Material Simplicity, Part Two May 23, 2009

As Pagans, we need to look at money differently than members of other faiths do, since there are factors to consider which come into play within a generally animistic worldview and which do not necessarily spring immediately to mind when one considers money and its uses and abuses. To nuns or monks, dealing with money at all might be a necessary but unwelcome chore — or it might instead be a blessing and honor. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the question of how Pagan monastics should deal with money, and much of what I said in the previous post about material goods applies here as well. Looking carefully at one’s life and circumstances, taking responsibilities and genuine needs into account, and having a certain level of self-awareness are all helpful in determining how this resource ought to be used in your life.

However, while one’s possessions may or may not be of spiritual or magical value, money does have a spirit. Though it is manmade, it is alive in the same way certain other parts of the physical world are alive — roads and buildings, for example. It knows to whom it rightfully belongs, and it can become stubborn and stagnant when wrongfully hoarded or conversely, turn useless when recklessly misspent. A Pagan who wants to have a healthy relationship with money, whether s/he is a monastic or not, should be mindful of the spirit that inhabits this resource. It’s a lot harder to mistreat your finances when you know that the money you spend or save is aware of what you’re doing with it. I have seen money misused and consequently fleeing the person who misused it, and I have seen money used mindfully with gratifying results for more than just the person who used it thus.

I know someone who, although she does not consider herself a monastic, lives a contemplative life utterly dedicated to her gods. Happily, she is independently wealthy and a good deal of her wealth goes towards endeavors which she feels do honor to her deities, or towards helping other Pagans meet their spiritual needs. She has used her money to support environmental and animal rights causes she admires and to make her home a holy place where the gods she loves are always welcome. She has been a benefactress for numerous people and has paid for at least two persons of my acquaintance to finish their schooling. And she does not deny herself life’s pleasures — she enjoys good food and wine, has a beautiful garden, and lives very comfortably. She is no spendthift, but her generosity and wise use of money are inspiring and a fine example of how money, when used in a balanced way, can make a great deal of difference in the world in accordance with Pagan beliefs and values.

That’s the key here, I believe — balance. As Pagans we are not required to give up “worldly” things, but neither is it a good idea to get too wrapped up in them. However much money you have or don’t have, it is well to consider your own ethics and responsibilities, and then determine how those are best reflected by how you spend what cash you’ve got. The will of your gods might or might not come into play as well. In my experience, Loki does not seem very concerned with whether or not I’m thrifty or make wise financial choices. Hela, however, is all about prudent use of resources and not wasting anything — including money. (Sometimes it’s, er, interesting serving two deities whose attitude is so very different.) There are always going to be exceptions and extenuating circumstances, but the point here, for a monastic at least, is to avoid as best as possible either grim-faced miserliness or excessive and irresponsible spending. Neither are conducive to a contemplative life.

While it is true that too many of us are struggling to keep ourselves and our families fed and sheltered, and a lack of needed money is a hard burden to bear, people often need far less than they think they do in order to sustain themselves. There was a time when I would have gasped in horror at the idea of living as I do now. I subsist on very little money, but it is enough to cover my needs, which are few. I buy clothing mostly from secondhand shops. I have but one credit card with a very low limit and no other outstanding debts. I haven’t got any expensive habits or hobbies. I also have the good fortune to live on a farm which produces organic meat, milk, eggs and vegetables, so (particularly in the summer and fall) my food expenses are considerably lower than most people’s. And everything I own can fit into a modest-sized car — if I had one, that is.

A few people have taken all this as evidence of a lack of favor from the gods or an inability on my behalf to live a healthy, functional life. I strongly disagree. I don’t mind being “downwardly mobile” because while it is sometimes annoying to be house-bound and occasionally I miss having a certain amount of disposable income, my life has been enriched in other ways that make the lack of money negligible. And although it’s embarrassing to admit, I am one of those people who has used “retail therapy” when feeling out of sorts, so not having as much cash to throw around has forced me to deal with my issues in other, more useful ways. However, this is not to say I look down on those who have more money than I do, nor do I believe wealth is an evil thing in and of itself. Having a healthy approach to money includes not being envious or self-righteous when other people have more of it than you do.

Money is a sacred thing and should be approached with respect. It can take a long time for us to unlearn the unhealthy and petty attitudes about money with which our culture indoctrinates us, but it can be done. I recommend the book Root, Stone and Bone: Honoring Andvari and the Spirit of Money, which, although a Northern Tradition-oriented book, has a lot of useful things to say about this subject to interested Pagans.