Ethical Business Practices and Examples within Wellness
Beyond saying we care about social justice, what are tangible ways we can operate as ethical businesses?
We are all swimming in systems that privilege various forms of power, and unfortunately, sometimes spirituality and wellness are woven into this. I list some questions that we can keep top of mind when we audit our decolonizing practices within our spiritual practices and how it shows up in business decisions. These prompts are meant to help you ask yourself with discernment and honesty how you approach spirituality, wellness, and business, in an ever changing world, and presents intersectional decolonization approaches. And before feeling shame or overwhelm when we are not doing enough, I think it's helpful to remind ourselves that there is no perfect way to approach this. The systems themselves are designed in such a way where we can never do enough as long as these systems exist; that said, don't let that defeat you.
How can we make our wellness or spiritual practices more accessible to individuals with varying abilities? Are our spaces and events accessible to neurodivergent individuals? And rather than saying "you are welcome...", can we say "we created this for you"?
Are our offerings inclusive of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds in a way that is wholehearted?
What steps can we take to create a welcoming environment for individuals from marginalized, non-normative communities?
Do our pricing structures accommodate a range of financial backgrounds? How can we make our services more affordable, offer sliding scale options, or other forms of financial aid? Simultaneously, how do we do this without exploiting or underpaying ourselves, our team, or suppliers? How do we ensure spiritual tenets do not mask blame or avoid responsibility (eg. lack of financial means does not equate to 'not being ready' or 'not having enough faith' or 'not manifesting')
How can we foster a sense of belonging for people of all genders and gender identities within our community?
In what ways can we acknowledge and honour the Indigenous land and Peoples on which our practices or events take place?
How can we provide resources and support for mental health within our community?
Are we actively seeking and amplifying diverse voices in our content, events, and leadership positions?
What initiatives can we implement to support social justice causes and contribute positively to our local and global communities?
How does theft show up in our work - be it stealing wisdom, stealing ideas, stealing images of other makers, stealing business processes?
Aligned with the principles of inclusion and decolonization, accessibility is at the core of my work. In fact, I have an ethical business series, called Evoking Your Business + Project that is geared towards artists and creatives, metaphysical healers, and alternative health practitioners.
Ceremonie’s Partial Scholarship, a metaphysical scholarship, provides financial aid for participation in long-form offerings such as Homing Coven, and self-studies like Mystery Mentorship and Ugly Words, and the series Black Holes Birthing Stars. This commitment remains steadfast, even as I navigate the challenges of everyday life, balancing the responsibilities of providing for my family. I am grateful for the Ceremonie community's shared commitment to social justice, not just in theory but demonstrated through tangible actions. To each of you, thank you for supporting not only my work but also each other. Your presence forms a vital part of my village, and for that, thank you.
Mimi
Animist spirit medium