Sliding scale as a contributor to economic justice

If you've checked out my Full Moon Rituals you might have noticed the pricing is sliding scale. This is an example of my experimentation in contributing to economic justice (h/t Kelly Diels).

The concept of sliding scale didn't come from my imagination, rather it comes from teachers that help me unlearn extractive capitalism.

In 2016 I discovered rain crowe's workshop registration process. I was impressed by her transparency & confidence in the sliding scale structure.

At that time, rain shared her base costs on her registration page & how the pricing options reflected those needs. rain also revealed how many people would need to register at the different levels to make it "work." I had never seen anyone be so transparent!

I didn't know this type of honesty was even possible in business.

In 2017 & 2018 I had the great honor to hear Rev. angel Kyodo williams speak. The School of Living Arts hosted & coordinated registration. These events were sliding scale & required deep personal introspection to determine which price point on the sliding scale to choose.

Below is part of the financial policy explained: [emphasis added by me]

We find that the idea of sacrifice versus hardship is helpful when examining access.

If paying for a class, product, or service would be difficult, but not detrimental, it qualifies as a sacrifice. You might have to cut back on other spending in your life (such as going out to dinner, buying coffee, or a new outfit), but this will not have a long term harmful impact on your life. It is a sacred sacrifice in order to pursue something you are called to do.

If, however, paying for a class, product, or service would lead to a harmful impact on your life, such as not being able to put food on the table, pay rent, or pay for your transportation to get to work, then you are dealing with hardship. Folks coming from a space of hardship typically qualify for the lower end of the sliding scale.

I was again blown away by the authenticity of intention & the demonstrated trust in community.

Only because I witness others go outside of the “business norms box” do I become aware of what's possible.

Because my imagination has been sparked to what’s possible, I’m now committed to integrating these teachings into my own business & actively contibute to economic justice.

RESOURCES

raine crowe (she/her): Neurodivergent, animist, queer witch who offers ancestrally-nourished online & in-person coursework, facilitation, counseling, mentorship, & ritual grounded in earth-based wisdom & magic to support collective liberation in perilous times. Founder of Refugia Village Mystery School & Dream Temple raincrowe.com

Rev. angel Kyodo Williams Sensei: Author, maverick spiritual teacher, master trainer, & founder of Center for Transformative Change. Ordained as a Zen priest, she is a Sensei, the second black woman recognized as a teacher in her lineage. “Love & justice are not two. Without inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.” angelkyodowilliams.com

Want to learn more about sliding scale & contributing to economic justice?

Hadassah Damien (she/they): Design strategist & facilitator, economics researcher & finance educator, open source technologist, award-winning LGBTQ artist, & entrepreneur. Read Hadassah's excellent article: Sliding Scale: Why, How, & Sorting Out Who

Bear Hebert (they/them): Radical business consultant & social justice educator. Check out FREELY: An Anti-Capitalist Guide To Pricing Your Work, a three-part webinar series that covers both the theory & practice of how to be in business in an anti-capitalist way.

Kelly Diels: Feminist educator, writer, & coach who taught me about “contributing to economic justice.” Read Kelly’s article on Predatory Payment Plans