10 Spiritual Ways to Approach Money

Prosperity. Abundance. Opulence. Plenty. Is your heart resonating “Yes” to these words? How about moolah. Dough. Greenbacks. Bread. Cash. Is your heart still saying “Yes,” or are you having a more complicated reaction? Money and fear tend to be intertwined–especially right now, as the stock market flips and flops, and the words “interest rate” gets tossed around.

Make Peace With Your Financial Past

What is your money history? Take time to write about this in your journal. Write whatever comes to mind, no censoring. Make time to reflect on your past actions with money and make peace with it. No matter what it is. Where you see flaws, forgive yourself. It is only when you accept where you’re starting from that you can begin to go forward.

Ask God for Help

One of divinity’s traditional names is Providence, the all-provider. God/Goddess/Spirit is intimately involved in all aspects of our lives, and finances are no exception. If human economics hasn’t worked for you in the past, what do you have to lose? Try spiritual economics: where there is demand, supply will appear. Address your request to God, let go, and joyfully expect an answer. Give thanks every day and listen within: You’ll be guided if there are actions to take.

Remember That Debt Is Trust

First, think about what debt means: Someone (or some company) trusted you would be good for the money. Now turn within and from the place inside you that knows what’s so, look to Providence and give your trust over to all provision, a.k.a. Spirit, Goddess, Nature, Wonder. Clearing up debt is about learning to trust yourself and Providence.

Visualize the Flow

There are two major modes for dealing with money in life: circulation and congestion. Circulation is paying bills, tithing, giving to charity. Congestion is hoarding, saving for a rainy day, being stingy. It’s no coincidence that one word for money is currency; it comes from the word current, which means flow. When you congest around money, the flow stops. Money, by its nature, flows. Picture yourself and your money in the flow.

Set Your Intention

Intention is everything when it comes to manifestation. What do you want money for? Do you want a new pair of shoes to match your new suit? Great. Do you want to start a foundation for homeless children? Great. The wild thing is, it doesn’t matter to God as long as you intend the highest good for all. Tell yourself your intention, share it with God through prayer, and listen for guidance.

Pray Your Bills

Yes, of course, pay your bills, but first, PRAY your bills. Put them all in your lap, sit quietly, and pray for each bill. Give thanks for the service you received, and pray that you and your loved ones may continue to enjoy what each bill represents. For example, your utility bill can bring to mind a warm home in winter, hot meals, and clean water to drink. While you’re at it, send the same blessing to those who helped provide for you.

Share the Wealth

You do not need to have a lot of money in order to give to others. Ask yourself, Where am I wealthy? Start your giving there. Do you have extra time? Give time. Extra money? Give money. Extra talent? Give talent. The feelings associated with genuine joyous giving are to be cultivated.

Receive Graciously

There is a cost to giving, dear one. The cost of giving is receiving. Conversely, the cost of receiving is giving. It’s a wondrous cycle of circles where we all participate in all of its phases at all times. Learn to receive graciously! You go to lunch with a friend who has just gotten a raise. She offers to buy you lunch to celebrate. Do you let her? You let money out, don’t you? Now, let money in.

Bless Your Money

Whatever you praise increases. Praise works to increase anything, both the positive and the negative. Why? Because you are showing interest in it. The activity of praising is blessing. Bless your money! Every penny of it. Blessing is also a form of gratitude. You are thanking God for the money you have in order to create more money.

Be Conscious of Your Judgments

Okay, let’s really get into it now: resentment, envy, finger-pointing. Where you have judgments, you only hurt yourself! Try these on: Rich people are miserly; the IRS is a dirty, rotten scoundrel, the oil companies are greedy, money is the root of all evil (the misquote most often used about money). It’s really very simple to get clear around money: Just wish for others what you would wish for yourself!

Dr. Susan Corso offers counsel on what we can focus on instead of the anxiety–like connecting with unlimited abundance and prosperity, the ultimate Federal Reserve.

Dr. Susan Corso is an omnifaith spiritual preacher, teacher and counselor. She is the author of “God’s Dictionary” and writes a blog, Seeds for Sanctuary.