Last Sunday, I encouraged you to cultivate a sense of calm after the intensity of July 4th, American Independence Day. Now, consider deepening that calm in specific areas of your life that cause you distress. As individuals, we have our personal challenges. Collectively, we have a summer dominated by global politics and American mid-term elections. The summer has also brought intense showcasing of rapidly developing A.I., and uncertainty about the role it will actually assume in the years ahead. Yet, specifically, this week, I am reflecting on one of the foremost source of worry for a majority of Americans--Money. Personal finances, income, debt (past and future), affordability. Affordability is merged with another top worry: the cost of healthcare. Ironically, we are bombarded by ads, workshops, and financial articles on ways to "acquire wealth", while social media is eager to post stories of billionaires. Yet, polls show a range of 70 to 85% of Americans, worry about their finances. Perhaps. the ads, showcasing of the rich, etc., actually escalate the worry....
How do we approach this real-world concern from a spiritual perspective and from a deeper calm. As writer Tom Robbins put it, "There is a certain Buddhist calm from having money in the bank." It's hard to argue with that fundamental truth of calm, regardless of how the writer intended it. Buddha, on the other hand, said, "It’s a good thing to be satisfied with what one has.” And,“Should someone do good, let them do it again and again. They should develop this habit, for the accumulation of goodness brings joy.” The Buddha...When we turn to Biblical references we have: “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.” – Ecclesiastes 5:10. We have various Biblical reminders that "you can't take it with you." Psalm 49:16-17: “Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.” We have the reassurance of Matthew 6 31:33, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ .... For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." In Islam, working to achieve wealth is considered an aspect of the spiritual life. But that wealth is to be achieved justly, shared with others, and understood as temporary in the greater reality of Paradise. Ultimately, all wealth belongs to Allah.
In the various traditions of New Thought, money is an aspect of the larger theme of Prosperity. And prosperity flows from the infinite abundance of God. It's interesting to pause for a moment and reflect on the early history of New Thought as primarily an American religion, growing out of our 19th century refusal of rigid religious ideas. The phenomenal success of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby as a healer, and his understanding of the mental aspects of illness-- the role of belief in illness and healing-- established Quimby as the foremost founder of New Thought. His exploration of his healings led him to believe he had rediscovered the method by which Jesus healed. Over time, his ideas were expanded through other teachers and philosophers, with the caveat, "as you think, as you believe, so you experience." As Ernest Holmes put it, "“The Science of Mind is the study of Life and the nature of the laws of thought; the conception that we live in a spiritual Universe; that God is in, through, around and for us.” Prosperity then is the acceptance of that Universe, and money is one of the forms it takes. As Larry Morris used to say, "Money is Green Energy"; it is part of the way we create, give, and receive in this world.
My intent here is to encourage your personal reflection on money, as an aspect of your spiritual life. In these times, our capacity to shift into calm mode, includes money-calm. It's a fine week to practice and discover your way. (Susan Nettleton)
https://tsnshift.s3.amazonaws.com/courses_attachments/EnneagramOfVirtues01-Module10-Materials-ThisPlaceofAbundancebyCatherineofSiena.pdf https://inspirewithpoetry.com/inspirational-poetry/success-by-ralph-waldo-emerson/ https://readalittlepoetry.com/2025/09/10/the-sun-by-mary-oliver/