01/29/2015

The idea that people can have a spiritual relationship with money may seem counterintuitive to some, but not to Kate Levinson. For me, having a spiritual relationship with money means recognizing that I am part of larger wholemy local and the global communitiesand that I can relate to money, and use my money, in ways that include compassion, gratitude, [and] connection, said Ms. Levinson, who is organizing an upcoming conference in San Rafael called Women, Money and Spirit. Balancing the two can be tricky enoughbut for women, grappling with the relationship poses an even weightier problem. The womens movement has won critical rights in past decades, including the right to even open a bank account without a husbands approval. But, Ms. Levinson said, money often makes women uncomfortable. Women often have a hard time putting themselves into the financial equation, be it asking for raises or buying something for themselves rather than for a friend or family member. We tend not to feel entitled. Ms. Levinson, who co-owns Point Reyes Books with her husband Steve Costa, has literally written a book to help women foster healthier relationships with money, and offers regular workshops based on its themes. The spiritual aspect of the equation is a bit newer to her, she said, but she emphasized that spirit is a broad term meant to reflect a recognition of something beyond ourselves and encompass a multitude of spiritual and cultural traditions. The conference will feature speakers from a range of disciplines: investing, herbal medicine, money coaching, nonprofits, Zen Buddhism and the Dominican Sisters, who vow to live in poverty. There are no experts advising us on the right way to handle money[Its] a diverse group of women who have given much thought to money in their lives and their communities, sharing what they know to be true for them. The Women, Money and Spirit Conference takes place on Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Dominican University. For more information or and to register, visit womenmoneyspirit.com.

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Conference highlights women, money and spirit