Speak and So It Is: Weekly Words of Power

Invocation for Charity: A Call to Give Freely

Part 2 of The Seven Holy Virtues Series

Charity: The Art of Giving From The Heart

This week, in our Seven Holy Virtues Series, we call upon the Spirit of Charity—the virtue of selfless love, generosity and compassion.

Charity is more than giving money or offering to help. It is about giving freely, without expectation. It’s the small kindness, the unseen acts, the willingness to lighten another’s load.

It reminds me of that post, written by John Perricone, who had invited a Buddhist monk to guest lecture his class. The monk entered the classroom silently, and wrote on the board:

Everyone wants to change the world, but noone wants to help mom do the dishes

The monk then goes on to remind the class that it is not very likely that they will ever get the chance to perform a grandiose display of kindness, but they will be presented with a million opportunities to commit small acts of kindness.

That small gesture— being the shoulder to cry on, holding the hand, helping the elderly with their groceries— is an act so profound that it could change that persons life.

A life changing act is also one of the core tenants of the Six of Pentacles—the tarot card most closely linked to the virtue of Charity. The card’s imagery often depicts a wealthy figure given to the needy, with scales in their hands— a symbol of balance and reciprocity. The message behind the Six of Pentacles being that charity is not just knowing when to give but when to receive. To be thoughtful, not performative. It guides us to embrace specificity in our actions. It warns us against power imbalance in giving. True charity does not diminish you—it expands you.

Charity asks:

• Can you give without resentment?

• Can you offer without expecting anything in return?

• Can you let Love be your motivation, rather than duty or obligation?

If you’re anything like me, you may have struggled with feeling drained from giving. This invocation is for you, a reminder that charity isn’t about self-sacrifice— it’s about abundance. A flow of kindness, where giving and receiving are tempered.