Like many, I struggle in my relationship to money.  The shutdown of my practice in the current circumstances has brought this into clear focus.  I want to share a physical practice with you that I created yesterday to explore my relationship with money somatically.  While I am often somewhat numb to subtle explorations like the one I present here, I also have a deep trust in the knowledge of my body—and of all of our bodies.  Here’s the structure to try, or just to read, as well as my experience with it:

For this practice you need some money; I suggest using the largest bill you have available for this practice.  If you have a $100 bill use it.  Adapt as fits you—as with everything I suggest here.  Next time I do this I’ll probably try it with $1 for contrast.

Begin simply—by feeling into your body.  Any system of organizing your awareness will surely work; I used the chakra system.  In this system the seven areas along the spine are 1) the pelvic floor, 2) the area1-2” below the navel, 3) the solar plexus/diaphragm, 4) the heart, 5) the throat, 6) the brow/3rd eye 7) the top of the head.  As you scan, notice physical sensation, emotion, and thoughts as you bring your attention to each of these areas.  You may do this as a seated meditation, or as a movement practice.  

Now grab the money.  (The word ‘grab’ is curious here, right?)  You’ll be relating the money physically to each energy center and noticing your sensations, emotions, and thoughts.  You can do this as a seated meditation, or as a movement practice.

Here’s what that looked like for me:  I sat on the money.  I put the money in the front of my waistband and at the back.  I held the money to the front of my solar plexus and to the back.  I held the money over my heart.  I held the money to my throat and moved it around.  I held the money to my forehead and to the back of my head.  I put the money in a hat on top of my head.

Write down notes once you’ve completed the process.  The act of writing solidifies and amplifies experience.  Writing supports the inner-scientist role to gather data with as little judgement as possible.  Then you can go back and read it to interpret your data.

Here’s what I noticed:

1. Sitting on $100 felt supportive.  I also found myself holding the question of whether my having money to sit on meant someone else did not.
2. Having money at my lower belly felt charged.  It felt like a bit of a guilty pleasure, and perhaps a bit healing.
3. Holding money to my solar plexus I felt grief, embarrassment, and sadness.
4. Holding money to my heart I felt a longing to be in service.
5. Holding money to my throat I felt numb.  I had thoughts that I don’t know what to say about money or how to ask for it.
6. Holding money to my brow I felt ridiculous. 
7. Having money on top of my head I was bored of the investigation.

My current interpretations:

Money is not separate from service—it is a way of creating agreements.

My relationship to money is strained at my ego—I have more to learn about how self-worth and money connect, and how to prioritize service.

I want to carry more money around with me at different parts of my body and see what I learn.

Tomorrow and Saturday at BraveSpace online (12-1:15pm MDT online) I will hold space for us to explore our relationships with money, value, and service as we move together.