In my work with people at Monarch, I’m always advocating for a practice of going deep inside; of connecting with purpose, with a greater sense of who you are, and then from there, manifesting your life rooted in your purpose and making choices aligned with who you are at your very core.
In my life, I also hold myself to this standard.
My journey of exploration of how to be in this world is ongoing, and I am always learning – and challenging myself to step into new ways of being. Ways that are more aligned and coherent with who I am, and what I believe in.
Recently, guided by my own spiritual practice, exploration, learning, immersion in the values of ancestral language and culture and listening to many wise people and guides, I’ve been seeing a need to change... to transform the way I engage with people in this work.
For a long time, I’ve been disenchanted with what I can only call medical or commodity models of therapy – of wellness and healing... and I’ve written about this in the past.
So, I’m going to be stepping forward in some new ways. Ways that scare me. Ways that challenge what I’ve been told to believe about myself, and about other humans, and about the world.
I’ve been conflicted for a long time about how best to serve this world we share. How to support the community I’m a part of. How to find balance between the need for healing, growth and transformation that I see in the world, the skills and knowledge that I’ve cultivated over the course of my life, and the very practical needs of requiring money to even afford my own housing and food, my own wellbeing, and supporting those that I’m responsible to support.
I’ve been engaged in so much education and training in entrepreneurship, and business, and marketing and sales that it would probably amaze you.
... and yet... so often I feel so at odds with myself.
I don’t like what I see in the world - that things like therapy, plant medicine, healing arts are being made more and more inaccessible to those whom most need them, because of cost.
I don’t like that I’ve been conditioned to view my health, transformational or therapeutic support, and mental wellness as if they were objects in isolation... in the same way so many deal with their cars... – ie. hope for the best, and when it breaks, take it to the shop for the professional to fix, and then repeat.
So, I’ve decided to do something about it, in my own life, in my own world, and in my own work; and I hope you’ll come along with me.
After much consideration about what’s important to me, what I believe in, and what I want to see in the world, I’ve decided to take a step towards reclaiming the gift economy.
In many traditional cultures, healers were robustly supported by their communities. They offered their gifts, knowledge and skills to everyone in the community – regardless of whether they were wealthy or poor.
Community members, for their part, reciprocated as much as they could, based on their capacity to do so. Everybody offers what they have to each other - in the understanding that when we all do better... well... we all do better.
Maybe we’re not ready to step into that model entirely; but I’m ready to make a start.
At the beginning of 2024, in keeping with the old model of pricing and value, and following along with the increase of price in everything; housing, food, fuel, electricity; I raised my hourly base rate to $175 – which according to my training and experience (“market value”) is appropriate.
Today, I’m making a drastic rate change.
As of today, my hourly base rate will be less than half of that.
$75/hour + GST
... and...
I’m going to ask the people I support through my work to consider two things:
What is the impact of our relationship and the work we are doing together worth to you?
In your current financial situation, what can you afford to pay to ensure that I can continue to offer that work and support to you, and in our world.
... and based on how you answer these questions, I’ll ask you to Pay What You Can (PWYC) in addition to my base hourly rate.
Some people may only be able to pay the base rate – and for them, even that might be a stretch. I’ve been there, and when I’ve been welcomed it’s meant a lot to me. So if this is you, please know that it is enough.
Some people might be able to afford the $175 I’ve been charging up until now.
Some people might have the resources and capacity and feel that what I’m offering is important enough that it ought to be more available and so will even go beyond $175/hr.
I want to put that choice in your hands.
It will take me some time to sort out all of the details on the back end, the invoicing, website details, etc. etc.
I want to thank all of you for inspiring me, and honouring me by allowing me to be a part of your journey of transformation.
If you’ve always wanted to engage in this work with me, but the cost has held you back - well, it’s time.
For those of you who have purchased sessions and packages in advance, the terms of those packages will remain as they are.
Going forward, all programs and memberships will also be price adjusted to reflect this shift towards a gift economy.