what is the coven economy?
Ariel gore said it best: Burn down capitalism and in its ashes plant the seeds of a solidarity economy.
Because capitalism, patriarchy, and all elements that conspire to keep women poor are so insidiously intertwined, we need to come at it from every angle—transferring resources from the rich to the poor and building a new solidarity economy or, perhaps more apropros, a coven economy.
- Ariel Gore, Hexing the Patriarchy
Reading the money chapter in Hexing the Patriarchy quite literally changed my life. That is the moment when I realized I wanted to create The Charmed in an attempt to grow the coven economy, to widen the web of monetary energetic exchanges between witches of all kinds. By making intentional choices with our money, we are able to support our community. In choosing to grow a solidarity economy, we are actively dismantling the system that is already failing most of us. Until we completely divest from capitalism and instead create new systems focused on justice, care, equality, and community, we will never have a truly equitable world. In the meantime, let’s make decisions that make a difference to our communities. Need some ideas? Ariel Gore coming in with a solution once again:
Begin tithing money or making secular reparations—any percentage of what yiou bring in—to your teachers, to agents of change, and to people robbed and made vulnerable by the current system.
And remember to use the rest of the money that passes through your hands to support radical, cooperative, and independent endeavors.
In these ways, we redirect the flow.
The concept of a coven economy is not new. These theories, and other anticapitalist notions, have been spearheaded by many talented people, the most influential of them BIPOC thought leaders, teachers, and scholars. Here at The Charmed, our interpretation of the coven economy came from many sources and we are actively trying to grow our knowledge. I encourage you to learn more from these brilliant minds, and if you have additional sources you’d like to share, please reach out.
What does the coven economy look like?
At the charmed, we have incorporated three main tenets in our business model.
We value collaboration over competition: when we get a seat at the table, we bring our friends with us.
We prioritize people over profit: supporting our community is more important than lining our pockets.
There is more than enough to go around: it’s time to ditch the scarcity mindset and embrace radical generosity.
THE COVEN ECONOMY EMBRACES FEMININE ARCHETYPAL QUALITIES, OUTLINED by Jennifer Armbrust at Sister.
Learn more about Sister and Proposals for the Feminine Economy.
our Self-Selecting contribution model
based on the payment model developed by Michelle pellizzon at Holisticism.
Learn more about Holisticism and divesting from wellness capitalism here.
Being a business owner requires a lot of responsibilities and brings with it many privileges. Deciding to break away from the traditional business model and prioritize anti-racism and inclusivity is a very intentional choice that I am able to make due to the privileges I have as a business owner with no outside investment. I feel very grateful to have a mentor who is leading by example on how to be a white, femme business owner in the wellness space. Michelle explains this beautifully:
As a white woman, I am inherently racist. I have a lot of learning and unlearning to do. I'm not perfect, and I recognize that my antiracist education will be a lifelong journey.
As a white woman who strives to create an inclusive, equitable, justice-oriented company for wellness resources and education, it's my responsibility to make sure we actively continue our anti-racism and anti-oppression work.
While The Charmed is just at the beginning of its journey, I want to prioritize anti-racist elements in the core of our business.
To start, we are launching our offerings with a payment model that allows all members of our community to thrive. In a racist society where we are not paid, treated, and valued equally, a single price point does not make sense. Below is our three-tier system that allows each person in our community to pick a contribution level that is best for them. Each tier has a visual, situational decision guide to help you gain more insight on which choice may be best for you. All members of our community, regardless of the contribution level chosen, are sacred. Your participation in our community contributes to and supports access to care for others no matter how much you pay.
WE BELIEVE IN TAKING CARE OF OUR COVEN
AND PART OF THAT INCLUDES DIVESTING OURSELVES FROM THE TRADITIONAL CAPITALIST PAYMENT MODEL.
Here at The Charmed, we are committed to making our offerings as inclusive as possible, starting with our pricing. Our offerings are available on a self-selected sliding scale that allows you to decide what price makes the most sense for you.
We know firsthand that finances are cyclical and fluctuating. When you're able to invest a little more, you are helping out other members of our community. And when you're needing some help, we got you. No matter how much you can afford, you are a sacred member of our coven.
Living in a capitalist-critical society is complicated, and while we don't have a magic solution, we are committed to taking imperfect action so that we can continue learning, growing, and prioritizing the needs of our coven.
Magic and wellness are for everyone! If you are not able to afford our offerings, please email us directly and we will work with you to find a solution.
at the end of the day, we want our community to feel supported.
If anyone is still reading at this point, thanks. I appreciate you and your commitment, and so does our community. As always, our inbox is always open—reach out with questions, comments, suggestions, and more.
Mille mercis,
Mad