Make Money The Root Of All Good!
The desire for financial security and increased wealth often conflicts with some people’s deeply held spiritual beliefs, causing them much inner conflict and guilt. Sayings like “money can’t buy happiness,” “money is the root of all evil,” and “you can’t take it with you” don’t help either.
But what if we flipped the script? What if the path to money and wealth is also the path to peace and deeper fulfillment in our lives?
There is also the saying: “Money is a good servant, but a bad master.” What if money in the hands of kind, compassionate and conscious people is exactly what the world needs?
What if we stopped thinking of money as evil and started thinking of it simply as a tool for your spiritual growth and fulfillment? What if we began to see money as something good and benevolent that can be used for the greater good?
As spiritual beings, we chose to incarnate into this very time-space reality, fully understanding the rules of this dimension. One of the rules we understood was the need for physical survival and material security in this world.
Many generations of ancestors who incarnated before us fought hard to survive here in physical form, inventing new and clever ways to make the struggle to keep body and soul together a little easier for us. In the process, they co-created the Earth reality as we know it today – a co-created reality that revolves around a monetary economic system, for better and worse.
A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart ~ Jonathan Swift
The Origins Of Money
Before the invention of money, people bartered, directly exchanging goods and services without the use of currency. Commonly bartered items included livestock, agricultural goods, olive oil, wine, pottery, food, clothing, and weapons. This system was prevalent in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as in medieval Europe and colonial America.
But the barter system had its complications, such as determining the fair amount of goods to exchange and dealing with seasonal availability. As trade expanded, people began to use objects of intrinsic value, such as precious metals or other commodities, to simplify and standardize transactions. This practice eventually led to the creation of more formalized units of exchange, such as livestock and other natural objects that served as “money.” For example, cowrie shells were widely accepted as a form of payment in parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe as early as 1200 BC.
The transition from natural objects to more standardized forms of currency led to the development of coins in China around 1000 BCE, with early coins made of bronze, copper, and eventually precious metals. Paper money was first introduced in China in the 7th century. However, it took several centuries for paper money to become widely accepted, with countries such as Sweden and the United Kingdom only beginning to issue banknotes in the 17th century.
The Importance Of Community
Before the invention of trade and barter, early humans survived largely as hunter-gatherers, relying on foraging, hunting, and fishing as their primary means of obtaining food. They lived in small communities where sharing and cooperation were essential for survival. These early human societies were based on close-knit social groups in which resources were shared among members. Sharing vital resources, such as food and shelter, led to stronger social bonds and increased the group’s ability to survive.
In essence, before the development of trade and barter systems, human survival depended heavily on the communal sharing of resources, knowledge, and skills within and sometimes between groups. This period of human history highlights the importance of community and cooperation in early human societies.
I think this is where most of the anti-money sentiment in spiritual circles today probably comes from. Since the introduction of money, we have increasingly lost our sense of community, sharing, cooperation and charity. And indeed, this has brought instead much greed, strife, selfishness, and evil into the world. The perception of money as non-spiritual or negative often comes from observing its misuse or associating it with greed and materialism.
However, money itself is merely a tool, neutral in nature, and its impact is determined by how it’s used. When approached with a spirit of generosity, responsibility, and intentionality, money can support spiritual values such as compassion, gratitude, and interconnectedness. By aligning our financial decisions with ethical and heartfelt values, we can transform our relationship with money into a meaningful aspect of our spiritual journey, using it not only for personal growth but also for the collective good.
Taking care of ourselves means taking care of others, and taking care of others means taking care of ourselves ~ Dalai Lama
I Am Because We Are
Our ancestral culture of communal living, shared survival, and mutual support is not entirely lost and can still be found today in certain indigenous worldviews and cultural traditions around the world that still value cooperation, community support, and mutual respect, such as:
Aloha in Hawaii, which embodies love, peace, and compassion.
Bayanihan in the Philippines, which emphasizes community unity and cooperation.
Fihavanana in Madagascar, which emphasizes kinship, friendship, and good neighborliness.
Mitakuye Oyasin from the Native American Lakota tribe, which translates to “all my relations” or “we are all related” reflecting the interconnectedness of all beings and the earth, highlighting a deep respect for nature, community, and the interconnected web of life.
Ubuntu from Southern Africa meaning “I am because we are,” which emphasizes community, compassion, sharing, and interconnectedness.
Ujamaa in Tanzania, which promotes family and cooperative economics.
This ancient survival strategy of our ancestors is still alive in our hearts and embedded in our cellular memories. As a species, we are wired for sharing, caring, and belonging.
The Science Of Sharing
Research in fields such as psychology, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience supports the idea that humans are inherently social creatures, evolved to cooperate and share. Studies show that acts of kindness and cooperation trigger positive emotional responses, strengthen social bonds, and spread in communities. This suggests that sharing and caring are not just moral choices, but are deeply ingrained in our biological makeup, contributing to individual well-being and the survival of communities.
Science has also shown that charity can have positive effects on both physical and mental health. Engaging in acts of generosity can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase longevity. It has also been linked to greater happiness, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose in life. This suggests that the benefits of charity extend beyond the recipients of generosity to include significant improvements in the health and well-being of the givers as well.
Blessed is the person who sees the need, recognizes the responsibility, and actively becomes the answer ~ William Arthur Ward
Choosing Your Money Mindset
Money, then, is not the problem; it is what we choose to do with it, or not to do with it. We can choose to use money as a blessing and a spiritual tool for good, seeing it not just as a means for personal gain, but as a resource for promoting positive change and well-being in the world.
Do you find this idea challenging or uncomfortable? Do you immediately have negative thoughts about greed, or ideas about how badly some wealthy people behave? Good! Pay attention to that. Those knee-jerk reactions are exactly the beliefs that may be holding you back on your path to calling in more money and using it to make the world a better place!
Choosing the mindset that money is simply a tool for spiritual good forces us to face the shame, judgment, criticism, and other baggage we attach to money. These emotions and beliefs then cause us to consciously or unconsciously reject money from our lives. This can take many forms – it can look like unexpected bills when we receive a windfall, it can be being overlooked for a promotion, it can be relying on a toxic source of money like child support from a withholding ex-spouse. No wonder so many of us think money is bad or evil!
When we become aware of these deeply held false beliefs and their negative consequences in our lives, we can begin to make different choices for ourselves, which will ultimately change the collective consciousness and our world. Money in the hands of conscious, heart-centered people will redistribute wealth and enhance all of our experiences.
Transforming money into a spiritual resource and ally for good is about making conscious choices with our finances that reflect a commitment to a greater purpose beyond individual needs, with the goal of contributing to the collective good and spiritual growth.
So, as a spiritually aware person, consider what kind of relationship you want to have with money in the future? What are the thoughts and beliefs you can hold about money that might improve your view and relationship with this precious blessing in our lives? The choice is yours.
Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received—only what you have given: a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage ~ St. Francis of Assisi
The Root Of All Good
Instead of telling yourself how evil money is and constantly focusing on how greedy and crooked some people are, start thinking about money as the “root of all good” and consider how making more money can empower you to change the world for the better. Perhaps it is time to replace the idea that money is the root of all evil with daily affirmations such as:
Wealth is mine by divine right.
I am a steward of wealth for the good of myself and those around me.
Money is a tool of divine love, and I welcome more of it into my life now.
Money flows to me effortlessly as a reflection of the universe’s abundance.
My money is conduit for good.
I use my wealth to effect positive change in the world.
Money I spend circulates love and contributes to global well-being.
Wealth allows me to give generously, sharing the divine bounty I am blessed to receive.
My prosperity is a tool for growth, healing, and kindness.
Money As A Gratitude Practice
There is often much talk in the spiritual community about love and light and thoughts and prayers. There is also a lot of emphasis on the importance of practicing gratitude and appreciation. Well, maybe we need to focus more on another popular saying and start “putting our money where our mouth is.”
In fact, using money as a spiritual tool for the greater good should be part of our gratitude practice by actively recognizing and appreciating the abundance in our lives and choosing to share it in meaningful ways. These actions create a cycle of giving and receiving that enriches both the giver and the receiver, and fosters a deeper sense of connection and gratitude toward the community and the world.
There is a reason religious and spiritual traditions encourage setting aside a portion of your income for charitable purposes. This practice strengthens gratitude and teaches detachment from wealth.
You wander from room to room hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck! ~ Rumi
Ways To Make Money A Blessing
Here are some ideas for how you can begin to unleash the power of money as a spiritual tool for the greater good in your community:
Practice mindful spending to ensure that your money supports positive and ethical choices (you are essentially voting with your wallet for the kind of world you want to see).
Support community projects that promote sustainability and well-being.
Invest in ethical companies that prioritize sustainable practices and contribute to social causes.
Fund education for those who lack access to quality learning resources.
Provide financial assistance to individuals in need in your community.
Contribute to health initiatives or projects aimed at improving the health of the community.
Support artistic endeavors that enrich cultural heritage and encourage creativity.
Sponsor events that promote community unity and spiritual growth.
Support innovation in green technology and environmental protection.
Donate to causes you care about, whether it’s environmental protection, social justice initiatives, or religious organizations.
Invest in random acts of kindness by paying for someone’s meal, leaving a generous tip, or helping a stranger in need.
These are just a few ideas. The possibilities are endless. Remember, the key is to use money with intention and awareness. By making conscious choices, you can transform it from a tool for personal gain into a force for positive change in the world.
Also, remember to invest in resources for your own spiritual well-being and development. This could be in the form of classes, retreats, books, or pilgrimages. By nurturing your spirit, you will become a greater source of light and positivity for those around you.
Give yourself the freedom to start thinking more often about all the amazing experiences and gifts you would love to share and give to others, and the positive impact that would have on the world. Trust me, it will begin to attract more prosperity and abundance into your life. Changing the way you see and experience money is key to helping to change the world.
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