Where Spirituality and Business Meet
- Raileigh Easterling
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
Let's talk about the crossroad where someone who is spiritually oriented has a divine vision in the heart and soul… wants to make money from it.
This can be a sensitive topic for many people. For instance, in the context of churches and religion, many people find it inappropriate in or uncomfortable to worship in spaces where an organization is asking for money to continue to worship God. However, we face the reality as we become more conscious, or perhaps more mature in our own financial responsibilities, that churches, for example, are very obviously businesses. In order to keep the lights on and the AC running, there has to be a flow of money and the money is expected to come from the congregation that is being served.
The beauty of spiritual and religious organizations that serve so many is that there usually is not a clear expectation of when payments are due; participants are simply asked to pay what they can, when they can. This is a free economy. This same concept should apply to someone who is spiritually oriented and business-focused. Perhaps they are teaching spiritual wisdom or sharing the traditions of their ancestors. They are teaching people new techniques in healing and alchemy, tools which are often called "new age" by the religious-minded. However, for the spiritual person who desires to quite literally make money by sharing spiritual gifts, the same concept of "church as a business" should also be applied without fear of manipulation or exploitation.
Spiritual entrepreneurs and business owners must remind themselves that they are seeking to provide space for the community to thrive under certain core values and mutual understandings, while honoring common joys and needs. In order to shelter and protect this community, either in the physical sense with resources, or psychologically with peace and structure, there has to be an exchange of energy. Many spiritual business owners, for example, start with trading their services and not asking for payment– for example, one healer heals another healer. However, when the spiritual business owner or entrepreneur is ready to empower a community with more resources and opportunities, to supply people with what they need to continue to thrive in harmony with the community, then we have to get grounded and logical, and rational with how much money that is going to cost.
The beautiful part, again, about this is that the spiritual entrepreneur and business owner has been chosen by the community. This is not something you can force. If you are in this type of leadership position, then you have become extremely and highly aware of the needs of others. You are simply here to provide what is needed, the best that you can. But when the demand becomes so high –beyond what you can personally offer from your own hands–then it is safe and understandable (and quite reasonable) to ask people to pay money to continue to see the success of such resources being provided. Therefore, you move beyond just providing spiritual healing. Now you are providing accommodations. Now you are providing more tools that help people (practically) in their day-to-day lives– whether that is improving their physical health, improving their mental health, emotional health, their finances, etc.
This person who is serving at such a large extent deserves also to be provided for and cared for in their own daily needs: keeping their lights on, water running, feeding themselves, and keeping their family provided for and healthy. All of this, even as they continue to serve many, many, many, many, many more families. So this is just a reminder for entrepreneurs and business owners out there who, with pure intention, want to serve hundreds, thousands, and millions of people, and perhaps feel guilty or ashamed at times for asking for the money for which their services are worth.
Please remind yourself that you are not asking people to pay you money to hear from God or to heal with God. They are not paying for God's love, they are paying for community space and economic resilience. You are establishing communal funding. You have moved beyond just providing spiritual wisdom and leadership. Now you are providing luxury. Your innate heart to spiritually serve others will never leave you. If you are a spiritual leader, quite simply, you are a teacher. You are a public speaker. You are the generous, friendly, and caring neighbor that people trust… but when you are called and chosen to do so, you may also expend your identity from being that of a spiritual servant to that of a luxury provider– someone's life enhancer.
So yes, only certain people can afford to pay you when you expand your identity as a business owner. Perhaps anyone can access your spiritual teachings, your words of wisdom, when you are available. Where spirituality and business meet, however, is when your community starts asking you to transform and better their lives with more direct support. Then yes, they will need to pay you, so ask for what you are worth! While people may see the spirit of God in you, you are also an ordinary, regular human being… that needs to eat.
May you continue to eat well as you continue to serve more and more and more people, as you are called to do so. Thank you for taking that soul mission on as it takes a lot of energy, courage, commitment, devotion, and selflessness. From one spiritual entrepreneur to another, you are seen and you are respected, and you are honored for your services.
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Raileigh Easterling is the Founder of Conscious Lifestyle Coaching LLC. She is a motivational author, poet, & public speaker; a transformational retreat host & mindfulness teacher; and a business & public relations consultant. Conscious Lifestyle Coaching LLC is a sacred space for entrepreneurs, changemakers, and visionaries on the path of self-development, healing, and spirituality to experience transformation and holistic growth.
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