Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Money: Getting it Out of the Way

Money is such a pain in the ass. Magicians really need to be spending their time doing magic, and not worrying about paying the bills all the time.

Now, we have to take into account fact that stress provides the heat that transforms the magician. That can't be ignored or alleviated, at least not in any way that I can tell. However, no one ever said the only kind of stress that can transform the magician has to be money-related. It's ok to turn your attention to better things.

Like anything else we do to channel the transformative heat required to accomplish the Work, removing the money-aspect of stress takes a lot of work, both spiritually and physically. It ain't easy. It is dangerous to you as a person, because you will be changed by the process. The person you come out the other end of this trip is going to be someone else, someone different, wiser in many ways. You will change, and who you are now will be a memory of how you used to be. It's really for the best in the long run, but the trip can be a real doozy.

But fortune smiles upon the brave! Don't be afraid of your freedom, and that's really what we're talking about, being free from the stress of money. All it takes is making money.

Making money is pretty damned easy, it just takes a while, and a lot of good old fashioned work. About an inch or so of discipline, and the mental fortitude to endure some discomfort for a greater cause. It takes stamina, but like exercise, the stamina comes from doing the very thing you need the stamina to do! You've got to do it, and you'll find that as you do, you are better able to do whatever it is you're doing.

Starting is the hardest part. It's free, so there's no excuse not to do it. All it takes is time and work. You sit down, you start a blog, set up some pages, and start talking about the things you like to do. You invest a couple of internet afternoons to understanding PayPal and Google Checkout. You set up some means to accept funds.

Then you describe what you love. It's your passion, your Genius. You wax poetic and profane about the thing you love, and the effort you put into it, and you sell the byproducts of your passion, the commentary, the pieces of art or craft you make along the way. You sell the how-tos, and the tips and tricks, and you tell the truth about your pursuit of your love.

And people like you, who are into the same things will come and talk to you, and about you amongst themselves. Your products will appeal to them, and as the things you make accomplish the goals they are created to accomplish, people's lives are made better. And they tell their friends, and your sales grow.

And it takes a while. But it works.

Take an inventory of your interests in life. Really think about what it is that you love to do. What brings you the absolute most fulfillment in life? What thing in your sphere of influence would you seriously consider writing poetry about? What's your art? What's your passion? What are you really good at doing? What skills do you have that you would enjoy developing? What things make you happier when you get better at doing them?

Do them! Do that thing, whatever it is, and do it with all of your heart. And talk about it to people. And talk about how to do it. And sell it. Sell the fuck out of it. Take your love and your passion and make a fucking profit off that bitch. If you're making shit, sell the shit, and let the beauty and meaning of that shit go into other people's lives, and pay your bills at the same time. It's convenient, it's efficient, and it's fulfilling as hell.

And you don't let the selling become your life, because if you do, you really don't understand money at all. It's bullshit, people! Money is just fucking bullshit, a goddamned sick game people play. It's really, honestly, fucking absurd when you think about it. If you lose sight of that, it becomes your master instead of your means. Jason talks about that in his stuff on finances. Money makes a good servant, but a poor master.

7 comments:

  1. Great post! This is exactly what I intend for my New Year and beyond. I don't ever want to be stuck doing something I hate just to pay the bills.

    I've seen the result of using magick to help focus the energy on a goal and pull the right pieces into place.

    Very powerful!

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  2. Well said! When (or if) I ever get my damn epiphany, you will get your footnote.

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  3. RO, you Hermetic Savant, I love it! I will also love re reading it when I am awake!

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  4. Thanks for the inspiration! I think I now know what I'm going to do for my blog. We'll see what happens!

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  5. Stop acting silly only to prove your false and stupid point. "According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, over 50% of
    small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within the first
    five years".

    That's why some of us are pursuing real magic, like treasure finding spirits. But instead you write shit about some businesses on MAGIC blog.

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  6. Brother! Don't feed teh trolls!

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  7. Pretty inspiring post. Thanks. Poetry doesn't sell but... I'll see what else I can cook up.

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