There’s a great divide between the spiritual and material; it’s an imaginary divide, to be sure. However this divide has power – because it is believed in.

by Christopher Blackwell

We are taught, to some extent or another, that to have money and to be spiritual do not go together (you know the saying “the rich man cannot enter the kingdom of heaven”, right?). We believe we have to choose one or the other. Money or God. Purity or wealth, and so on. But if everything is god and god is unconditional love – or, in universal terms, everything is energy – then wouldn’t that love, that energy, include money?

I truly believe that the area of money and spirituality is one of the key areas on our planet and in our psyche that requires addressing, healing and transforming so we can all live deeper more fulfilling lives. Along with this I feel that people living with passion, living creatively fulfilled lives creates a huge difference to our world.

So how do we bridge this divide?

First, you need to be ready and willing to make a change, to try something different, to ask questions: “What else is possible here?”

And what is it that effects how we feel about money? Our thoughts. Your thoughts create how you feel, how you feel effects your frequency and what you give out. In other words, your frequency effects the kinds of experiences you draw to yourself. Law Of Attraction! So what words do you use or think about on a regular basis when it comes to money?

What are your beliefs about money?

We have taken on so many beliefs about money that we tend to carry with us into our lives, from our families, our religion and in the collective consciousness of society itself.

Some examples are “money is the root of all evil”. Just take that in: money…is…the …root … of …all…evil. Many of us learn this as a child. We have heard about the power of words, of self talk – and the power of the mind over the body. Well what effect do you believe that phrase has on us, as it moves from a thought to a strongly held belief?

American Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg M.D. and addiction specialist Robert Waldman claim that words can literally change your brain. They state:

A single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress. Hostile language, for example, can disrupt specific genes that play a key role in the production of neurotransmitters that protect us from stress… Positive words strengthen the frontal lobes promoting the brains cognitive functioning.

One single negative word, on the other hand, can increase the activity in the amygdala (the fear centre of the brain). This releases dozens of stress producing hormones and neurotransmitters, which in turn disrupts the brains functioning.

Dr Emoto, the famous Japanese author and scientist, spent years analysing the effect of words on water. If you look him up, you’ll find images showing the effects of different words on water molecules – and remember that our bodies are made up of over 70% water.

The effects of thoughts

Let’s observe the effects of thoughts on the body at an emotional level. First, close your eyes and imagine someone you love… Notice how your body feels – your breath, your posture, your mood – just obser ve it… Imagine this is a positive belief, such as ‘mo ney is energy’, ‘money is love’, or ‘money is fun’.

Now imagine someone you dislike and observe the sensations in your body… Again how does it feel? Not so pleasant, I’d guess. And then just think of some of the more negative the beliefs some of us have been brought up with. ‘Money doesn’t grow on trees’. ‘If your have a lot of money you cannot also be spiritual; only assholes have money’. ‘I never have money’. ‘Our family has never had money’. Can you imagine the effect these could be having on your neurochemistry, nervous system, breathing pattern, and so forth?

The predominance of these beliefs is why many of us are conflicted about the area of money and abundance in general. Essentially we are being taught ‘You can have the slice of chocolate cake, but you won’t get into heaven, so make your choice’. Thus we – especially those on a ‘spiritual’ path – often sabotage our ability to fully receive money, clients, possessions etc because of the meaning we attribute to it actually having it!

My own relationship with money

This article springs from my own former relationship with and to money – from my own attitudes, fears, beliefs, and from my work with clients for the last 15 years. I’ve noticed how one of the key places people are stuck is in the area of money. And this seems especially so for therapists, coaches and spiritually-minded people.

For instance, I had experienced great joy from my own history with meditation, but somewhere I believed that I wasn’t allowed to have both, the peace and joy AND the material success. So I started to intensely study anything and everything I could to help me shift this unsatisfactory relationship to abundance.

What did I do to shift my money situation?

Already being a sound and energy healer, I studied the effect of specific sounds to aid in creating more of a flow with money. With repetition it started to work, and I felt better as I was doing it.

I did every course available, and started to implement teachings around the law of attraction. And nowhere in these teachings or my own insights was it revealed that money is bad, that guilt should be associated with money. In fact, the opposite: there’s no judgement. I found a falling away of the stress and guilt and fear and feeling of being stuck. I felt better. Way, way better!

What if you could have both: the spiritual AND the material? Money flow is all about the ability to receive. If you can’t accept support, a gift, or a compliment easily, you may also experience difficulty letting money and other good things into your life. It’s all connected. Plus the more you allow yourself to receive, the more you have to share around, to help others, to create opportunities for others.

And how about spending money, gifting others, complimenting others; how easy is that for you?

The key factor that blocks money flow is essentially resistance

When there is resistance it’s like kinking a hose; no water flows through. When no or little water (life energy) flows through your body, or is blocked, it becomes stuck. When there is stuck or stagnant energy you feel some sort of negative emotion (anger, frustration, resentment, exhaustion, depression).

When you are abiding for a long period with these emotions it makes attracting new things very difficult – because the frequency of what you desire is at different frequency to your fear.

But the good news is: the moment you stop resisting you start to feel better, immediately. When you feel good, at ease, you start receiving – new ideas, new people and things flow into your life.

The quickest way to shift the way things show up in your life is through appreciation – starting to be thankful for even the small miracles in your life. If you start doing this you will first notice you start to feel way better. Do it consistently and the momentum builds. Step by step, moment by moment, until you’ve created the life you desire.

Are you willing to let yourself dream?

All those dreams you have held, all those things you have desired, have already been manifested on level of ideas. Some may call this the astral plane. It’s all already there, so to speak. It’s just a matter of receiving it. Somewhat like tuning a radio to a specific channel/frequency and receiving that broadcast. These things are a matter of being open and receptive – they cannot be revealed to somebody who has already made a conclusion about what’s possible!

Five ways to start shifting your money situation

1. You must be willing to try/do something different with regards to your beliefs around money. Otherwise you just get the same result you’ve always got; each situation confirming the belief you already hold. You need to be open or willing to see it differently.

2. Rewrite your money story – write down the story of money as you would like it to be, and read it every day. Write it from the perspective that it is already your reality. This has a powerful effect when done consistently.

3. Pay attention to how you feel (what thoughts do you constantly repeat to yourself about money, about what’s possible). What if you started to change the language you use, a little each day, and start observing the difference..?

4. Imagine money as an energy, that is light and playful, it flows in – it flows out… And there’s more than enough for everyone… How does that feel when you do that?

5. Clear the energy blocks that are creating resistance to receiving with greater ease. These blocks come from many sources; family, ancestors, society, school. They may also be related to specific traumas you have experienced, physical or emotional. You may wish to seek the assistance of a professions for this clearing, and/ or do your own meditation or clearing practices.