Let's Talk About Gifting Circles

A few months ago I was invited to a gifting circle. I was told if I "gift" 500 USD and then invite two people in a week I will be able to receive 8 times my initial gift (4000 USD) and continue to receive a total sum of 3500 USD monthly. I quickly discovered it was a pyramid scheme and I also discovered many of my friends and some of the most inspiring people I know in my spiritual community were involved in it.

Over the coming months, I felt a growing discomfort with the existence of this scheme in my community, and a growing desire to talk about it. I believe that part of my soul's purpose is to help wake up as many people as possible to spiritual ideas and spiritual community, and it seemed clear to me that these circles are a direct counterforce to that goal. I focus mainly on this concern in the podcast and encourage others to speak up about it if you also agree with what I've said.

I should note that my strong stance against this practice takes nothing away from the love I have for the people who are involved. It is my belief that the scheme itself is inherently manipulative and is designed in such a way to actively ignore and avoid ethical arguments against the practice. This avoidance of rational discussion is probably what worries me most about it. 

It has also inspired me to create a Facebook group to share sources, and educational resources to help people make sense of this increasingly muddied information ecosystem we currently exist in. It is called Seeking Clarity.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354608672520027

Here is a link that goes more into the math I only summarized or stated as fact:
https://medium.com/@katherineraemondo/the-math-behind-womens-empowerment-lotus-giving-circles-aka-pyramid-schemes-7c64b8a30759