Economies of care

The way we trade, offer services and prosper is changing profoundly across the planet. The centralised and highly digitalised worldwide financial and economic system is operating in ways which are dysfunctional, non-acceptable and outright destructive, deeply harming the Earth, devaluing life in all its forms, creating scarcity and inequality on a massive scale. Increasingly everyone who does not comply with standards introduced by an elite which does not serve humanity is simply excluded. In response to that, and in alignment with current frequency changes on this planet, many people, businesses, initiatives and communities choose alternative forms of exchange which involve healthy cooperation, care and long-term bonds, generate abundance, are an expression of mutual respect, and rooted in integrity and continuous responsibility-taking. Such collaboration can happen in many ways. Emerging economies of care will keep transforming. We are only just beginning to align with Nature and to realise what we want to see in our communities form that place of innate wisdom.

Nature, the underlying structure, or intelligence of this universe, is endlessly abundant when expressed freely. She neither knows debt, nor scarcity, nor is she rooted in mind-based calculation. It is a self-balancing system that continuously changes its expressions in form – in all aspects of life. We can take exchange and aliveness to any level of beauty, practicality, joy and local, or worldwide connectedness. Even under the most difficult of circumstances Nature is constantly giving. Even the most barren landscapes provide water, medicine and food, and that barrenness that we currently see in many environments is predominantly a result of the suppression of Nature. Suppression is quickly ending.

Nature provides without asking for return, but if you are in alignment with the core of who and what we are, then it is a pleasure to reciprocate and to see forests, animals, rivers and human beings thrive in response. It is a joy to give and to know with deep trust that Nature always finds ways to provide for us, sometimes through the least expected avenues. It surely is our responsibility to nourish what gives us life but once we fully live from our connectedness with that intelligence, then the correct form of exchange happens by itself. No fighting for profit and no fear of being left out but a world of full expression, forgotten levels of creativity and efficiency. These times are an opportunity and a call for us to live our integrity and to make the magic of life our reality.

Gift economy

A short, sweet introduction video. Enjoy, it’s a gift!

Gift economy – relationship – abundance:

Worldwide

A short, sweet introduction video. Enjoy, it’s a gift!

What we see materialising are sliding scales, diverse donation systems, exchange based on decentralised blockchain and cryptocurrencies, local currencies, barter systems and free giving with a trust in Nature to rebalance on her own. You have to decide what you are ready for. Whole communities are evolving around these new ways of doing business. New currencies, or non-monetary ways of exchange can be based on skills, materials, knowledge, time, a song, or a smile of deep recognition, and are rooted in the underlying cultural landscape of a place and its people. Many businesses on this website are worker-owned cooperatives which have thrown overboard old hierarchical structures and the commodification of life. This is not romanticism but the realisation in form of how human beings naturally thrive.

Many of us are already living it. Giving and receiving are not separate. They are the same. They come together. Personally, most of my work I have freely given throughout my life and I can say from experience that I never faced scarcity or debt despite hardly ever having a monetary income, certainly never a regular one. What we have to give, or receive is not a commodity, not a resource, or an ecosystem service, it is a gift materialised through us. Trade can be the true meeting of two or more people in full support and appreciation of life and humanness. You can find examples on many pages of this website. Check out our blog posts about Gift economies and Gift economies – Going deeperif this interests you.

One Small Town

South Africa & worldwide

Movement turning small towns into places of abundance through integrated community development, eradicating modern slavery. Includes trading platform for Infinity tokens – OST’s community cryptocurrency & NFT rooted in labour. Currently valued against USD. Free of charge trading. Tokens stored in wallets on OST platform. Creating large-scale seed banks, supporting community-owned organic farming etc. No trading with other cryptocurrencies. Further types of tokens planned to be launched.

Robin Wall Kimmerer – The Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance

USA

Nature could not be explained more clearly. A short & powerful, beautiful essay which gives a glimpse of Robin’s deep work exploring gift economy, intentionally created scarcity, natural abundance, the role of relationship, gratitude & reciprocity for exchange & a gift’s increase in value, nurturing of community bonds – bonds of affection – through gifting & more. Living abundance through healthy interdependence & true collaboration – this is community & nature.

Seeds Crypto Project

Worldwide

High-frequency, decentralised, equity-centered cryptocurrency project. Creating a new economic system which respects the Earth & our communities & lives prosperity. Rewarding regeneration of the planet, transparency, equity & true teamwork. No transaction fees. Full personal control over your money. A platform where you can use your voice to change the way we work. Supporting local food movement. Stability created not by reference to US$ but to the purchasing power within its own economy. Created without debt & interest.

Pro Bono Students Canada

Canada

Providing free legal services to community organizations, courts, tribunals etc. Run by law student volunteers. With chapters in all 22 Canadian law schools. Driving student community involvement. Increasing access to legal services. Only national pro bono service organization worldwide.

Don’t Pay Me

Poland

Documentary portraying people who live outside the financial system. Sharing knowledge, homes, food, skills, time. Finding new and fulfilling ways of living.

Octave Leap

South Africa & Bali

Vast knowledge about & passion for new ways of business aligned with nature’s principles incl. holistic marketing, decentralised cryptocurrency & the surrounding community of people who drive the change. Monthly workshops, 1:1 coaching, 12-week business course, weekly podcast, e-books – creating economic sovereignty for everyone. Sliding scale & donation-based payments.

United People Foundation

Netherlands & worldwide

Social entrepreneurship network based on honouring social & international rights & basic freedoms, true stewardship of all life, shared values. Worldwide financial platform rooted in time/labour-based fixed-value URA coin for currency. URA platform is a cooperative business platform & directory, marketplace, community meeting place. Working towards fair & just circular economy, true abundance icl. free energy systems (UPF Youth Division). Connecting global & local. Strong expertise in finances & entrepreneurship; deep understanding of very roots of scarcity in this world. Great foundation for transformation.

Oshun Center for Intercultural Healing

USA & Canada

Small business incubator, interracial collective & learning space for ancestral ways of healing & birthing. Led by Ihotu Ali, a multiethnic maternal health researcher, speaker, consultant & teacher on economic justice tools incl. sliding scale fee, solidarity economy, cultural appropriation, racism in health care, allyship. Public courses & consulting on decolonizing & democratizing business & medicine. Going beyond scarcity & inequality. Ihotu also offers cultural bodywork & birth support.

Blog post about sliding scale:

Worts & Cunning Apothecary

California, USA

Introduction to sliding scale, freely giving, care economy & leaving behind scarcity – creating accessibility of services & products for everyone, developing trust in the community, honoring the giver & the receiver equally. Links to additional material on sliding scale, donation system etc. Alexis is also a teacher & writer about western herbalism rooted in social justice & inclusivity, & offers in-person remedy sessions – helping people remember their own healing powers. Also astrology, tarot & circle of herbal medicine (private online community), etc.

Blog post about sliding scale:

Charles Eisenstein

USA

Teacher, speaker & writer focusing on money & cultural transformation. Courses about rethinking this world, questioning, de-constructing identities & programmed narratives, finding back to our own power & inner authority, setting boundaries, being in community etc. Payment by sliding scale/donation. Video below about downfalls of old financial system & our new evolving gift economies.

Nimiq – Crypto for Humans

Germany & Europe

High-frequency, inclusive blockchain & decentralised, open-source payment system. No signup, download or personal data required. Direct connection between your bank account & crypto wallet. Supports Bitcoin. Simplifying payments & banking. Non-profit, created through teamwork. Standing for true financial freedom & personal control of one’s money. Featuring a big online community.

Agnès Le Moigne

France & Mexico

Check out Agnès’ blog post about her personal experience of participating in a traditional indigenous barter market in Mexico. Generosity, care, independence… Changing the way we trade. An indigenous people which managed to retain their language & culture.

JEU – Jardin d’Echange Universel

France, Benelux, Quebec

Decentralized currency of abundance for exchange of goods, services & information, managed by entire community, based on dedicated time. Space of sovereignty to experiment & create what we passionately want to see unfold. Merging projects & people, establishing relationships. No limits, no hierarchy, no debt, no inflation. (website in French).

La June G1

France & international

Decentralized, community-driven French currency designed on an ecological blockchain & rooted in free money system – no debt, interest, or exchange rate. Currency continuously created by participating members, embodying collaboration & mutual support. Leaving behind fear of financial future. Reflecting nature’s principles more than other currencies. Popular on food markets in France, Spain & some French islands – creating a parallel economy (website in French).

Abundant Beingness

USA

Recalibrating our ways of giving & receiving based on natural abundance. Bringing authenticity & joy back into the exchange of time, money, skills etc. Pod cohort: mutually supportive, creative investor union with shared responsibilities & dynamic leadership structures – redefining venture capital & philanthropy.

Bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen

Germany & worldwide

Providing & researching unconditional basic income based on crowd-funding. Removing poverty & securing basic human rights to water, shelter, food etc. – transforming our societies so that people can thrive by eliminating existential fears. Regular lottery-based distribution of basic incomes. Proving large-scale financial viability of basic incomes.

English summary:

The Growing Network & A Touch of Gentleness

UK & international

Community network creating culture of giving freely rooted in Nature’s ways of operating. Supporting local people to grow & share food, seeds, plants, hand massages & genuine listening freely, establishing & deepening community bonds & a healthy safety net. Recognising importance of healthy seeds & community inclusivity.

See also:

Future by Coeur

Canada & international

Modelling new leadership in business & intimate relations. Offering guided space for expansion & transformation, often resulting in accelerated creation & powerful shifts for large enterprises, community projects & individuals alike. Addressing sensitivity & multi-dimensional realms of self. Pay What Feels Light exchange model.

Our donation model

We envision a change towards gift economies rooted in the very same ways in which Nature operates. Our donation model is based on these principles. If you like this website which is a gift from us to you, fueled by endless hours of connecting with people, businesses and initiatives, please take a look at our Donation page to find out how you can reciprocate, or pass on that gift. Or, if you already know our model and would like to be part of it in a monetary way, you can go straight to Donate below. Thank you!

Artist Hotspot

Earth to Spirit
Indigenous artwork
Based in Ontario, Canada

Find out more via website:
www.earthtospirit.store

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