TTEM - TRANSFORMATIONAL TOOLS ENERGY AND MIND

TTEM was established in 2005. Five years later we are getting upwards of 50-70,000 hits a month and up to 10,000 unique visitors a month. A big chunk of that is no doubt bots indexing it for search engines. Of the rest no doubt for many of these visitors it's "just another website".

But for some folks, members and non-members, who embrace the transformational intent behind it, and put some of the material into practice in their lives, TTEM has been and is at times much more than that. Over the years some folks have emailed me kindly saying they would like to make a financial contribution towards the running costs (no I don't know what they are- I try and shut my eyes when I pay the bills ). Others say that they would like to make a contribution in recognition of the huge amount of time that I put into keeping the flow of interesting things coming up here, as well as specific thoughts and ideas in response to individuals' posts. Although the forum is a collective effort, as of writing I have contributed 40% of the total number of posts, started 62% of all threads and spent a total of 90 man days online (note to self - get a life ). Others say that TTEM has helped them or their relatives in the priceless process of healing, personal transformation and spiritual growth.

WHY A DONATE BUTTON NOW?

Historically I have always thanked these folks politely, been pleased it's made a difference and left it at that. However a few things have persuaded me to change this policy.

Firstly, as part of my own learning, growth and transformation, I have found that there is a *lot* of benefit in giving. A lot. Maybe you know this (and perhaps more than I), maybe you don't. The benefit is perhaps more to the giver than to the receiver. Giving not only reduces the contracted sense of "me" which is behind all of our problems, but also in many paradigms - from Chinese Feng Shui through to more New Age philosophies/rediscoveries - it enables the universe to then give you more in return. "Give to receive" is a very old maxim - and like most of these condensed wisdoms it needs personal investigation to unpack it and find out how it works for you. Giving also promotes a sense of gratitude in one - one of the highest and most beneficial states of mind there is - a real antidote in this modern world to the sense of lack, fear and never-ending desire that is foisted on us by the media. So - perversely from a narrow "capitalist-materialist" perspective - in turning these requests down I have been blocking folks from something they want to do which is very much to their benefit as well as to mine.

Secondly, I think the vision in the Celestine Prophecy is an interesting one. In particular of a world where the production of material goods takes a decreasing percentage of mankind's collective efforts, and increasingly the added value in our lives becomes less another TV or a new mobile and more becomes the right spiritual advice at the right time. Redfield's suggestion is that this is something to be acknowledged by paying for where one receives such benefit. Speaking personally my largest outgoings beyond things like rent are for all the lessons I take from teachers and spiritual masters (a lot of the ideas I am posting on TTEM has cost me a lot of money as well as time and effort to gain ... its precious stuff (well I guess at best ... at worst its not )).

The final link in the chain was a consultation recently with one of those who I am fortunate to know, and pleased to think of as my spiritual elders and betters, who made many of these points and the useful one that I am blocking the flow from the universe to me. Everything needs to keep flowing - energy, luck, money - so we all need to make sure that we can take positive stuff in as well as give it out.

ABOUT DONATING

I am committed to keeping TTEM a free resource for folks' spiritual development. For many it's just a quick visit and another website. Others may use it more but either haven't got that much from it or aren't yet working on the spiritual issues I outline above. Thats fine - but if you have found it of use please help spread the word, place a link on your website or join and share some material

For those who do wish to donate however there is now a paypal button here which means you can use your paypal account or credit card or debit card to donate. I don't receive any information whatsoever about your financial details (you disappear off to the paypal site and behind their security walls to donate, they deduct 3.4% + Ł0.20 for the service, all very simple).

How much to donate? Well all the advice I have received and precedents I have seen here is to have a minimum amount. However your individual financial circumstances all differ, as does how much you have benefited and hopefully continue to benefit from TTEM and how much you are working on the "give to receive" level right now. All donations are gratefully received.

May all beings be happy!