Following a Conversation on Gift-Based Pricing, a few friends are inspired to hold a circle on the deeper nuances and edges around articulating gift-ecology, particularly as it applies to personal practice and projects. 

To kick off the circle, we'll hear initial reflections from 'Shaaranya' Geetanjali, whose 100% volunteer-run Ayurveda practice began as a 3-month pilot clinic for elders in the community, 18 months ago. She's now seen 130+ patients aged 6-months to 85 years. To her, each treatment is a labor-of-love process (see context below), and a gateway for transformation: "How could I charge for something like this? It is almost my own version of meditation. When I’m at the clinic, I’m just purifying myself. I can’t put a price tag on it."

How does such an offering translate into a pricing structure? How does one convey the ethos of gift in a culture habituated in transaction? What are the nuances between ‘free’ and ‘gift’, or the difference between pay-what-you-can and pay-it-forward? 

On Tuesday, July 28, from 5-6:30pm PST, we'll circle up in Berkeley to explore those questions and more. If you'd like to join, RSVP below and we'll send you the details. Space is limited.



More context on 'Shaaranya' Geetanjali's practice: Ayurveda, generally defined, is a "science of life" that works to prevent illness by treating the whole person and addressing root causes. A consultation involves an initial hour-long visit, followed by several hours of research into the case and the Ayurvedic literature over the next 2 weeks. She then meets the patient for a second 45-min appointment, where she explains her diagnosis and hands over a customized Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle plan. After a month, she meets the patient a third time for 30 minutes to verify the success of the treatment and make course corrections. All patients commit to all three meetings in order to get seen by her.