There seems to be a split in the Pagan community when it comes to the
concept of accepting money for Pagan related services. Some people
are of the opinion that it isn't right to accept money for any type
of service, be it healing, teaching, or spellcasting. Others think
that accepting a fair wage is just fine. There are some that come in
the middle, either finding it acceptable to take enough payment to
cover costs or finding it acceptable to receive gifts or trade but
not to formally set a price on skills.
Personally, I think that it is all a mater of degree. I have no
problem with anyone charging for their services. I guess in my mind
it comes down to the reasons why you charge. If I charge for
anything it is not because I want to milk the most out of someone
that I can, or take advantage of them (as many very public psychics
and 'curse lifters' are accused of), but rather because I value my
own skills. I feel that my time is worth something.
Now this isn't to say that I wouldn't help someone who was in true
need just because they couldn't pay...although in my mind everyone
can 'pay' in some way, even if their payment is an invitation to
dinner, or a truly heartfelt hug and thanks.
But I don't feel that it is unreasonable to even make a small profit
off of providing services. We have only a certain amount of time in
each day. If we choose to spend our time using our skills, whatever
they may be, then that time can not be spent doing some kind of
mundane job. I don't think it cheapens my practice or beliefs in any
way to accept or require payment for the things I do.
Actually, I find it kind of ridiculous that some find it acceptable
to take trades but not money. If I do a reading for someone and they
give me a chicken in return, or if they give me money and I go and
buy a chicken, the result is the same: I provided a service and
ended up with a chicken. Money itself isn't evil or corrupt, and
accepting money instead of goods doesn't somehow make the transaction
dirty.
I think a lot of where people start crossing the line is when they
start trying for recognition. When you feel you are worth more
because of who you are, and it becomes less about the service and
more about your (perceived) name and station. I do feel that paying
more for a more experienced practitioner is one thing. In a way, you
are paying for the benefit of the years they have put into their
practice, into training the very skills you are seeking. It is like
paying more to have a plumber with ten years experience come to fix
your pipes instead of your neighbor who watched a video on how to fix
pipes....I would definitely pay the plumber more (although for
something simple, I might hire my neighbor).
This is also where I feel that bragging becomes a problem in the
Pagan world. I have been solitary for the bulk of my practice, so I
understand how it feels to have walked a lonely path and to crave
that peer recognition for what you have done. I feel very strongly
that feedback (both for success and failure) is important, and
sometimes that outside perspective is hard to come by when walking
alone. Also, when something wonderful or new and shiny happens in my
practice, sometimes I just want to share it...and share it with
people who understand where I am coming from.
But I think we have all met someone (especially online) who is
constantly talking about the things they have done and how it makes
them better than the 'average' (whatever that is). The way I look at
it, the minute I start comparing my stuff to someone else's stuff in
any sort of judgmental way, I am loosing the focus of my path. It is
one thing to recognize that you may be better or worse at a skill
than someone else, but that doesn't make you a better or worse
person.
Sometimes I feel that the argument about money for services all comes
down to bragging. The people who charge excessive amounts do it
either from greed or desire to be known. The people who I have
talked to that are against charging anything always feel like they
are putting their nose up in the air (like they are better because
they only do things out of the goodness of their heart). And often
they seem to fall into the braggart category as well, talking about
all the ways they donate their service and what not.
I still maintain that a person who is truly acting from the heart and
offering their services, won't spend a lot of time talking about it.
If they charge, they won't go about bragging about how much they made
that month, if they don't charge, they might not mention they did
anything at all. It's like donating money to a cause and then
feeling the need to tell every stranger you meet on the street how
much you donated.
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