How to support Raven

My lofty goal is to bring positive change to world. But to do the big, you have to start with the small. So in my effort to undermine a world system that has become greedy and excessive and overly competitive, I am focusing on cooperation. In the same way that a bee and a flower are mutual gifts to each other, I hope that you, dear reader will be gifted and be a gift. Come and download anything you wish and use it as you will. I simply ask that you consider the following three gifts.

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Gift to self. Hold all things lightly whether material or abstract

The first gift you give should be to yourself. In this case, the gift is one of non-attachment. The best gift you can give to yourself whenever you receive something is to hold it lightly. Whether it is a beautiful material object or a profound insight, remember that life is a journey and all that we receive is temporal. When we cling to an idea that was meant to be a stepping stone or when we cling to a product that fades with time, we bind ourselves to the past. Be ready to release any idea or object as quickly as you received it. If you have taken ideas that are helpful, remember that they are here to lead you to even better ideas rather than become dogmatized and moribund.

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Gift to Community

Since you are receiving freely, give freely. If you have received a digital book or art, consider giving a copy to others who may benefit from it. You might consider posting the book in a group on Facebook or you might give it to a friend that you know would enjoy it.  You benefit them as well as the artist/writer when you do so.

Instead of a payment for the book, consider offering a gift to the author. Offering even a small amount can be a meaningful gift, especially when it is all going directly to the author.

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Some alternative options could include:

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Give money to someone in need.

Take a friend out to lunch.

Treat a child or loved one to a surprise gift or outing.

Make cookies for your neighbors.

Give a friend a gift card.

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If you want to offer a gift to the author but it sounds like I’m actually asking for payment, remember that the attitude and the language matter. Calling it a gift and giving it with the intention to give a gift is enough to change our attitude. And if we can start to think in terms of cooperation and gift instead of competition and debt, we will start to see changes in our system that has become so unbalanced. 

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For ways that you can offer a gift to Raven in the glade for her works, click here.

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Gift to the World

We are all part of a community that connects into the whole world and it is important to be mindful of this. To do that please consider offering a gift to the world out of gratitude for the gifts you have received here. The following are some ideas but by no means are these exhaustive:

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Plant a tree.

Plant a pollinator that feeds bees or birds.

Donate to a charity for a cause that you believe in.

Pick up trash in natural space or on your next hike

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Any of these will remind you that you are a part of a global community. Instead of the price of a book or work of art, spend your money making the world more caring and giving. If enough people adapt this even just part of the time, we can make a huge impact at reducing the greed that runs amok around us and we can make the world richer and greener.