| Outflow, Inflow - A Prayer to the Universe and All Its Parts |
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| Written by Carol Steinel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monday, 03 May 2010 11:45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(UPDATE - 5/25/10 -- I've posted an article about the "answers" that I've received to this prayer -- you can read it here: Outflow/Inflow - The Universe Answers) I've been working with Carruch for nearly 20 years, now, and have been channeling him "professionally" for 12. Over this time, I've had ups and down financially, and have faithfully continued to present and expand events and services which were not attached to any kind of fee. In the last 12 years, I've presented more than a thousand donation-based events. I still feel dedicated to this, and I enjoy presenting our donation-based Open Circles, podcasts, webiste, and emailing services, but recently, I've been feeling like the Universe has been telling me that something has to change. I realize that it may be hard to see the time, energy, and resources, including money, that goes into our events and our website offerings from where you sit -- you click a link and Voila!, the podcast is there for your enjoyment, or show up at a Circle on Friday night and find us there each week. My attitude has always been that this is my choice, so I don't feel put-upon or upset when the in-flow in terms of attendance or donations doesn't match my desires or expectations. I figure I have to be as good as my intention, and assume that whatever comes in is perfect, and I do assume that. Most people do not realize that the income that I make doing private sessions and for-fee classes is the sole source of my/our personal income, and this is what allows me (and Ashielah) to have the time to present the by-donation/no-fee events and offerings that we present. We live simply, but well, and our dedication to living in a group-setting allows us to maintain ourselves on an income that most people would be amazed could support two adults. I'm really, really OK with that, too -- I like "living lightly", and I trust that what I truly need will come to me. Right now, though, the situation is this: We're not bringing in enough money to maintain those basic, simple needs each month. For example -- on May 13th, our website hosting needs to be renewed (so we can keep presenting things like this website, our podcasts, etc.), and at this moment, I have no idea how we're going to pay that. I have confidence that the Universe will support me if I am treading my soul path, and I am not "freaked out" about it, but I am looking at our recent "in-flow" compared to our "out-flow", and wondering if the Universe is telling me that it's time to do something else -- perhaps make a physical move, perhaps change the format of my work, or perhaps to do different work altogether. I'm open to that, and am simply, at this moment, watching and waiting for a sign about what might be next. I've experienced these types of "re-directs" many times in my life. When it was time for me to stop being a carpenter and start working as a channel full-time, I had a ton of work as a carpenter, but I couldn't seem to make enough money to pay for my basic needs -- it was clear that the Universe was telling me "I won't support you in this endeavor -- you can keep on with it, but it will be without my support". I had known for a while that the channeling work was calling to me, but I had dragged my feet -- it seemed a great leap to go from a culturally-acceptable job like construction to something as out there as channeling -- yet when I did make that leap, resources opened up for me again. I've been aware that many folks are feeling the pinch financially right now, and considered initially that we might just be experiencing the ripple of that. One of the ways that I "tested" this hypothesis was that I ran a lot of specials on readings, classes, and provided more no-charge events, but found that very few people actually took me up on things like readings-by-donation, online and onsite events that had no fee, or deeply discounted sales of mp3s, etc., so I have come to the conclusion that this is not just about the "financial crisis". I've also worked rigorously in the last two years with my own internal stuff about money and deservingness, my own valuation of the work I do, etc. -- the fruits of that work have been amazing, and have resulted in the place I'm at now -- even though I literally don't know where the money to keep the site going another three months is going to come from at this moment, I feel calm, centered, and confident that whatever unfolds will be perfect for me and everyone else involved. So, having satisfied myself that this is not about fickle financial tides, or lessons about letting go and trusting the Universe, I'm now taking a hard look at what I am being pointed toward. I'm still not clear about exactly what might be next, but I am clear that what I'm doing now isn't working for me any more. In the last couple of months, I've been feeling that fatigue from time to time that signals to me that my out-flow and in-flow are out of balance -- that somehow in my life, I'm not aligning my thoughts, actions, and words with the Cosmic Law of Equal Exchange. I've noticed that lately, I feel a little sad that hundreds of people tune into the podcast every week, but very, very few leave even a comment about how it affects them (which is a form of "in-flow", in my reckoning). It's not just the financial stats that are giving me the message that something new needs to happen -- I realize that this is just a "symptom" -- far more powerful, for me, is the internal sense that I've had from time to time that maybe what I'm putting out there is simply no longer be needed. There was a time when this type of redirection has felt scary and troublesome to me, but at this juncture, it doesn't feel dramatic or problematic -- I'm just doing as Carruch has often suggested: "See what is, and do what works." Before I move off into another line of work and play, though, I've been wondering if there is a lesson for me here about simply asking for what I want, so I'm putting up this article to do just that -- I'm asking for what I want -- from the Universe in all its vast energy, and from you, as part of that Universe. If you value the work that we do here -- if it's assisted or uplifted you, and you want to see it continue, I'm asking you to send some token of support our way at this time. If you can make a donation, I request that you do so (there are links at the bottom of the page to help you do this) -- but even if a donation doesn't feel like the right thing for you at this time, there are lots of ways that you can let us know that you value the work we do, and that you want it to continue. You can get a private reading. If you don't feel the need for a reading right now, you can refer friends and loved ones who might find a reading helpful -- maybe even gift them with a reading. You can purchase one of our recordings. You can subscribe to our site (and get some great benefits). You can participate in one of our workshops. You can join us at an Online or Onsite Open Circle. You can leave a comment at the podcast page. You can leave feedback and let us know how this work has affected you. You can send us some prayers and energy for clarity about "what's next", whether it's continuing as we do now, or doing something different, and for a perfect flow into that. So, Universe, with all your magnificent manifestations, this is Carol, asking for what I want. I will listen and watch for your answer, and I will move forward without regret or anxiety into whatever path you open up for me. Satnam. (A note: If you are currently involved in a project that involves our website, or have subscribed to the website so that you can access our podcast archive, I remain committed to making sure that you'll be able to access what you've paid for in an alternate way, no matter what happens with our website. Ditto with any of you who hold outstanding gift certificates for readings -- even if the Universe sends me off in another direction, I will honor my past commitments. If you make a donation now, and we end up needing to shut the website down this month anyway, I will offer donors the opportunity to apply their donation toward a credit for a private reading or merchandise from our current webstore inventory.) (UPDATE - 5/25/10 -- I've posted an article about the "answers" that I've received to this prayer -- you can read it here: Outflow/Inflow - The Universe Answers)
If you'd like to donate to the Society of Conscious Service (these donations are tax-deductible as a charitable contribution), or send a financial gift to Carol and Ashielah (non tax-deductible), you can use the buttons below, or send a check to either SCS or Carol Steinel and mail it to 1059 Quincy St., Port Townsend, WA 98368. You can even set up a recurring donation that is automatically decuted from your Paypal account or Credit/Debit Card each month (you can cancel this at any time). To those of you who have donated recently, or offered some other form of support to our work -- Thank You!
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 May 2010 08:37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
