The Abundance Basket.

An Act of Giving.

Your most precious, valued possessions and your greatest powers are invisible and intangible. No one can take them. You and you alone, can give them. You will receive abundance for your giving.
W. Clement Stone

            A fond memory of my youth was visiting my friend Johns’ place. One of the main reasons was because of the bowl of goodies that was always just inside the back door. You see his Dad owned a fruit shop where he insisted on only selling the very best fruit and vegetables he could; produce that was not up to this standard but was never the less OK was placed in this bowl to be taken and enjoyed by all his friends and family who wished to do so. At his shop he had a bigger version in the form of a washing basket – customers were invited to help themselves to whatever they wished from his ‘Abundance basket’ as he called it. Many did and were very grateful for the opportunity.

            One day I was at the store with my friend and noticed that some of those who helped themselves were not customers and I drew this to his Dads attention. His response was one of my earlier lessons on the importance of giving.

            Young man he said (this being his preferred method of addressing me).

“It is mainly for them that I have it there, you see there are many in our community that are not as fortunate as we, and it is essential that we share all God gave us. My customers expect the best and are willing to pay for the privilege, but there are some, who can’t afford to buy even the cheaper varieties, but food is essential to life and so to those I freely give of my excess that my customers will not buy.”

            I also noticed that any spoiled produce was quickly discarded from this ‘Abundance Basket’.

            He went on to say “God looks after me greatly, my business prospers and so I am able to provide easily for my family. Besides when I myself was a young man I was taught to share, to not be greedy, to give and it would come back many fold, so I made this my habit. My business colleagues all insist, even to this day, that I will go broke because of my habit; but my experience is the opposite.”

            John’s dad was a real living example of the Law of Abundance.

            Now here we are today at the beginning of 2009, the world has just experienced a spate of natural calamities, the stock market is trying to pull out of disaster, politicians and world  leaders are deserting their posts and the world we are told is heading for deep recession. People are pulling on their purse strings. Doom and gloom seems to be the order of the day.

            But there has to be a better way. The world has to be reminded of the abundance that is our natural inheritance. It was while I was thinking this that I remembered my friend John and his dad.

            We determined to follow his example; Sue set out to find an appropriate basket. She decorated it in gold and yellow and we filled it with many different goodies. When friends, customers and clients come by, we ask them to share in our abundance and take from our basket. All have been delighted with their little gifts.

Image courtesy of antpkr at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

            One friend commented; “gee, I get to put my hands in the cookie jar,” she went on to explain that she sometimes didn’t feel all that prosperous and she hoped that our little act of giving and sharing would rub off on her. We suggested that she go home and make a basket and start sharing herself.

            You see, your ‘Abundance Basket’ sets up a vibration that is sending a clear message to the universe that you feel well taken care of and that you have more than sufficient to meet your needs and are willing to share your excess. The universe then responds to this message and provides you with this abundance.

            Several of our friends and clients have gone home and created their own Abundance Baskets. One business colleague has commented on a marked increase in sales in his shop, while interestingly a friend of his whom he shared the concept with said she couldn’t afford the luxury and continues to struggle in her business.

            To make your Abundance Basket

            Use any suitably sized container, eg a cane or wicker basket, if this is not available use a bowl, a wooden or cardboard box or even an old pot. Line it with yellow or gold cloth as this is the colour of abundance. Sue wove some yellow and orange/gold coloured artificial flowers and some small plastic gold bells into the basket to decorate it. Some small golden and orange crystals such as carnelian and citrine were then placed into the basket. Citrine is recognized as a wealth stone. Then fill it up with your goodies; these need not be expensive, nor do you necessarily need to buy them. We used some of our excess stock of small tumble stones and incense as well as small packets of fruit and nuts from our pantry along with other bits and pieces.

Sue also had a relatively expensive piece of dress jewellery that she no longer wore, so it was also added so that someone else could enjoy it. It was interesting to watch the reaction of the lady who saw and chose it. That was a very joyful moment.

Our little basket has been refilled many times now and provides us with the joy that comes from giving each time someone shares in our abundance. And the universe is responding in kind.