There is a difference between money and capitalism.
I know that may be hard to believe, especially since there are many more examples of money being tied to exploitation than not.
Capitalism muddles money.
But money and capitalism are not the same.
Money is an exchange. It’s just a marker of what we value and how much we value it.
Even if you can get on board with seeing that money and capitalism are not the same thing, it doesn’t make all of your money woes go away.
Whether we are conscious of it or not, the environment and culture we grew up in, aka our parents and/or caretakers and anyone directly influencing us from a young age, greatly impacts our beliefs about money.
How did your caretakers deal with money?
What were their beliefs?
What messages were they directly or indirectly sending to you?
Seeing money from an animistic lens has helped me separate it from capitalism, individualism, trauma, & guilt and do lots of money healing.
Making money and doing business from a place of collaboration, consent and integrity takes slowness, creativity and dreaming out of this world of quick fix extraction.
Another world is possible.
When I ask folks on social media what their beliefs about money are, I get responses like
“It’s the root of all evil”
“It only corrupts”
“There is never enough”
If we see money as a spirit but hold the above beliefs, do you think money is really going to want to hang around?
But let’s back up.
The first step in healing our money wounds is recognizing the problem is NOT personal. It’s systemic.
Capitalism and patriarchy are brutal systems. They have impacted our bodies, psyches and spirits for generations upon generations.
Women, femmes, raised working class or poor, most of us weren’t taught about how to make or manage money. And if you were raised catholic, like me, or even christian, you may have gotten the message that if you are just “good enough” then you will be provided for.
Which again leads to personal moral failure and guilt and shame if you end up broke.
Well, let me say it again: the problem is not you. It’s way larger. It’s systemic.
The cool part?
WE, as individuals, get to choose and build culture together on how we want to show up now and in the future. How we want to respond to these broken systems.
Here is a long-form quote from Kelly Diels who describes a response to the systems of patriarchy and capitalism around us:
"It is essential that women and femmes and marginalized peoples – the identities marked in our culture to be the uncompensated or wildly undercompensated labourers propping up our economies and families – accumulate savings, net worth, and wealth. Essential.
Because the social safety net is in tatters and no guarantee and neither, frankly, is love. You can love people all you want and take care of them and there is no guarantee that they will love you back if you’re diagnosed with cancer and can’t work or get Alzheimer’s and need 24/7 care.
This is not just about retirement, our elder years, surviving illnesses and emergencies and being deserving or in need. We don’t have to demonstrate overwhelming need to deserve to have money and resources.
This notion of deserving is a value that supports patriarchy and white supremacy. I believe we’ve internalized the cultural assumption that because we are not straight white men, we’re defective – which means we’ve got to compensate for that defect with becoming The Perfect Woman and with our endless labour. We earn and deserve resources only if we’ve met that criterion.
No.
Let’s assume that every human on this earth is deserving of a flourishing, abundant life and livelihood and a positive net worth. That’s our foundational notion.
When it comes to money, earning, wealth and net worth, let’s take ‘deserving’ and ‘worth it’ out of the equation."
From this feminist business framework, we always name the system issue, the bigger picture instead of shaming the individual.
But we don’t stop there.
If we did, it could lead to enabling and pessimism. That’s just not my cup of my tea. I’m here to create, experience pleasure and spread hope.
That’s why, instead, I find another step important:
Step 1: Name the systemic issue. Ie. capitalism and patriarchy.
Step 2: Ask yourself: How will I respond to it?
You can choose if you want to try and live an ascetic lifestyle.
Or you can choose to be a bossy bottom, participate but hate it the whole time.
Or you can choose a path of nuance, influencing culture, and knowing you are allowed to experience abundance.
You can choose the path of trusting yourself with money and power. And making badass feminist decisions from that place.
And maybe you don’t trust yourself right now.
But the thing is, trusting ourselves comes from feeling safe and it’s freaking hard to feel safe when are fighting just to survive and pay bills.
That’s why I kept coming back to talking about economic empowerment.
Thinking about everything wrong in the world? It is easier to support and change when you have money! You can donate money, give services away for free once you are booked, advocate for change by how you show up in the world.
Journal Prompt:
Money gives us advocacy, choice, security.
Can you imagine…
What types of choices will you make when you feel secure?
How will you share your wealth when it’s pouring over?
Abundance is possible. Collaboration, transparency, agency and connection are all possible.
Plant-Powered Recipe of the Day
Vegan-Tempeh BLT! (*option to add Avocado or real bacon!)
Ingredients:
8 slices of whole grain bread
8 oz (225g) tempeh, sliced into thin strips
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional)
4 lettuce leaves
2 tomatoes, sliced
Vegan mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a shallow dish, mix together the soy sauce, maple syrup, and liquid smoke (if using).
Place the tempeh strips in the marinade and let them soak for about 10 minutes.
Arrange the marinated tempeh strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crispy, flipping halfway through.
Toast the bread slices until golden brown.
Spread a layer of vegan mayonnaise on one side of each bread slice.
Assemble the sandwiches by layering the lettuce, tomato slices, and tempeh bacon on four slices of bread. Season with salt and pepper.
Top with the remaining bread slices and cut the sandwiches in half.
Serve and enjoy your vegan tempeh BLTs!
Traditional BLT with Regular Bacon:
Ingredients:
8 slices of bread (white, wheat, or your preference)
8 slices of bacon
4 lettuce leaves
2 tomatoes, sliced
Mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon slices until crispy. Transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
Toast the bread slices until golden brown.
Spread a layer of mayonnaise on one side of each bread slice.
Assemble the sandwiches by layering the lettuce, tomato slices, and bacon on four slices of bread. Season with salt and pepper.
Top with the remaining bread slices and cut the sandwiches in half.
Serve and enjoy your classic BLTs with regular bacon!
Whether you opt for the vegan tempeh version or the traditional bacon version, these BLTs are sure to be delicious and satisfying.
Paradigm Shifter: Money is Freedom
Energetically, we don't have power over it.
Right now, for most of us, money is our goal. We work, hustle, grind, learn, sacrifice for the ultimate goal.
Money.
Money is the currency in exchange for our dreams.
Our desires.
Our ease.
Our freedom.
That means we are hustling for our desires.
That means we are grinding for our ease.
That means we are sacrificing for our freedom.
Does that make sense?
The reality is that money is simply energy and every single thing on this planet has an energetic price tag.
The secret is to fill yourself with the right energetic currency to attract ease.
The secret is to fill yourself with patience and trust to create freedom.
The secret is to fill your life with a community to live out your desires.
With sexy self-care and all my love,
Groovy Girl🦋