Want More Money? Start Tithing! - 4/4/05

How Tithing Can Increase Your Money Flow

Tithing is an ancient concept that has been co-opted by most of the world's religious structures, although it actually dates back to energy traditions which existed long before churches and temples were created. Modern-day tithing generally involves donating a percentage of your earnings to your church, so that the source of your spiritual sustenance can continue to be there for you. Basically, you're helping with its operating expenses.

But do you know the real metaphysical reason for tithing? At its core, tithing has nothing to do with a church and everything to do with energy. Do you know why it's so powerful? You may not even realize that tithing is a key tool which can open up the floodgates of your personal money flow. It's one of the most wonderful techniques you can practice to enhance your financial energy.

Tithing, in its original form, wasn't linked with the existence of a social institution like a church or a temple. Those organizations simply made USE of this ancient concept as the years went by, frequently manipulating this concept to serve their needs. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with giving money to your church or temple if you truly find yourself nourished spiritually through your connection with that church. I think it's great to honor all of our spiritual teachers, advisors, and guides.

It's when a church or a guru uses extortion techniques that I have a problem with it! And this is an old, unfortunate tradition which has too often accompanied the practice of tithing.

Extortion Tactics at the Collection Bin

I'll never forget the experience that a devout Catholic friend of mine had. She was a hard-working single mom who attending Mass regularly. We spoke one night after she had attended Mass, and she was in tears. Apparently, on that particular day, the priest had delivered an angry lecture to the congregation. He said that the church wasn't receiving enough tithes from people, and he was extremely nasty about it. He actually said in his sermon that if each congregation member attending Mass that day didn't put $100 in the collection dish right then and there, then they were bad Catholics, bad people, and he didn't want them ever to return to his church!

My friend couldn't afford to give $100 that day. Her policy had always been to see what extra amount was in her wallet and to give generously from whatever was there. Some weeks it was $5, other weeks it would be $20 or $50. Since she attended Mass twice a week, she probably donated at least $100 a month when you averaged out these amounts, and this was a lot of money for a woman whose ex refused to pay child support and who spent every extra penny single-handedly creating a nice home for her daughter. Some weeks, $20 was all she had to buy food for her and her little one.

She came out of that particular Mass feeling cheap, sinful and bad, and on top of it, she was angry about that priest's extortion tactics. He had resorted to public shaming in order to extract money from people.

Shame on HIM, I told her. And shame on anybody who handles money issues that way, especially a man of the cloth, who is supposed to act as a servant of God.

(And of course, at last check, the Vatican wasn't exactly hurting for money, either! But I didn't bring that up, since I didn't want to offend my sweet Catholic friend.)

Guru Extortion Tactics

Similar extortion tactics are frequently employed by various metaphysical "guru" types. One teacher I knew charged high prices for his various workshops and also STRONGLY ENCOURAGED regularly tithing to his organization. That part seemed okay, because he was engaged in a lot of good things. However, this same teacher decided to start sending out personal solicitations for money during his birthday month. The gist of the letter went, "It's Master So-and-So's birthday this month, and if you truly honor his priceless teachings, you will make a check out in his name right now."

"Hmm," I thought to myself upon receiving the letter. "The Birthday Month Guru Extortion Technique. Brilliant! Why have I never tried that one? All I need to do is to get myself a bunch of followers and then guilt trip them every September 5th into helping finance my new BMW." Then again, maybe not

The Real Energy Behind Tithing

The act of tithing can be a money miracle put into action. But this won't happen if you don't feel good about who or what you're tithing to.

In this day and age, to step into the energy of tithing and tap into the miracles that tithing can bring into our lives, it's best to identify several sources you'd like to make a tithe to and to also find several forms of tithing which feel good to you. You don't have to give money to just one place every month. Mixing things up can be good.

Tithing is the act of giving joyfully and ecstatically, without thought of what you might receive in exchange, because helping the source of your tithing makes you feel SO GOOD that giving itself becomes its own reward. The act of tithing immediately causes you to step into the energies of financial abundance, because it's impossible to feel poor when you are in a position to give something! If you're caught up in the joy of giving, then you are reaffirming your conviction that you are an abundant being who can AFFORD to give. And you start radiating an energy of "I have plenty, and I am cheerfully sharing that plenty with others!" instead of "I'm so broke I don't remember what money looks like." You instantly step into the energy vibration of abundance and reaffirm that frequency through the act of tithing.

This energy can be amplified if you invoke spiritual energy and set a clear intention around your tithe. "I offer this tithe as affirmation of the wonderful abundance which has already manifested in my life and the abundance to come." Consecrating your tithe and consciously linking it to the energy of abundance makes your tithing a more powerful act. Right away, it starts generating ripples of energy on the inner planes which spread outwards and begin aligning you with good things and people.

So when you feel that your money flow could use a boost, one of the simplest and most practical things you can do is to give some away!

How Much Should You Tithe

I'm not advocating giving away more than you can afford. But this amount varies for people. Some sources advocate giving 33% of your personal income. This number is drawn from the sacred trinity of the numbers three, six, and nine, which have long been associated with strong spiritual energy.

But there can be differences in opinion about whether you should tithe 33% of your pre-tax or after-tax income. And the number 33% may not be calibrated right, either. I believe it depends on your income flow and what you feel comfortable with giving.

Ten percent can also be a very good amount to tithe. Feel free to tithe less than ten percent, too. Some people enjoy tithing a combination of money and services, which also have real value. Everyone has some service they can perform for others as a form of tithing, whether it be mowing someone's lawn, shovelling snow for the old lady who lives down the street, helping your parents with house-cleaning, tutoring a child in a subject they need help with, or whatever. It's especially nice to tithe something which enhances the well-being of others on a profound level, so if you have some training in some form of energy healing or holistic health work, that's a great service to tithe, too.

How Some Healers Tithe and Handle Money

For instance, many healers I know combine a certain amount of financial tithing (giving some money each month to individuals or organizations) with service (doing free healings for people.) So donating your goods or services to others can also be a marvelous way to tithe.

For holistic healers, giving a certain percentage of their work away for free each month can also help to realign them with the spiritual purpose of their work. Giving such services to another for free can be a great learning experience, reconnecting a person with true spiritual humility and the magical power of an open heart.

Money matters can get a bit muddy for people who wish to be part of the "helping" professions. In the old days, mystics, spiritual teachers, healers, and seers would receive food and shelter from others through donation. Or their temple or church would support them.

These days, we have millions of healers quietly working under the radar, many of them never putting up a "shingle" and advertising, many of them simply performing readings or massages or energy work for free for people who request this work.

And these are people who could use your donations! Because society largely hasn't caught up to the fact that these people's work carries real value.

I remember someone telling me once that psychics charge too much. I responded, "My trademark attorney charges $400 to send out a few emails and make a phone call or two. Are you telling me that when someone guides you with advice about how you might improve your health, your relationships, and your overall well-being, that this isn't worth real money? That $50 or a $100 or even $200 is too much to pay for this service?"

We have a disconnect in this society when it comes to valuing energy practitioners and intuitive counselors. And many healers end up with severe financial deficits plus energy burnout (the psychic equivalent of putting too much energy out without taking enough nourishment in.) If we learned to support these practitioners, whether they have been in business a long time or are just getting started, I think everyone would benefit. More of these gifted people would start doing this important work full-time instead of trying to fit it in on weekends or evenings, which is the only time many practitioners have available to do this work. I've lost count of the gifted holistic healers and psychics I've personally known who struggle to balance a "day job" with their more spiritually-oriented work, which usually ends up being part-time.

Anyway, enough of my rant about healers. You get the idea! My point is, if you know an energy worker, a massage therapist, or an intuitive counselor whose gifts you honor, helping them out enables them to continue their important spiritual work. And you'll earn karmic "brownie points" if you help them out!

So, you can tithe by giving money to an individual or a group, you can tithe in the form of providing free services to others, or you can combine both of the above. Doing each of these things will help to free up your ability to receive abundance, and it can be amazing how quickly gifts and surprises start to come your way after you've tithed. I know people who have manifested job offers or consulting gigs within 24 hours of tithing. I also have personally found money to appear out of the blue in my life after I tithe on frequent, consistent occasions. This stuff works! The ancient wise ones who taught these truths about metaphysical energy were onto something!

Where to Tithe

These days, many people feel uncomfortable tithing to a church. I think that's perfectly okay, since many churches have locked their members into mind control and fear instead of empowering them with the metaphysical teachings which lie within their faith. So if you don't want to tithe to a church, put your energy somewhere that feels better for you.

If you have studied with a metaphysical teacher or been a part of a metaphysical organization, this can be a good place to put your money. But again, you should only do this if you feel that this person or group has truly enhanced YOUR life and benefited you.

I'm a big fan of giving to charities that excite and inspire you. There are so many wonderful groups doing good out there, and you should do some searching to see who seems to be a good egg, someone engaged in worthwhile actitivities.

I've tithed money to a variety of different organizations and individuals, plus I've donated free healing work to people. Combining both seems to work the best for me. I also donate money to various websites who provide wonderful information and ideas. There are so many great websites out there whose owners work hard to create places of light within the vast dimension of cyberspace. When you see a "Make a donation" button, using that and giving even a small bit of money to help support a website you love can be a great way of tithing.

If you are an animal lover, don't rule out animal shelters and other animal-friendly organizations. (Cat lovers, you may wish to take a look at my Cat Gallery, where I list some of my favorite furry-oriented groups. Just click on the Cat Gallery button on the menu at the left.)

I can also endorse a wonderful organization called the Heifer Project. This is one of the best charities out there. Instead of just throwing money at people who are struggling, this organization gives people live animals which they can care for and harvest for milk, wool, and offspring, creating self-sustaining economies in places where animal products carry great value. So, for instance, you can donate money toward the purchase of a goat, and that goat will be given to a community which can then use its milk for food and perhaps breed it so the baby goats can be sold to others. The Heifer Project also provides education so that people learn how to care for their animals, and recipients of these donated animals take great pride in having something that they can do for themselves which directly benefits their communities.

Unlike many charitable organizations, the Heifer Project donates a huge percentage of your donation directly to the work, so your donation isn't just paying for the staff members and infrastructure of the organization. You can visit their site here: http://www.heifer.org.

Another wonderful organization is Wateraid.org. They provide clean water and sanitation for the many people around the world who don't have access to fresh drinking water. According to their website, simply donating $25 can provide fresh drinking water and sanitation to one person for life. They have an infrastructure of personnel who are putting sanitation measures into place all over the world. Can you imagine living without access to clean water? I can't. That's why Wateraid.org remains another one of my favorite charities. http://www.wateraid.org.uk

Tithing Close to Home

Another "obvious" place to tithe money is to confine your tithing closer to home. Honoring your parents is very important, because they are responsible for your being here! And even if your parents don't want to take money from you, there's nothing wrong with buying them gifts or putting some money aside in savings to help them with their retirement expenses. If you do so, though, you should set up a separate bank account for this money and be clear in your tithing intent, making sure that this money is intentionally linked to the act of tithing. If you end up dipping into this money later for yourself, you've sabotaged your tithe!

Metaphysical teachers tend to disagree about whether giving money to loved ones is appropriate as a tithe. What about the sister who has gone bankrupt and could use your help? What about your husband who got laid off at work and needs some extra money? What about your kids, who could use some new clothes or who might enjoy a new video game?

When you tithe TOO close to home, some people think this doesn't really count as a tithe. After all, you're helping people you love for somewhat selfish reasons - when they're happy, you're happy, right? So in some ways, you could be said to be buying your OWN happiness by giving money to loved ones, because it's not just them that benefits - you benefit, too. So perhaps tithing to TOO close of a relative is not the same as an altruistic tithe to an outside person or organization. This doesn't mean you shouldn't help loved ones. But you may want to separate the money you tithe from the money you give to close loved ones.

Tithing Opens Up the Floodgates of Abundance

Tithing, at its best, should be a spontaneous and pure act of generosity. Tithing offers us a sacred opportunity to help others who are in need, without thought of what WE are going to get out of it.

The funny thing is that tithing, when it's done correctly, provides us with immediate benefits, anyway. On an energy level, giving in this way instantly connects us with the frequency of abundance. So it's perfectly okay to give money away in a tithe each month and to also consecrate this as an act which is connecting you with the greater stream of universal abundance which constantly surrounds you. Step into that amazing stream of energy with your tithing, enter into that wonderful experience of feeling GOOD about yourself because you have helped somebody out with a tithe, and know that the never-ending circle of the Creator's abundance is cradling you within its warm, nourishing arms.

Tithing Basics

Get into a regular routine with your tithing; once a month is great.

Think about splitting your tithing between giving money and donating services to others.

Figure out the percentage of your after tax income which feels appropriate to tithe; if you can't afford much money, you can make up for the gap by giving more in the form of services. (Remember: you have information that others need, so consider being a mentor to someone. If you have web skills, help someone put their website together. These count as service!)

When you tithe, invoke, say a prayer, and connect that tithe with the source of all abundance. Here's the idea: "I consecrate this tithe to connect me with the energies of abundance on all levels and to help others be abundant, too."

Experiment with giving money to different inviduals, websites, or organizations each month. Mix things up and use your intuition. See where the money would like to go. Who do you feel really happy about giving to this month?

Here's a quick money fix: If you're feeling droopy about money issues, bolster that abundance energy by giving, giving, giving! It's impossible to feel poor when you have something to give. The universe will start to reflect back this abundant energy the more you step into this vibration through regular tithing.

Write to Me

I invite you to share your tithing success stories for inclusion in a future follow-up article. How did you feel the first time you tithed? What changes opened up in your life within the next 30 days? How did your money issues shift or transform? What happened with your cash flow? Did anybody offer you free goods, services, or favors? (All of those things mean you are stepping into the flow of abundance. Sometimes, abundance arrives as money, and sometimes it shows up in our lives as free stuff!) Report back to me at editor@lipstickmystic.com

Also, I know there are many other wonderful charities, websites, and groups out there who could use donations. Send me some of your favorites, and I'll list them here in the future.

Recommended Reading

You know me, I am such a bookworm Virgo! Always giving you recommended reading. But here are two books which really will enhance your understanding of how spiritual energy, tithing, and money flow together in practical ways.

The first book I recommend is The Game of Life and How to Play It by a woman named Florence Scovel Shinn. She wrote a series of practical, inspiring books which talk about the power of applied faith - working with the creative power of God and manifesting miracles like better relationships, greater money flow, better health and so on. The Game of Life is a short little book, a classic. You can order it from Amazon or access the entire book online through the following link:

The Game of Life Online

The Wisdom of Florence Scovel Shinn is a book which combines four of her books including The Game of Life and How to Play It. So you get that one plus three others, all of them fabulous, practical, and highly accessible in their wisdom. If you choose to order it through this Amazon link, your purchase will help to support this site.

The Wisdom of Florence Scovel Shinn

The second book I recommend is The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. This is a short book written in parable form set in the ancient days of Babylon. Each chapter lays out simple, universal principles about how to better handle your money and put your money to work making MORE money for you (through activities like tithing.)

 Richest Man in Babylon

Okay, now you have plenty of ideas in your arsenal to help you to master the amazing art of tithing. Go for it!