Is it Ethical for Healers to Earn Money for Their Services?

If a healer or energy worker charges for their services does that make them greedy?  Is it ethical for healing arts professionals to charge a fee for the work they do? And if they offer healing sessions because they want to be of services to others, then is it right for them to accept money in exchange for these services?   Some clients and customers in the wellness industry have self-limiting beliefs or negative programs about money when it comes to healing work.  Many of these people believe that healers shouldn't charge for their services. It's important not to get sucked into this mindset or energy and here’s why... I know this is a controversial topic, and you’ll likely have your own opinion and ideas about it.  I want you to know that I honor whatever you feel is right when it comes to this subject. However, I do have some pretty strong opinions of my own (which I’m about to share with you). I want to let you know that I value your ideas, even if they differ from my own. I think this is an important thing for members of our community to discuss. In saying that, I’ve also seen this topic spark some heated conversations. All I ask is that if you disagree, you please keep your comments respectful and in the spirit of sparking enlightening, positive discussion.  :) First I want to be SUPER clear about something...I personally do believe that healers should charge for their services. I’ll tell you exactly why that is in just a bit. However, I also want to acknowledge that there ARE some clear ethical violations around healing work and money. I’ll address these at the end of this post. So, let’s dive into why I think it’s SO important that healers charge for their services. Also, why doing so doesn’t make them greedy or unethical.  Here’s a biggie right off the bat... if we want to see more of this kind of work in the world, then we need to support it. Truthfully, nothing speaks louder than backing things up with cash. Think about something like organic produce and grocery items. They used to be incredibly expensive and difficult to find. Although they often still cost more than conventional items, the more people that purchase them, the more affordable they become. Conventional grocery stores were encouraged by their patrons to meet the demand for healthy, organic foods. Eventually, larger producers started to take notice and offered these products at more affordable prices.   Backing up your ideals with your wallet helps to send a message to the larger industry about what is important in your life and about what you value. I think the same can happen for alternative wellness practices. If more and more people start paying for these services because they place value on them, then perhaps some day soon insurance companies may start to take notice and offer coverage for these therapies as part of their plans.  For example, many insurance plans now cover things like massage, reflexology, chiropractic, and acupuncture. This wasn’t always the case. However, insurance companies could see a measurable trend in the growth of those industries. Therefore it was obvious that more holistic services were valued by their patrons.   Someday soon insurance companies may be encouraged to pick up the cost of other alternative healing practices. This will only happen if we're willing to put our money where our mouths are. We need to pay a living wage to the people offering these services. More money in a small industry means major growth. That’s when people really start paying attention. Here’s another thing to think about... healers have often sacrificed a lot to step into their dream job. They’ve likely paid lots of their own money for training - I myself have invested over $50k in my crystal healing education! Additionally, they've invested in tools and supplies (everything from crystals and essentia...