Gift economy
“Those who are blessed with good fortune share it with others by giving something away.”
Those words by Robin Wall Kimmerer, from her book, "The serviceberry," resonated with me. In her work, she explores the gift economy: an alternative to a market economy that operates on reciprocity and abundance, rather than scarcity and money. In such an economy, people give goods and services without expecting anything in return. Gratitude, connection, and relationship are the true medium of exchange.
As a research project, I am currently setting up a gift economy and community, where talents, time, and stories are shared. It all started with dinner and a haircut with a friend, a covid hobby that turned into a skill. The word spread and, not long after that, another friend gifted me a tarot reading in exchange for a fresh new cut.
That's when the idea began to form; what if we do this more often? What can grow from a place where status is not determined by how much someone owns, but by how much they give away?
I am currently creating a flow of connections and learning from the skills of others, documenting these meetings along the way.
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Tarot reading - Ace of Swords, 9 Swords and 9 Staves
