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This morning I woke up with a memory on my mind from a what seems like a life time ago when I was a maiden priestess living in Italy.
While living there, I became an aerobic instructor. As I started out, I didn’t charge anything. I only had 4-5 participants so I thought it was no big deal. I had to workout anyway and besides...who would come if I charged? Being on a small military post (there were maybe 2000 soldiers and family members total) word of mouth spread about my class. Soon I had a class full of participants~15-20 per class but I still didn’t charge the $5 per class price because I didn’t feel my gifts were worth the price. Even though I paid for insurance, my certification, CPR classes, bought all my music, and showed up early to set up the room for classes, I still didn’t feel my gifts were good enough. I didn’t feel I was good enough. This went on for months...and I got burned out. Finally, I decided to charge. Only because I needed new music and just $2 per class. I tied my worth to that price tag. You know what happened? People stopped showing up. I was devastated. I beat myself up for even thinking about charging. How dare I put a value on my work! Because I didn’t value my gifts or my work from the beginning, others didn’t value it either. It took a long while but I came to realize they were mirroring what I felt about myself and my work! Looking back at my maiden self, I have so much compassion for her; so unsure of herself, so unsure about her worth, fearful no one would like her if she charged. I think about this as I prepare to open the doors to this new part of my business. Again I’m faced with valuing my gifts and my work. Those feelings of fear and unworthiness are coming up again. The outstanding Goddess Leonie has talked about sacred pricing; price your services and products so that it sustains and enriches you. This nourishes you and gives you the energy to be able to continue your work. I'm all about being nourished. I believe my inner High Priestess pushed this memory to the surface to remind me to choose something better for myself this time. So as I put together my workings for The New Temple of Goddess I will price in a way that feels like I am receiving the same value for what I give to another. A true energetic exchange.
Lisa
8/4/2011 03:42:56 am
I totally agree with this. I've felt the same way. My son was thinking about walking dogs in the neighborhood and I said, have a price list and stick to it. Don't let anyone tell you your time is not worth paying for. He's 14. Now why can't I say the same thing to myself? And I've noticed that when people put a hefty price tag on something that I don't consider that good, they still sell it. Because people believe it's worth it. "Well if they are selling it for that much, they must really know what they are doing". Right? Wrong. Then I've seen really talented people sell stuff for barely what it takes to make it. That won't last long, because as you said, they'll get burnt out. And if they ever do decide to raise their prices as their confidence grows, people will say, who does she think she is?
Dionne the Tea Priestess
8/15/2011 01:03:46 am
Thanks Lisa!
Loran
8/17/2011 04:47:33 am
Very wise words, Dionne.
Carrie Hensley
8/19/2011 10:05:51 am
Thank you for your willingness to expose your vulnerabilities. What I think is so beautiful about your post is your ability to share compassion with your maiden self, not judgment. It's a gentle reminder that we are all worthy of our own self-love. 8/29/2011 07:34:26 am
I really needed to see this. I'm just working on pricing and am debating whether my cards are/are not worth the price I've listed. We will see! Thank you for sharing :o) Comments are closed.
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Blessings!I'm Dionne, a Natural Rhythms Creation Coach and Elemental Forces of Creation Oracle Reader. I teach people how to tune into to the power of the elements and rhythms of nature to design a life they love 
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