothing about, I might charge abit to make sure there serious. But I genereally give out free healings and divination readings.

[kreeden]

But what about those who do ? For excample , Micheal Harper gives lectures and seminars on Shamanism . There are those who ask to be paid for readings , etc .

As I don't follow a " tradition ", I can't really answer that question , other then on a personal note .

[Feathers in Hair]

Here's an extention of the above question. I feel like I should ask it since I'm thinking of a website that might be bringing it into question- what about accepting free- will donations? (For example, having a link at the bottom of a page that would let people offer assistance, should they feel called to.) Is that an okay thing to do?

[Circle_One]

Ok,as per both questions.

1) Personally, I wouldn't ask for, nor accept payment for my teachings, divination reading, etc. However, when someone asks me to do a spell for them (generally, I won't do it unless I feel it is necessary, such as a healing spell), the only thing I generally ask for are the ingredients used in said spell, IF, and ONLY if, I do not already have them. If I've already got said ingredients in my home, then I will use them for anyone, free of charge, I don't believe in asking for compensation, however, if a spell calls for an ingredient I don't have and it's more expensive than say.. 15-20$, then I will ask, not for the money, but for the person to buy the ingredient themselves. That's the only time I'll accept anything.

For the second question, I don't know if I, personally, would put a donation link anywhere on my website, but I don't, ethically, see anything wrong with it. It is, afterall, completely optional. No one has to donate, they do so of their own free will. But again, I don't think I'd do it.

[michel]

Sorry for diving into this forum; but I 'do' various forms of healing. I will never accept any money, but that seems to result in people buying me gifts - which embarasses me terribly.


The best of all is healing animals; there's a beautiful little King Charles Spaniel I see most mornings, and the poor little one has bad arthritis in Her hip joints. I always stop and give her a bit of healing; I swear that dog knows. The look in her eyes is more reward than any amount of money could ever be. The trouble is, the relief is temporary.