“The gift moves in a circle, and it returns transformed.” ~ Charles Eisenstein
Our economic system is based on the pursuit of endless growth, often at the expense of social and ecological health. But it hasn’t always been this way.
In traditional societies, gift economies were foundational. Food, labour, and resources were shared within communities, strengthening bonds and ensuring that no one went without. In these systems, wealth wasn’t measured by accumulation but by how much a person gave.
The idea of a gift economy, where goods and services are freely given rather than exchanged for money, is a central theme in Charles Eisenstein’s Sacred Economics. This book came highly recommended as a community-visioning resource and it did not disappoint!
Conventional monetary systems isolate people from one another by turning relationships into transactions. They enable the accumulation of wealth by a small number of individuals and thrive on a sense of scarcity (often a result of how resources are distributed, not their actual availability) and competition. In the current economic system, as Eisenstein puts it, “your loss is my gain”.
In contrast, a gift economy emphasizes community, trust, and abundance. Resources circulate freely, without an explicit expectation of return. Gift economies rekindle a sense of connection and shared purpose while creating networks of mutual support. They shift the focus from individual gain to collective well-being, so “your gain is my gain”.
Gift economies may not be practical on a large scale, but integrating at the community level aspects of gift economies—local currencies or bartering for example—can create abundance. (It’s no surprise that the concept of gift economies is implied in the “fair share” permaculture ethic, which guides us to “take what we need, share what we don’t”).
They invite us to rethink what we value and how we relate to one another. Gift economies call on us to give freely—whether it’s time, resources, or care—knowing that the act of giving enriches not just the recipient, but also the giver.
Inspired? We certainly are!
To learn more, the full text of Sacred Economics is available here.
