posted November 23, 2000 01:38 AM              

But, I think maybe it is a little harder to be spiritually grounded when you're surrounded by material things.

I like pretty things. I can't help it. If I have extra money, I want to buy something for my house. But, most of the time I don't, because I look at that catalog and say to myself, "Yeah, yeah, so what...it looks really pretty, and I'll be happy when it arrives, but then I'll get the bill and be upset, and then after I have this for a few years it will most probably get ruined or get boring and I'll want something else."

So, I'm the type who gets lots of catalogs, with really nice stuff in it, looks at the pictures, dog-ears things I want to buy, and then winds up throwing out the catalog in a few days

posted December 21, 2000 12:20 PM              

"Poor man wanna be rich,rich man wanna be king,and a king ain't satisfied till he rules everything".
Bruce Springsteen

posted July 18, 2001 01:06 AM              

Money isn't evil - hoarding it, keeping it all for yourself, not sharing it when you have extra, being a miser, being selfish - THAT is the evil.

I don't feel that there is anything wrong with living well, having a retirement plan, a nest egg for a rainy day, great vacations, or even a mansion and a yacht. I don't think any of that interferes with spirituality. In fact, I think spirituality can be enhanced when you are perfectly happy and at peace with your surroundings. We merely each have our own threshold of what makes us happy and comfortable.

I don't think that I'm any more spiritual than, say, Bill Gates. Just because I live paycheck to paycheck and he needs a backhoe to shovel his money to him - I don't think that makes me any more worthy than he. Besides, if what I've heard is true, he gives that money away hand over fist. So, it seems that the Money mystique works after all - I can only give away a little money, so a little money comes back to me - he can give away buckets full and buckets come back.
-- Surprise, surpise our LOve LInda was right, again

But, when money becomes all consuming - the only thing you can think about is how to get it and how to keep it and how not to let go of any of it - it does interfere.

My ex-father-in-law has more money than he could spend in three lifetimes. The house is paid off. The cars are paid off. He has almost no expenses. But, he would do things like - have a cheapo phone for years, it would break/wear out, he would go to the store to buy a new one of the exact same model, put the old one in the box and return it to the store. He did that sort of thing all the time. There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to have some real heavy karma for that kind of crap. But, really, how can you grow spiritually if you are cheating a store over a $9.99 telephone or cursing at a customer service rep over a 50 cent increase in charges?

posted July 18, 2001 04:39 AM              

I don't care much about saving for the future, I care about not dying now so if I need a book or a trip to learn something about life or a cure I buy it. I would like a house but it doesn't seem to be the right moment, as it doesn't come easily.

Some people are stuck in poverty, maybe not in rags but no spare money because their wages or benefits provide only the basic.

posted July 18, 2001 01:12 PM              

I would rather be living in my current situation, paycheck to paycheck, and on my way to enlightenment than be like him - rich and building up heavy karma. (Actually, I'd like to be a combo of the two - rich (well, comfortable) and on my way to enlightenment - it'll take time, but I believe I'll get there.)

posted July 18, 2001 02:39 PM              

You both have terrific insight on this topic! I am glad to hear about your own experiences with money, and a lack thereof.

I have lived with nothing but what I could fit in my backpack. I have had a tent for a home, no hairbrush(or undies! :manic
and it is not easy to be magical when you have to struggle. But being a raggamuffin has brought me an unbelievable amount of gratitude for all these earthly delights which now surround me.

Just seeing THE LACK AND DESPAIR OF THE POOR AND CRIPPLED IN A PLACE WITH AS MANY TRAPPED IN POVERTY AS INDIA is enough to make me so very thankful to have two legs, two arms, all my faculties, and all the many blessings with which we've all been bestowed. But even still I feel, and behave, very much like a spoiled child at times.

There is a principle portrayed in Star Signs which is such truth, that it boggles my mind. It is the cyclicity principle where when you give of your (green) energy, you form a cycle that continues as long as you continue to give of your recources, namely money.
Now, I was pretty into the Virgo miserly, tight, 'a penny saved is a penny earned' thing. I really didn't know that this principle would apply to me. I was cheap, man! Really cheap! But, I have been allowing myself to open to this philosophy, and it is working in ways that defy explanation!!

posted July 18, 2001 03:18 PM              

I have never been a penny pincher - my friends refer to me as "a salesman's wet dream". I cannot hold on to a dime to save my life. As I mentioned, I live pretty close to the vest right now, but I don't let that stop me - if I have a dollar, we're going for a soda. And if I don't - one shows up (then we go for the soda . I don't find a lot of money. But when it's three days till payday, I've got no gas in the car and no food in the fridge - I'll find a $10 or $20 in my desk drawer or the pocket of a blazer. If it's not that bad and I have no money, but I do have gas in the car and food in the house - I'll find a $2 or $5 lottery ticket that I forgot to cash in or loose change that I threw into a candy dish or cookie jar that I forgot about or a couple of dollars flying across the parking lot - that kind of stuff.

It has always been like this for me and I never knew why. And, I decided not to look too closely (don't look a gift horse in the mouth dont ya know). But, once I read Linda, it was so clear to me. I keep that energy circulating - so the universe provides in my times of need.

posted July 18, 2001 06:16 PM              

*earning* money, which is *worked hard for* and having it *given* to us as being returned two fold ...all for the giving

~Princess

posted July 18, 2001 10:33 PM              

Thanks for that Charismatique.

I believe that it's perfectly feasible to have dung loads of money and material things, just as long as you don't identify with it. When you start to identify with your material possessions, it becomes a threat to your soul and it starts to suck, basically. HOWEVER, if you realize that money and material goods are merely an illusion anyways, you can have as much of it as you want, being the gods that we are.

posted July 19, 2001 01:20 AM              

It's so true... the more possessions we acquire the more *protection* (shelter) they need and all that comes with that too, including being able to provide it... Makes one wonder, "Uh... what is the point, and why bother?"

posted July 19, 2001 09:05 AM              

Personally speaking, I WANT LOADS OF MONEY!!! I am worth it. I deserve it, just as much as Howard Hughes or Richard Branson, and I don't believe that you have to 'break your butt' to get it, either..

Paul and I keep affirming 'When I Win The Lottery' (not 'if', but WHEN)... and this week and last week, WE DID! Twice... £10 last week and £13 this week... so we did what we promised we would do When We Won... we shared it with all our friends - A POUND EACH! But hey, it's a start...

We also have a beautiful photograph frame bought for us by my friend... it is Dorothy and the 3 friends on the Yellow Brick Road to Oz, on one side (like a little book) and the other side is where a picture goes... Paul has put a £10 note in there, to remind us that we are always going to have abundance there for us... AND WE ALWAYS DO AND ALWAYS HAVE HAD... one way or another, neither of us has ever gone without our needs...

Neither of us is jealous or envious of anyone with loads of money, either... and I don't think the Universe cares WHO has money and who doesn't... it's okay to want it and to have it... and it's also okay to do whatevr you wish with it. Share or hoard... makes no difference, it's just energy, and like all other energy forms, it brings with it glorious lessons and growth and learning opportunities..

So, EVERYBODY HOLLER OUT TO THE UNIVERSE... send me MONEY!!!

And WHEN I win the Lottery and it's a LOT of Money I will share it, simply because that is what I do with my goods and chattels and time and energy ANYWAY!

posted July 19, 2001 01:00 PM              

I think it would be a blast to hand over $100,000.00 to a homeless mother, for example, for *no apparent reason*

~Princess

------------------
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
"What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

posted July 19, 2001 03:50 PM              

So many insights to money and spiritual well being.

When a person makes gathering money as the primary goal, that person will likely use and abuse others to get it without having consideration to the harm that might come about. Know of anyone like that who is spiritually happy?

My belief is that money should follow your endeavor whatever it may be. Whether a person is a business owner, employee or volunteer, spiritual happiness is obtained when one knows that he or she has done a good job. Whether the monetary compensation is large, nominal or perhaps nothing, a spiritually happy person will be satisfied living with what they have. If they can share some of of their wealth, likely they will do so. One who puts money ahead of all things, will likely not share it or if he/she does, likely it will not be for charitible or alturistic reasons.

So, can money and spiritual well being coexist? Of course, provided the intent of the person is to not put money above all things.

posted July 19, 2001 06:07 PM              

It doesn't show up in great amounts, but whatever I want or need, the amount that does show up works.

posted July 19, 2001 07:32 PM              

Worry is born in fear is born in negative .. and we all know what that gets us ~ more of the same...

Reminds me of the *cliche lyric* DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY ... where some would take that to mean, if you don't worry you will be happy, I take it to mean more if you are happy you won't have to worry

~Princess

------------------
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
"What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

posted July 26, 2001 06:16 PM              

I'm an accountant and I deal with other people's money on a daily basis. Over the years I've encountered people who are quite well-endowed financially and spiritually bankrupt. I've encountered people in extremely dire fiancial straits who trust in god to provide. I've also encountered the extremely weathly who believe that their fortune came to them through divine intervention and their own hard work. And the poor who believe god has it in for them and they'll always be poor and there's nothting they can do about it.

Personally, I don't think that having wealth has anything to do with one's spiritual nature (or lack thereof). I do think that too much money or material possessions can rob one of the opportunity to explore and live within their spirit if they only count their possessions. I do think that one reason that those without wealth or possession are closer to their spiritual selves is that they don't have the distractions that wealth can create. It depends upon on whether you see money as a tool or as a possession. Wealth and poverty are both tests of our spiritual nature.

I liked Linda's Money Mystique the first time I read and each time afterward. I realized, several years later, I lived it without knowing it I provide for my needs and then provide for others as much as I can. I don't sweat out the lean times nor do I rejoice in the fat times. I do believe that what you give you receive. It may not always be exactly what you need when you need it, but then you might not fully understand your need at the time you receive it.

I like Sunjewel's attitude By all means, ask the Uni-verse for what you want and share the wealth with those you love! What a great way to live!