Barter: It's the new money!

When I discovered a gorgeous but flawed sweater at a clothing designer's semi-annual sale, the small company gave it to me: they weren't going to be able to sell a sweater that had one long sleeve and one cropped mid-forearm. And what was I going to do with a lopsided designer cardigan, anyway?

Request help. I posted on Waccobb.net, my local equivalent of CraigsList.com, to see if anyone could repair the sweater sleeve in exchange for writing, coaching, office organization, or other assistance in lieu of cash. A woman responded that she knits and sews "for fun" and would be happy to take a look.

Molly creatively suggested we weave yarn in complementary colors into both sleeves to lengthen them, transfer some of the matching material from the unaffected sleeve to the cropped one, and voilà: a one-of-a-kind, wearable sweater. Since she's seeking a new job as an art teacher, I posted a glowing testimonial on the site (which has more than 10,000 members), and also helped her begin organizing her home for the upcoming school year. In all, it was a great energy exchange that did not involve money.

If 50 is the new 30 and green is the new black, barter is the new money. And barter's creative potential is limitless:

Another recent and truly generous exchange involves my teeth. Due to severe nerve trauma I sustained seven years ago from an improperly drilled filling, one of my molars slowly died. For the past two years, I've experienced excruciating pain during and after eating. A root canal was out of the question (this procedure can actually harm your teeth), and I didn't want to pull the tooth, so I simply endured the pain.

I'd discovered Toothsoap.com in 2006 and have been brushing with Tooth Soap® ever since: an all–natural liquid formula using ingredients found in your kitchen, including organic saponified extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil, and essential oils such as peppermint or cinnamon. To my amazement, I learned that virtually ALL toothpastes contain glycerin, a sweet, sticky substance — used to make antifreeze! — that actually coats your teeth and prevents them from remineralizing.

Tooth Soap®, by contrast, contains no glycerin, so it cleans teeth and gums and promotes healing. As I became a fan of her products, company founder Karen Van Cleef and I formed a virtual friendship — enhanced when she lovingly sent me two free bottles of Tooth Soap® to replace those stolen when my car was vandalized in 2008.

When I shared my dental dilemma with Karen earlier this year, she suggested I look into laser technology. I located a dental office in southern California that does laser root canals, but the cost is equivalent to that of regular root canals — which is to say, high.

Karen already knew of my work as a writer, healthcare marketing/PR professional and life purpose coach, and suggested I help promote her products in exchange for the dental work. I've completed the dental procedures and am now singing Tooth Soap's® praises far and wide. (The company also sells pure, healthy hair and bodycare products.) I encourage you to visit their site, and if you decide to try any Toothsoap.com offerings, please let Karen's team know Amara Rose sent you! There's a special discount for subscribers to my e-newsletter, What Shines.

As my examples illustrate, barter is a real possibility for crafting a new, functional  economy. These days, we're all being challenged to think not just outside the box, but also outside our brains. Radically rewiring our thought processes is the keynote of a rapidly evolving world, beyond being a function of a faltering monetary system. Just as we can seek guidance from a spiritual teacher or, as I like to say, "dial direct", the same holds true for other life transactions. Money is the middleman, and while we're still far from being able to barter for all of our basic needs, one day our forms of energy exchange will transcend the currency that currently rules our lives and is the root of so much suffering.

One of my favorite depictions of what global barter might look like is the visionary novel 2150 A.D., by Thea Alexander. The people of 2150 are focused on personal evolution. Everyday needs such as food, housing and healthcare have been resolved so that the entire society is provided for; money is not part of their life equation.

We've already begun to embrace the shift. Consider how you might employ creative barter in your life — especially where you're accustomed to simply pulling out your wallet. You never know what new connections you might forge, what opportunities you might unleash, until you ask.

For further illumination:

The Gold Standard: True Wealth Means Stepping Fully Into Life

Marketing 101: The Heart of Money

From "To Do" to "Ta Da!"

Becoming Whys