Money and Spirituality: Is It Spiritual To Make Money?

By Otto Collins

Recently my wife and partner Susie and I spent two days at a psychic/metaphysical festival, and it was amazing! What was amazing was the number of people we talked to who subscribed to the mindset that it isn't "spiritual" to do "God's work."

 While it wasn't overtly discussed, this idea was nevertheless very present. There were a great number of people we talked to that referred to themselves as being "broke."

 Because this feeling of poverty consciousness was so prevalent among metaphysicians, healers, psychics, holistic health care practitioners and those in the new age community this weekend, I wanted to share some thoughts from one of the first articles on this subject written for this newsletter.

 For those of you with poverty consciousness, consider this: it's your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes that will determine your success or failure in life. You can't blame anyone else but you. Whether you accept it or not, the reality is that you are the sum total of the choices you have made up until now in your life.

 So it's not "spiritual" to make money (especially a lot of money) doing "God's work." Who says?

 The people who say this are probably the ones who work a couple of different jobs, and are barely scrape by financially. They have serious abundance issues. I believe we should all set aside a certain portion of time, effort, energy and money in service to others, but not all our energy and resources.

 Most metaphysicians, energy healers, psychics, and New Age business owners I know are incredibly talented at what they do, but also want to make more money. If you fit into this category, there is only one way - through marketing and promotion.

 Marketing and promotion are U-G-L-Y words to most people in the metaphysical community. They are ugly because they believe, as my father did, that "God will provide." I agree completely with the philosophy that God will provide for our needs. Our wants, however, are up to us. Sometimes we have to put another log on the fire and do our part.

 Let's start with a simple paradigm shift.

 Instead of focusing on the latest marketing and selling techniques, one of the most important things you can do is tell other people what you do - lots of them.

 I don't care how bad you are at "selling yourself," if you go out and talk to enough people about what you do, some of them are bound to be curious enough to ask you to tell them more.

 If someone asks you what you do, don't just say, "I do reiki," or "I am an author," or "I own a New Age bookstore." Tell them how what you do benefits others. Instead of saying, "I do reiki," say "I use the power of the Universe to help others heal physically, emotionally and energetically."

 Now, that will get you more appointments than saying, "I do reiki!"

 If you're an author of self-help books, when someone asks you what you do, instead of just saying, "I am an author." Say, "I write books that help people learn to do _________." This will generate more interest in what you are doing than just saying, "I am an author."

 As for marketing and promoting ourselves, marketing and promotion reframed is nothing more or less than the process of finding people who need what it is you offer, and showing them how you can help them solve their problems.

Otto Collins is a Relationships Coach and Marketing Consultant who specializes in helping New Age and Metaphysical Business owners come up with marketing strategies and ideas for growing their businesses. For more marketing tips, visit www.newagemarketingtips.com.