Abundant Goddess: Sacred Pricing
Posted by Goddess Leonie on December 10th, 2008. Filed under: Joyful Goddess Life.
Hola gorgeous goddesses!
Today I got an email from a beautiful soul who is starting on the path of selling her artworks, and wants to know how on *earth* to price them. Do you pull a number out of thin air? Work out your costs + projections – deductions + profits x headaches induced by lefty-brained logistics = perfect price?
And I started thinking about how this isn’t just about pricing artwork. This is about every time we need to put a number value on our work. You don’t have to be an artist to have this question. Maybe you’re a healer. Or a massage therapist. Or a babysitter. Or a designer. Or any kind of businesswoman, really.
So let’s circle… and talk Sacred Pricing.
The time I didn’t honour Sacred Pricing.
So, once upon a time, Leonie didn’t sell her artwork. She gave it away. Whenever anyone mentioned they liked her artwork, she gave it to them. Even relative strangers.
Why did Leonie do this?
Because she thought that was the nice thing to do.
Because she loved making the artwork, so she wanted to share it freely.
Because she was uncomfortable with putting a price on her gifts.
All the above is true. In fact, I gave artwork away up until four years ago. I felt fairly okay about the whole arrangement – but I had little bits of sadness about it. Like the part where I felt a little bit used up by it. And the part where I felt like I hadn’t honoured my paintings properly. And like I’d just given away my babies to families that I wasn’t really sure about.
I was starting to feel in my soul that maybe this wasn’t the right way to do it anymore. Like there had to be a better way for me, for my spirit, and for my art.
The words that changed me.
As they say – when the student is ready, the teacher arrives. One twilight, I was driving back from a labyrinth. It had been my first outing with my women’s circle, and I was bundled up in the back of a car with my two mentors in the front. {I’ll use totem names here, as I’m more comfortable with that today}.
Eagle Woman turned to the older Jaguar Woman and said “Leonie’s been having problems charging for her artwork. I told her you would be the right one to speak to about that.” Jaguar Woman is beautiful – silver white hair, wide blue eyes. She turns to me, and in her Scandinavian accent asks me “What is this problem Leonie? What are you charging right now?”
I blushed. And stammered. I tend to do this when caught off guard by honesty. “Ummm… nothing. I give my art away.” “And why do you do that?” “Because it’s… easier. I don’t have to think about it then. If people want it, they can just have it.”
Our headlights glowed along the stretch of road. We were driving through a large paddock, kangaroos and farm houses and old trees visible through the soft light. Jaguar Woman began to speak, and I listened.
“You must charge for your art. In everything – everything – there needs to be an exchange of energy. An equal one. One that fills me up. One that fills you up. If I give you a massage that nourishes and sustains and relaxes you, I ask you for money to nourish and sustain my life too. We must both be involved in the exchange, otherwise it is one sided. We must both be invested, so we both receive value. If I do not allow you to pay money for my service, I do a disservice to myself, but also to you. You must contribute too, in order to be fulfilled. You will value the things you pay for more. And my life will be better because I have helped your life be better. And your life will be better, because you have helped my life be better too. Everything – everything - must be an equal exchange of energy. It is sacred. Money is the manifestation of energy. Money is sacred too.”
Pricing to sustain and enrich you…
Since Jaguar Woman spoke those words to me four years ago, my mindset has been changed about money, and charging for my gifts and services. It is continually being tweaked, changed and evolved – as most things are in life. As we evolve, so do our attitudes and our insights about the things around us and in us.
My advice in pricing is this – price your services and products so that it sustains and enriches you. Price so that you feel happy selling at that price. Price so it feels like a true energy exchange – that what you are giving to another – they are giving the same value to you. Price so your life will feel joyful from it.
Leonie’s tiny bit of pricing practically…
From a practical level, make sure you include all your costs in, and then work out if the profit number sustains you.
I remember selling prints a couple of years ago. I forgot to work out prices of postage for the kind of tube I was sending. In the end, I lost $4 for every print I sold. That profit number obviously didn’t sustain me. 
Just remember – every sale has a cost. Write up a scratchy list of them, so you know what energy you are truly giving out and receiving in.
A little note on gifting.
I’m so not anti-gifting. What I’m into is giving when it feels conscious and energy-filled from both ends.
Sometimes I still *gift* artwork to dear friends and family – but now I only do it because I WANT to do it. Not because I’m uncomfortable with the putting-a-price part of it. Not because I think I SHOULD. I do it when it’s true for me.
Passing the talking stick…
Over to you, gorgeous goddesses, if you’d like to share your experience or questions about sacred pricing… All words are held in a container of love.
Just like you.
Big hugs,
_______________________
P.S. Writing it here because I’m oh-so-excited! A new website design and name is coming! And more gorgeous goddesses are joining us for the Creative Goddess e-course & circle. *squeeeeeeeee!*
March 31st, 2009 at 9:26 pm
this is a great blogpost Leonie! I have issues with pricing and always have. Reading your words was very helpful. Thanks so much.
Love, Violette
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 am
Hi Leonie,
So, I’ve been really slack about keeping in touch. Sorry! I finished reading this blog and was instantly transported back to high school where you gave me a beautiful painting of a budding rose. I just wanted to let you know that I still have it and though it’s a little tattered from the journey over to Canada, it is now safely in a frame and every time I look upon it, I think of you and smile.
I hope that you are doing well, though it sounds very much like you are.
Miss you tonnes!
Sonia.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:51 am
“You must charge for your art. In everything – everything – there needs to be an exchange of energy. An equal one. One that fills me up. One that fills you up.”
Oh, that’s really nice. What an awesome way to look at pricing. So many people struggle with charging people money for their products and services. When you look at pricing from the perspective you describe, it almost seems selfish NOT to charge them what your work is truly worth.
Just lovely Leonie
Deveena’s last blog post..Weekly Roundup: Stuff that made me LOL
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
A truly amazing and inspiring post. Thank you for sharing such words of wisdom – I immediately twittered about it! Couldn’t resist. Thank you! This is wisdom we can ALL use!
Kathy C.
http://SoulReaderBlog.blogspot.com
Kathy Crabbe – Soul Reader’s last blog post..Welcome & Sparkly Blessings!
May 30th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Great post. While I share this info with my clients, I have a hard time practicing what I preach. lol. Money can be such a dirty word, but it shouldn’t be. Thanks!
June 29th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Ah, pricing!
& left payment up to the student – again, empowering them.
I had to chuckle, reading this, as I’m a massage therapist, & remember wrestling with ‘charging’ for sharing my healing touch – fortunatly, studied massage & then practiced with my mentor, so charged ‘the going rate’ as soon as I recieved my license!
When I became a Reiki master/teacher, I remember wondering about charging – was living in community at the time (worker owned co-op), so picked a number (less than ‘in the world’ teachers charged), as ‘energy exchange’ is an import. part of the teaching. I always accepted barter (things I could use
One student grumbled at the price – & wrote a note to that effect on my poster! We talked personally & though she didn’t take that class, later she returned from a visit to her dad in Mexico with some lovely shawls, & I asked if she’d like to barter a shawl for my next class? YES!
I also ‘stumble’ more at pricing art – this is a lovely reminder it’s all the same
September 10th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I was just having a nosey look around as I often do as I love your site, and came across this post. It fitted perfectly as I am starting to work with Reike in a practitioner role.
THANK YOU!
*giggle*
October 4th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Great post, Leonie! I think a lot of people can feel uncomfortable putting a price on their services/goods, and you really hit the nail on the head of how we should be looking at it. I have a guy friend who is a massage therapist, and he said that when he first started, he priced it fairly low, and figured that would be okay. But then he found himself getting upset, feeling that he was not getting what he deserved from the people he helped. So he raised his prices to what he actually thought was fair, and now he’s very happy.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I loved this post Leonie… thanks
Andrew
November 27th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Hello Goddess Leonie!
Today I am laying in my bed, sick because of thincking and worriying too much lately. I am going throug major changes… Buying our first house with my dear fiancé and relaunching my company as a place of healing your soul and finding your true self through creativity and coaching. I read your post with great interest. And I realized I am more and more comfortable now with the charging issue. The BIG challenge for me, and it took me years to see this, is to accept money in my life. Accepting to let it nourrish me. I know I had a big issue with that in a past life. I feel I made a promess of poverty and loneliness somewhere along the way. And I feel scared (a lot) of letting go of this… As I am writting I understand that is something important I am sharing today with you. I get pretty emotional right now. I delt with a piece of the loneliness part, healing my loving-receiving habilities and met my wonderful soulmate. I am so happy to live a sacred lovelife now. As for the money part, I know these next few days will be an important part of the healing.
Thank you Leonie,
and welcome to your beautiful baby mermaid coming…
xxxni
July 14th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Hi Leonie,
I think this is an excellent post, especially for women, who are often naturally giving, and spiritual practitioners, who are also giving. It is important to HONOR ones self and one’s talents, with the flow of energy between people.
Thanks for this! I know several people I’ll be referring here.
Kara
September 4th, 2010 at 6:33 am
Speaking of when-you’re-ready-the-teacher-will-appear…I was just discussing this very subject with my new office mate, who charges more (and more accurately) for her services, which are similar to mine. She told me to raise my rates. I was forced to confront the balky belief that if I just give everything away for cheap (or free!) then everyone will like me and I will be a Good Person. What a hindering belief! Thanks for your post which affirms what the Great Spirit wants me to know…energy MUST be exchanged! Free has its place, but not in my practice!
March 14th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
ooooh, I love the way your mentor phrased the theory of sacred pricing + money as an energy exchange. Truly lovely.
March 15th, 2011 at 12:58 am
Oh I’m SO sharing this one
I’ve met with this little hurdle before too, and still sometimes wrestle with it.. It really comes down to what we believe we’re worth. Charging less or even nothing is saying that you don’t deserve as much or anything for your time/touch/creativity. These things are such treasure, and must be shared for equal exchange. It’s also a little about being ‘liked’ for being cheaper, but really we’re respected more (which is more important) by Ourselves then others, for pricing in a self sustaining way. Strong boundaries are important here too, as sometimes if I’m having an off day I may bend on my prices..
Also if someone tries to talk you down, it’s just their own stuff about lack thats coming through, you’re just the trigger.
I get told all the time my hugs are golden and healing, and that I should charge for them.. Which seems a tricky thing, but again its energy, like a massage, its healing touch… by donation perhaps? hehe time shall tell… xxx Amelia
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:46 pm
I have read this and heard this before but you put it so wonderful Leonie – Thank you!! Just the boost I needed as we’ve just began a new pricing structure.
Flowing Fluidly,
~Namaste
March 30th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
This post just smacked me in the face! In a good way. It took me forever to show anyone my art and then when they said they liked it I was so grateful I just gave it to them. “Oh, if you like it, go ahead and take it.” My husband told me I was not giving myself enough credit (I still don’t) so I thought about just getting the price of my materials back so I can continue but that doesn’t seem right either. I’m still not ready to sell anything but I’m saving my work for when I can. Thank you so much for your insight.
April 8th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
I really needed to hear this. I love my work with social media and promoting nonprofits and philanthropy, but I stopped doing it because when I freelance, I put all of my love and efforts and energy into it (that’s just how it is when I work), but I was underpricing myself and then also having to chase people for payments, so the balance of energies becomes so enervating. I destablize my own love of something out of not honoring the energy enough.
Also, since I am commenting, I have to tell you that I just signed up to receive your posts by e-mail and guess what? You know the words you have to put in to prove you’re a person? Mine was Lioni (that’s about as close as you can get).
~ Maya
April 20th, 2011 at 5:02 am
I attend births as a doula, and for a while, I felt uncomfortable charging much for my services. I quickly realized that there was a tremendous cost to offering this service, not just in myself, but all of the adjustments and support my family does so that I can do this work. When I saw their sacrifices for me, I felt that I had to charge, out of respect for them…then it grew into respect for myself. We often don’t realize that others are supporting us so we can do our work, so everyone need to be compensated somehow. We never work in isolation, even though it might feel that way sometimes.
May 13th, 2011 at 1:20 am
I really love this post, and I think it’s especially pertinent to pricing and business goddess stuff – but it also really spoke to me on another level, about relationships in general. I’ve been going through some stuff lately, and working it out bit by bit, slowly, but the quote from Jaguar Woman really nails it on the head, “In everything – everything – there needs to be an exchange of energy. An equal one. One that fills me up. One that fills you up.” In everything, not just business. And that’s what’s been dampening my inner light lately – I’ve been spending too much energy trying to connect with and/or help/take care of certain people in my life, and it’s totally not an equal energy exchange – so that’s why I’m so drained and down lately. I had kind of come to that realization on one level, but this post really crystallized it for me. (And also helped me realize that, while it is really “nice” of me to keep making stuff for people for free, I need to be more mindful of when “free” is an equal exchange, and when “free” means I’m not valuing myself enough.) Thanks for posting. xoxo
May 20th, 2011 at 12:22 am
[...] -Debbie Ford’s 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse -hanging out with friends -Goddess Leonie’s Sacred Pricing post, especially Jaguar Woman’s quote: “In everything – everything – there needs to be [...]
September 4th, 2011 at 12:50 am
Great post!
I have a lot of trouble pricing my work. I use recycled materials – plastic bags and cups, paper, wire and so on. There is no monetary outlay on my part. BUT my work is extremely labor intensive. I took me two months for one of my works this year, although most take less time.
I do need to “rehome” some of my works of art, because my house is filling up!
November 28th, 2011 at 2:40 am
Wow. I am SO struggling with this right now. Being told that my prices were too high for the service I was offering, but at the suggested price I feel kind of insulted. So definitely an internal battle going on here for sure. Equal exchange of energy….