I have had a few run-ins with people who are appalled when psychics, mediums, healers, and other spiritual workers charge for what they do. The notion being that since they are ‘spiritual services,’ they should, by default, be free. While I understand this point of view, I think it is important that we examine some reasons why this isn’t accurate, practical, or fair.

A prime example of this comes from my own personal experience. When I began pursuing my spiritual calling, I needed to learn and grow. As a result, I would donate my time and drive on my dime to work with people. I also started and ran a free support group for those having unexplained psychic and spiritual experiences. Although there was no charge for attendees, I still had to pay for the room and any class materials, plus my time and gas. I asked for donations, but few people bothered and my expenses were never covered.

I also personally donated countless hours to people when working with the Washington State Ghost Society – writing emails, talking to them on the phone, driving to their home, investing in equipment and software, doing investigations, spending lengthy hours reviewing evidence for them, and then driving back to provide evidence and additional support – all free for them but costing me not only in time but also money.  

In order to learn, grown, and develop, I have spent thousands of dollars on countless classes, lectures, and workshops. I have spent hundreds of dollars and read countless books, joined organizations and paid dues, and paid for professional Parapsychology classes – all out of my own time, energy, and financial resources. Since there is no traditional educational outlet for advancing one’s psychic or spiritual connections, this must be done in nontraditional ways through organizations that would not exist if they did not charge money – money that I must pay to gain knowledge in order to fulfill my purpose.

Throughout my years, I have freely delivered hundreds of messages and insights to countless people. If I can be of spiritual service in the moment, then I gladly give it, expecting nothing in return. It is my calling to do so and I love what I do, so if I can be of assistance then I will. It’s not fair to assume that just because someone charges a fee for offering a spiritual service that they still aren’t being very generous with their gifts or providing a loving service.  

In addition, what people may forget is that having a spiritual based business, or any business for that matter, has a cost. A website and hosting services cost money, and domain names cost money. Making a book costs money. Buying video equipment and software costs money. Even simple platforms like Zoom, Dropbox, or even a mailing list provider all can cost money. Business licenses and insurance cost money. Not to mention the time it takes people to maintain, learn, and utilize these resources, all in order to give away what others feel should be free.

I have to wonder why some people think those who do spiritual work should somehow be exempt from making money? Do you know the church and the Vatican make money – and a whole lot of it! Why? So they can continue to do business, run a church, pay their bills, support their congregations, and do charitable work for those in need. Everyone at the Vatican gets a paycheck and even the pastor needs to eat and feed his family, so he gets paid too. Mother Teresa was famous for raising money. Although she personally wasn’t a wealthy woman and all her physical needs were met, she still needed money to fulfill her spiritual calling. She raised millions for her charities. She didn’t personally pay their bills, buy food for the poor, or use her own resources to help others.

And even if God actually dropped the lottery into every spiritual-worker’s lap and said to go use it for others, how far do you think that would go until it ran out? Not to mention this doesn’t happen. God knows we all need resources to live in this world and to complete our mission, so the notion that He expects us to be poor or to sacrifice our own well-being to do so is simply not true. Certainly we don’t need to be gluttonous or greedy, but we do live in a world that requires money for us to fulfill our purpose. And for some, this may mean having great wealth and resources at our disposal so that we can make a bigger impact.

Money is a resource and a blessing. Poverty is not a sign of piousness or spiritual righteousness. It’s what we do with what we have that matters – regardless of what that is.  

It’s also interesting to me what we are willing to pay for. For example, we all pay hundreds of dollars every month for food, water, clothing, shelter, and power. These are basic human rights. Shouldn’t they be free? Sadly, they’re not! That’s why there are starving people in the world.

We also live in a country where we’re willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money to major corporations for what, quite frankly, is some really silly stuff. We’ll pay for all kinds of video games, electronics, movies, television, cell phones, and music – most of which do little more than entertain us, numb our brains and bodies, yet make companies rich. In addition, we pay for fast food, pizza, diet and energy drinks, chips, cookies, cigarettes, alcohol, vapes, and other pleasurable things – all items that destroy us rather than build us up. And yet, when someone wants to make a living actually helping and serving the world in a loving and spiritual way, we suddenly feel it should be free for us and a sacrifice to them.

How does this make sense?

I also think that perhaps people believe spiritual work should be free as if somehow it is more valuable than other forms of work. Quite frankly, if God calls someone to be a doctor and to heal others, He doesn’t expect the doctor to go to medical school without having to pay for it. If God expects someone to become a teacher and to work with children, then isn’t that person also called to do spiritual work? And if so, how do they become a teacher if they don’t earn money to fulfill their purpose?

We need to see that we are all called to be here and to do something to serve God and others. The fact that some of us work with the physical, mental, and emotional issues of others is no less a calling than those who deal with spiritual issues. Regardless of the work being done, we are all here to serve and that service can’t best be rendered without the resources to do so – this includes money.

I think the real point here isn’t that spiritual service should be free. The point is that we all need to be putting our money where it matters. If we want a more spiritual world, then support those people who are working to make it a more spiritual place. We donate to the Red Cross, Humane Societies, and other organizations because we want our money to go to those causes that fight for those in need. So why can’t we put our money into those who are working to help others at a spiritual level? The fact that we think it should be free may be because we don’t value it enough to pay for it. It’s deeply unfair that we ask those who do this work to sacrifice themselves because we feel it shouldn’t have a cost.

We will pay a doctor to heal us, a lawyer to defend us, an insurance company to protect us, a bank to let us live in a home, a grocery store to give us food, a utility company to provide us with a phone, power, and water and yet for those who ask to be compensated for helping us at a spiritual level we somehow expect it to be free.

Many kind and loving people want to be a positive force in the world – doing good work, spreading their wisdom and gifts, and being of service to others, but until people value it enough to support AND pay for it, most of them will have to hold a day job and then do what they can in their spare time, with the dimes out of their own pocket.

A final note about what I also believe is an issue when paying any type of psychic practitioner: It is the fact that some people view it as this mysterious gift from God. While I believe that certain Psi abilities touch on deeply spiritual topics, even an atheist can utilize psi. Not to mention, some psi practitioners are not spiritual at all, using their abilities at a more superficial or perhaps even unethical level. The assumption that the psi process is strictly some divine gift is one that is false and misguided, and I address this further in the following post (The Dangers of Idolizing Psychic Talent).

In addition, any spiritual worker (psi based or not) is not somehow divinely popped into this world miraculously ready to do their work. This is like saying a world-class athlete was just born world-class. The only reason they’re world-class is because they put in the work to cultivate their talents. In the same way, quality spiritual workers have typically spent a lot of time, money, and effort and have made countless sacrifices to cultivate their abilities and to do their work. To assume it was just given to them without the need for hard work and sacrifice is a gross lack of understanding for how easy some people make it appear. 

Ultimately, the decision to charge or not to charge for one’s gifts – no matter what those gifts are – is a deeply personal choice that should not be judged by others. There are pros and cons that must be weighed by the individual practitioner. This includes their current financial situation, personal intentions for their talents, as well as the accomplishment of long-term goals. If someone is called to use their gifts for others, regardless of what those gifts are, then in all likelihood they are going to need the financial means to accomplish it. It all depends on the situation, but to expect someone to work for free is not realistic – no matter what service they are providing.

So, it’s not the companies or the Intuitive practitioners who charge money who have it wrong. It’s those who don’t believe they should put their money on what matters. Money is power, and we often give that power away to those who best know how to steal it from us by appealing to our lower nature – coffee, fast food, magazines, video games, fancy clothes, expensive cars, and the list goes on and on.

If you want to make the world a better place, then use your money for those people, things, and causes that really count! Most of all, use it to fulfill your own purpose and be a power for good in the lives of others. You might be surprised that God will bless you in countless ways in order to help you continue on in your purpose – and yes, this involves making money.

Cheers & Wellness,

Carol