The Heart That Gives: International Day of Charity

On September 5th, the world comes together to recognize the International Day of Charity, a global celebration of generosity, compassion, and collective care. This date was chosen to commemorate the death anniversary of Mother Teresa, a symbol of tireless service to the poorest and most forgotten. But beyond the headlines and historical references, charity is not simply about giving—it’s about becoming.

Charity, in its purest form, is a return to our true nature. It’s the soul’s instinct to reach out, to uplift, to witness another’s pain and say, I see you. I care. When we give from a place of alignment—when our giving flows from inner peace, intuitive wisdom, essential longing, and inspired identity—it becomes a catalyst for rebirth. Both for the one who receives and the one who gives.

In this blog post, we’ll explore:

• The origins and global significance of the International Day of Charity

• How charity nourishes each of the four pillars of Radiant Rebirth

• Why authentic giving is a fundamental expression of soul alignment

• Simple, meaningful ways to embody charity in your daily life

A Brief History of International Day of Charity

The United Nations officially established International Day of Charity in 2012 to raise awareness and increase global solidarity for the most vulnerable. The date—September 5th—honors Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who spent her life in service to the poor, sick, and dying.

But charity has ancient roots that extend far beyond institutions. From Zakat in Islam to Tzedakah in Judaism, from Seva in Hinduism to almsgiving in Christianity and Buddhism, the impulse to give is encoded into the fabric of human spirituality.

At its essence, charity is a foundational act of remembering:

We are one.What I offer to you, I offer to myself.Your dignity is bound to mine.

In a world that often feels fragmented, charity is the quiet revolution that calls us back to wholeness.

Charity Through the Lens of Radiant Rebirth

Charity is not just about external service—it’s about internal alignment. When we give from an unhealed place—out of guilt, burnout, or saviorism—it can create imbalance. But when we give from an integrated heart, our charity becomes a spiritual technology, awakening us to who we really are.

Let’s explore how charity expresses and deepens each of the four pillars of the Radiant Rebirth journey:

1. Inner Peace: Giving as Grounding

True charity begins with presence. When we give mindfully—not out of urgency or obligation, but from a centered place—we create ripples of peace within ourselves and others.

Charitable acts calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and foster emotional regulation. Why? Because they help us shift from self-preoccupation to soul participation.

The world often tricks us into believing we’re powerless. But charity is a way to reclaim our agency. To say:

I may not be able to fix everything, but I can bring light right here, right now.

This awareness anchors us in the present moment. It’s no longer about what’s missing—but what’s possible.

Practice: Start your day by asking, “How can I be of gentle service today?”Maybe it’s a kind word to a stranger, a donation to a cause, or simply giving your full attention to someone who needs to be heard.

Even the smallest act becomes essential when it flows from peace.

2. Intuition: Giving That Aligns with Soul Guidance

Charity doesn’t always look like what we’ve been taught. Sometimes, the most powerful form of charity is listening. Or telling someone the truth. Or holding a boundary.

Intuitive charity asks: What is truly needed here?Not what will make me look good. Not what will quiet my guilt. But what will actually serve?

This kind of giving requires deep inner listening. It asks you to trust your spiritual intelligence, not just your social conditioning.

For example:

• Maybe you feel pulled to mentor a teen who reminds you of your younger self.

• Maybe you’re nudged to support a grassroots organization that aligns with your ancestral lineage.

• Maybe your intuition says, “Rest first. Fill your own cup. Then pour.”

Trust that your soul knows how and where your impact is most needed.

Reflection Prompt:

Where is my energy being asked to flow today? How can I give in a way that honors my own well-being and deepest knowing?

When your giving is guided by inner wisdom, it becomes a form of divine precision.

3. Longing: Transforming Desire into Pure Generosity

We often think of longing as something to be soothed or fulfilled. But what if longing is actually a call to service?

Many of our desires are not just personal—they’re transpersonal. Your longing to see a world without hunger may come from your soul’s remembrance of lifetimes in famine. Your ache for beauty, art, or justice may reflect the very medicine you came to give.

Charity offers us a way to alchemize longing into action. To let our deepest desires not just consume us, but move through us.

Consider:

• If you long for connection, how might you create community for others?

• If you crave healing, how might you support the healing journeys of others—through words, space holding, or resource sharing?

• If you yearn for more joy, how might your generosity become a doorway to delight?

When we stop hoarding our longings and start channeling them outward, they become part of the collective rebirth.

Journal Prompt:

“I long for ____. I offer this longing to the world by ____. In giving, I become.”

Your desires are uniquely yours. Let them guide your giving.

4. Inspired Identity: Becoming the Person Who Gives with Grace

There is a version of you who lives in radiant service—not out of depletion, but out of devotion. She is generous not because she’s trying to earn her worth, but because she knows it.

This is your inspired identity. The you who walks in alignment with your values, your joy, and your calling. She knows that to give is to live fully. That generosity is not a burden—it’s a birthright.

On the International Day of Charity, ask yourself:

What kind of giver do I want to be?

Not what kind of charity I want to support (though that matters), but who I choose to be as a giver:

• Am I a listener?

• A visionary?

• A protector?

• A provider of safe space?

• A weaver of community?

Let your giving style reflect your essence. Let it be an expression of who you are becoming.

Ritual: Write an “Inspired Identity Statement” around charity.

“I am a person who gives from ____.My gifts are ____.I serve by ____.I am most alive when I offer ____.I allow my generosity to be a blessing, not a burden.”

Post it where you’ll see it often. Let it guide your rebirth into a life of soulful contribution.

Everyday Acts of Charity

While large donations and service trips are beautiful, charity is just as potent in small, consistent acts. Here are some soul-aligned ways to make charity part of your everyday life:

• Micro-Giving

Set aside a small weekly fund—$5, $10, or whatever feels good—to give spontaneously. Tip generously. Buy a meal for someone unhoused. Support an artist or healer. Let generosity be joyful and unplanned.

• Conscious Compliments

Offer genuine, specific compliments. “You have a calming presence.” “Your art moves me.” “I see the effort you put in.”This emotional generosity creates connection and uplifts energy fields.

• Soul Letters

Write notes of encouragement to people doing meaningful work—activists, teachers, caretakers. Your words may be the lifeline they need to keep going.

• Prayer or Energy Offerings

Send loving intentions or healing energy to those in need. Even without physical contact, your heart has a field. It can bless.

• Volunteer Where You're Lit Up

Don’t volunteer out of obligation. Give where your passion lives. Whether that’s planting gardens, teaching dance, or organizing food drives—let your joy be the compass.

Giving Without Losing Yourself

A key lesson in the Radiant Rebirth journey is that true charity never depletes. If you’re constantly exhausted by your giving, something needs to shift.

Authentic charity requires self-honoring. You must be nourished in order to nourish others.

That’s why we practice the Sacred No alongside our Sacred Yes. That’s why we rest, refill, and remember that we are not the Source—only a channel.

Give from your overflow, not your essence. Your light is needed—but not at the cost of your own fire.

Final Reflections: A New Definition of Charity

On this International Day of Charity, let’s redefine what it means to give.

Let’s move beyond guilt, pity, and performative generosity.

Let’s remember that:

• Charity is an exchange of dignity, not power.

• Giving is not about fixing—but about witnessing and loving.

• The most impactful charity is the kind that heals both the giver and the receiver.

As you walk your path of Radiant Rebirth, may your hands be open. May your heart be soft. May your giving be a reflection of your becoming.

Because when we give with soul, we don’t just help others rise.

We rise too.

I would love to invite you to join our Radiant Rebirth on-line community, the Goddess Haven, a place for women like you to receive guidance and support. There you will find monthly journeys of guided growth, a multitude of meditations to lead you toward your inner witness, exercises to encourage self-trust, journal prompts to anchor in your new, expansive mindset, and so much more! 

www.radiant-rebirth/community