I saw this reaction coming to my upcoming ecourse, so let me share my response to an email I received this morning:
Email received in response to charging a fee for my upcoming Ascension course:
Hello Sandra,
I would like to give you a little bit feedback on your work. I truly resonate with your teachings, so tired of all the channelings, all the disinformation. Ascension process is easier to understand and grasp if you are guided by someone who is going through it, who is grounded on the planet.
I really enjoyed your weekend seminars and the blog talk radio and was disappointed to see your new plans, which means, that only those with a saving account can participate. Unless you do something simultaneously with that, all those low income or no income will be cut out and without current energy update while the seminar is on…. We can pay little by little and support you that way…
Thank you very much for sharing your insight, it’s invaluable!
In love and light,
XXX
____________________
Response from Sandra:
Blessings XXX,
I appreciate your feedback, thank you siSTAR.
Let me share my authentic perspective on this. I have had difficulty keeping my services available, as I have given up everything to keep this mission free and available to as many as possible. I AM a wanderer, led by my Higher Levels to certain locations at certain times. All of my material belongings fit in my car. I don’t have a living space except when I am able to take in enough money for a room rental. My clothes are second-hand. I live very simply. And I like that aspect of my life; the trust of spirit and support from the collective.
I had to let the radio show go because I couldn’t get the money together to keep the account on BlogTalkRadio; I asked the followers to donate if they liked the show, but no one responded. So it’s gone. I transferred all of the shows to youtube videos so we wouldn’t lose the content of those broadcasts. This keeps them available and free to listeners.
When the online course idea presented, I was challenged with website upgrades to handle the content and registration. A volunteer presented, then had to leave when paying work showed up. That happens a lot. I’m unable to do development, create the content, and code my own website. It has been frustrating to want to share more, teach more, without income from my work to hire someone to handle tasks like web coding. This is the side-effect of having 90% of my services offered free of charge.
My resonance is not the same as many of the teachers online right now. I have resisted making this mission a business, because it didn’t feel right. Unlike many of the women doing this kind of work, I don’t have a husband, sponsor, day job, home, or much support from the ascension community aside from an occasional email or comment saying thank you. Currently my only source of energy exchange from my work is an occasional private session booking. Donations are infrequent, even though the donation button is at the end of every post. There is one man who magically shows up with a donation – unsolicited – when I’m wondering if I should just shut everything down, and that has kept me available for everyone. When I go for a few weeks without a session, everything I want to produce goes on hold so I can cover the costs of at least keeping the website up. Honestly, I will camp in the cold on Shasta before I take my site down, that’s just my way.
It can be frustrating to produce so much free content, then hear complaints when a massive amount of work goes into an online course and people think it should be free. Many of the teachers doing this kind of work have paid sites, very pricey courses, ebooks, etc. Some of their students, who paid thousands of dollars for their courses, come to me for guidance because they need integration and clarity. I didn’t want to charge a lot for my work. However, there is no reason to train people to think everything related to spirituality, ascension or guidance should be free. I am guilty of doing that. I want to trust the collective to begin to put funds into new endeavors, or at least a minimal amount of support when needed. We are not there yet.
Ultimately I would like to make everything I have to share free and available to all. I toyed with making the course a pay-what-you-can option, but whenever I have given away webinar access, event access, books or counseling sessions for free, I don’t hear from those people again, they don’t watch or read the content, or they disappear without a word or donation. The value is lost and it creates an energetic drain.
Donations include service, referrals, retweeting, or sharing my site as much as it includes financial support. I have less than ten people who regularly share my work, even though my website receives thousands of visitors per week. Thousands – how wonderful it is that we have this much interest in Ascension! If everyone who visited this week gave a $12 donation, I could live and work for a YEAR on those funds, and provide writing, radio, video, webinars, all of the content free of charge. It takes very little to keep me going; my love, enthusiasm and commitment to this mission generate most of what I need.
Payment plans for a 4-week course are beyond my tech skills. I never deny anyone guidance who asks, but there has to be an exchange involved. Regular update articles will continue to be provided for free. It won’t be the same content as the course, but that is the value associated with participating in this endeavor and supporting the intent of the class.
There is plenty of free content on the web. If we find something we resonate with, it is up to us to encourage them, and create a nurturing exchange so the things we want to see in the New Paradigm are energetically supported. Otherwise, we are stuck in the corporate/financial loop, where only those with funds to produce material get to continue. We need to put our money where our consciousness is, and if the collective refuses to do so at this time, then all I can do is work with those who choose to invest in the New.
In love, light and service,
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
Wonderfully truthful. Thanks so much for sharing sis-star. Shine on.
Love K
“You must charge for your art. In everything – everything – there needs to be an exchange of energy. An equal one.
One that fills me up. One that fills you up.
If I give you a massage that nourishes and sustains and relaxes you, I ask you for money to nourish and sustain my life too. We must both be involved in the exchange, otherwise it is one sided. We must both be invested, so we both receive value.
If I do not allow you to pay money for my service, I do a disservice to myself, but also to you. You must contribute too, in order to be fulfilled. You will value the things you pay for more.
And my life will be better because I have helped your life be better. And your life will be better, because you have helped my life be better too. If you choose to ignore this exchange, you are doing both of you a great disservice.
Everything – everything – must be an equal exchange of energy. It is sacred.
Money is the manifestation of energy. Money is sacred too.”
– Ellanita Arlee
Thanks for explaining so fully the process of keeping up a website, downloading, band width, etc. I’m sure that most aren’t aware of the expenses this incurs to the host. It’s also helpful for others to understand your own circumstances and your commitment to your passion, as wrong assumptions are often made (on everyone’s part). It’s human nature to see things through our own eyes while not seeing the many other perspectives that might be involved in a given situation (sounds like most of life actually!)
It’s not a lot and I wish I could send more but I just made a $12.00 donation. I applaud you for sharing the realities of your situation without any defensiveness. Perhaps by putting it out there now, you may find more resources coming your way. Lilou Mace from the Juicy Living Tour has much of her resources donated…as in places to stay, as well as money.. (She has great self promotion skills but not everyone would be comfortable with that).
Blessings to you Sandra.
Thank you siSTARs for your resonation with creating a new dynamic. Kate, thank you for the donation and the Lilou reference. While we have different missions, it does show that where there is a heart-based desire, the energy shows up to manifest it in some form. Often it’s different than what we thought, which is the fun bit of the journey.
Spirituality is about energy exchange with the Universe, the Oneness, the Unified Beingness that we are. As we shift ourselves to balance the energy again, it’s good to REmember to honor and respect what we cherish in our lifestreams. Love and Gratitude always comes back.
Thank you!
Sandra
I really love reading your updates and I paid for one of your webinars. So what I think is — you should charge for whatever services you see fit and the people who can and want to contribute, will do so. I saw the value of paying you for your webinar and I imagine many others saw/see it too. The people (like this person who emailed you) who don’t understand that… well, it’s something for them to deal with, right? I know how it is, I also live from money people pay me for my work. But what I believe is – when I charge for a service, that means that some people will not be able to get the service. It is up to me to understand that and let go of such people.
Blessing to you, dear Sandra! <3
Thank you Ivy.
From my perspective, this is about Wayshowing – we have to move beyond the take whatever is free, only value that which is handed to us. It is connected to the way others control/manipulate us by giving us cheaper or free. Expecting free is a one-way energy path. It drains the giver and creates lack in the receiver.
We are trained into purchasing things which feed larger faceless systems, while the value of spiritual guidance is not something we have had to invest in unless it was tied to salvation/religion. New Paradigm endeavors tread on shaky ground until we can stabilize the energy balance between people – heart to heart – for a system based in integrity, value, gratitude and abundance for everyone. It doesn’t matter if someone is genuinely broke; it’s the intention to exchange rather than take that is the goal. That is love and light intelligence; the open sharing of New gifts, services and abundance will be much easier to anchor here if we support each other right now in the Shift.
I am glad the webinar was worth the investment, thank you.
Many blessings,
Sandra
I agree completely! 🙂
Many blessings,
Ivy
Dearest Sandra
I so love this post. It is so clear and real, thank you. I am hearing this from so many wonderful wayshowers, they are in the best place they can be sharing their wisdom as you are but finding it hard financially. I applaud you for doing what you do, giving freely and doing this magnificent work. To give without necessarily expecting anything in return but the fact we are still mostly living in a world where money is the way to get many things we need (survival) is such a drain. I have pulled out of 9-5 because of this as well, I can’t, no won’t live in that energy and yet I am aware that we all need money until the time comes when its no longer needed, hopefully soon. Thank you Sandra for everything you send out there, we love it and I know that love is not necessarily enough to pay the bills, so I will be donating to keeping you afloat! Muchest love siStar xxxxx
Hi, Sandra
Sending you such gratitude and respect for this honest and much needed perspective on the very tricky money issue. All of us, lightworkers and wayshowers included – maybe more so than anyone – have to play our part in transforming our so-out-of-balance financial system. Whatever and however we replace money, it has to be a form that recognises an equal exchange of energy and fully respects the contribution of each. We can’t do that by being in denial and expecting everything to be free – we need to take responsibility for our own issues around money – the most powerful changes emanate from those we make to ourselves.
Some challenge but hey, what else is new these days?
You truly are an inspiration.
Sue xxx
Sandra, I admire your dedication and the quality and integrity of your work.
In the last few months, I found my beliefs changing regarding some aspects of Ascension. I most resonate with your truth of the increasing Light purging/cleansing all on 3D and leaving nothing behind (rather than a scenario of Planet “B” or “A/B” remaining in 3D with elements of Darkness therein) . The idea of having the Darkness remain here never sat well with me and you are one of the few sources who understands what we are undergoing and agrees.
Thank you for explaining your financial situation – you are performing a valuable service for us all. I opted out of the workforce over 10 years ago but have been able to pare down my lifestyle and satisfy basic needs while committing to spiritual practice. There is nothing more important, especially now.
I am pleased to donate $100 today to help you continue. May many more step forward and give what they can as well.
Blessings & Light,
Thelma M.
Blessings Thelma,
Thank you so much for this lovely response, and for your generous donation. Merci, mon amie. I agree there is nothing more important at the moment than providing heart-based service on any level, in authentic alignment with our gifts and skills.
In love, light and service,
Sandra
You are so right. i love what you do! this post really opened my eyes. I always thought it was ok to not donate, because someone else always is. i now realize that is not true, in any case. its like not helping any cause, thinking someone else already is. that shouldnt matter, you never really know. its a good lesson to remember. thank you!
Thank you, Stacey! Yes, the *someone else is doing it* is a learned construct. We have been trained to give our power – which is responsibility – away, even with support of thing we enjoy or value. Thank goodness that construct is ~leaving~
Much love,
Sandra
Hello Sandra!
I love and appreciate everything that you do, thank you!!!
Very interesting discussion here.. What comes up for me when I’m reading through it is; are we not all 100% in power of and responsible for our own experience and situation, financial as well as in any other way?
Much love Andi.
Blessings Andi,
Are we not co-creating the New Paradigm? Learning to serve as a collective? Energizing the new with our thoughts, intentions, physical actions in this reality? I AM willing to help everyone I can. I don’t see the highest good in leaving everyone to fend for themselves, especially those fighting against the old current to create balance. Those facing the obstacles placed by service-to-self constructs do not have to struggle alone. We are all here to help one another in any way we see fit. Highest interests of all concerned takes effort on the awakened’s part to ensure we get through this together and create what we ALL desire, not just a few.
Our power depends on what we choose to create in this moment. We certainly have seen the dangers of leaving everyone to themselves. Separation. Corporate control. Manipulation. The decline of creative action. All of that is dissolving because we woke up to our collective responsibility. It is not up to anyone else, it is up to all of us to support what we see as valuable to the new paradigm, or to assist when HUmanity is struggling.
My work will exist with or without financial support – it’s the visibility and speed at which it can be spread that is up to the collective. My choice to exist this way is not for everyone; some place responsibility in financial realms, some place responsibility in the service to HUmanity and Gaia. My 100% responsibility is in this journey and the role I play in the Shift. I feel wealthier than most of the wealthy!
Much love and light to you,
Sandra