“We’ve all been given a gift, the gift of life.
What we do with our lives is our gift back.” -Edo
Over the years I have been trying to quantify my services based on my overheads, what I think my skills are worth, what I am worth , as well as comparing myself to the rest of the market of our industry.
I never felt that I really was able to find the right “price” for my services as one session might be very powerful to one individual and not as supportive to another. For one person it might be worth thousands of dollars, for another a hundred or less.
I was also concerned to not be able to open my private practice and workshops to those who could not afford it. Chanelle and I, in response to this issue, decided to offer community acupuncture. However, the less financially fortunate ones could still not have access to Transformation Streaming sessions and workshops.
In short trying to put a price on my services has always been a big challenge. If the price is to low, I get overworked and can’t bring in enough to maintain my child, my family and my work. On the opposite, if I charge a higher amount, it becomes more about me and what I feel I am worth, which also disconnects me from others and where they find themselves in their lives.
I often considered sliding scale but never felt connected to it as it is about money, meaning at some point the practitioner gives more than he can and the receiver might pay more than what they feel they received. Thus creating an imbalance between giving and receiving.
I was randomly introduced to the work of Charles Eisenstein, Sacred economics (www.sacred-economics.com) on the website www.evolver.net (a social network focused on evolution).
He introduces offering work as a gift from one’s heart to another, from that heart exchange giving and receiving takes place. By exchanging in this way, money no longer is the leader. Value becomes defined not by money but by our heart and gratitude. BINGO!
His words deeply resonated within me. A system in accordance with the principals of nature, balance, and sacred connection that ask of us to trust in the abundance that surrounds us when lead by our hearts and grounded with our choices.
Soon enough for me, the old demons started knocking at my door at the idea of stepping into this new economical model. “Am I going to get paid? Will others understand and give? I might not make much money? I am highly training and experienced, I have paid fortunes on education that I am paying back today. I have a family. I do my work well, people should just pay for what I ask…” That internal dialogue went on for a while, each time led by fear of not having enough and loosing control. I had to engage in deep conversations with each of these parts of myself to see what they truly needed, what they were scared of. After a period of time I started seeing and feeling how I could use Charles Eisenstein model and apply it to my life and needs.
It required of me to look at my life, at what I need, and to focus on centering myself around gratitude. I had to learn how to love and acknowledge the demon of desiring to have more than I need and told him that the war was over, that he could finally rest and that I will take care of him, he will have all he needs. This process took time and is still going on, as I find myself often wondering about the fine line that can be to have more than we need and to just have what we need.
I finally made the decision to integrate this model as much as possible to my private healing sessions and workshops.
Here is how I chose to integrate it: In most cases we offer our work as a gift. We operate our sessions and workshops based on giving and receiving. “The idea is, “How are we to know what the value will be to you?” Better let you decide” (Charles Eisenstein).
Private Healing sessions: We ask from you enough to cover our minimal operational expenses. We do not make any money on what we ask you to give us. “At the end of the session we ask that each individual gift their payment to us, according to their own measure of gratitude”(Charles Eisenstein). You may add money or choose not to at that time. (See Gift Example)
Example of gift exchanges:
One Hour | Transformation Streaming Session
$60 dollars operational expenses.
“I had a wonderful session and received much from Guillaume and/or Chanelle, I am able and want to add to the operational expenses $40, $50, $60…”
“I had an amazing session. What I discovered today will change my life. I am very grateful and want to add $80, $100, $200 or more.”
“I am very grateful for the session and find myself in a situation where I am not able to give more than the operational expenses, or can just add $10.”
“After my session I feel that what I received is worth the $60 operational expenses and do not wish to add more.”
“I cannot give the operational expenses gift and want to inquire about bartering”
“Today I am not able to give, but in the future when I have more I will make a donation to Guillaume and Chanelle to thank them for their work and help them support their family. I will in the mean time spread their work, their name and give back as I can.”
Bartering: We evaluate bartering based on our needs to give and receive. We do not estimate the exchange based on a dollar amount, nor hourly services solely. We pay attention to what we feel the value of the barter is to us and to you. A gift for a gift. Feel free to reach out and contact us to inquire about bartering.
Workshops: A paid deposit is required to attend our workshops. The deposit will sometimes be returned, sometimes not pending on co-facilitators, sponsors and general operational expenses. We do not charge a workshop fee, but ask that each individual gift their payment to us, according to their own measure of gratitude. You may take the money we return to you, add or subtract from it, and make your gift to both Guillaume and/or Chanelle. You may also gift a payment directly to us in advance of the workshop via or website.
Gift: Most of our workshops are by donations. If you would like to make a gift to support us, our family, and our work, you may do so using Paypal to contact@soulembody.com.
Sacred Economics – Charles Eisenstein www.sacred-economics.com
Guillaume you are truly a gifted writer. I am struggling right now to find my voice, while you have stated yours so beautifully. I love this concept so much!! You have inspired me,my dear friend! Lots of love.
Deanne
Things like the care of children, the preparation of food, to some extent the building of houses, the creation of entertainment, all of these things used to be part of a gift economy, done mostly within families or small communities. A lot of these things should be done by people that know you intimately – life’s a lot richer when your music is mostly something that you get together and sing, rather than something you listen to on your ipod. So that’s part of it, the shrinkage of the money realm.