"I mean, being a freedom fighter, a force for good, it's a wonderful thing. You get to make your own hours, looks good on a resume, but the pay...sucks." -- Alfred Bester in "Moments of Transition", Babylon 5, J. Michael Straczynski

In the early 2000s I made the decision to "down-shift", to stop working full time at my software job and try to explore ways to spend time that would have a more meaningful and positive effect on the world. It has been a very rewarding journey on a personal level. On a financial level, well, not so much.

If you liked reading my book or my blogs, or if you've taken a workshop or class from me, or enjoyed my music or poetry, or in some other way like what I do, there are a few ways you can support my work:

Donate "Green Energy"

Seriously, you can just send me money. I don't mind. Any amount will make my day. You can put cash or a check or money order in an envelope and mail it to

Tom Swiss
2119 Arlonne Drive
Baltimore MD 21228

Or you can PayPal me. Just click the button and enter the amount you want to give. $5 is great. If you've got $20 to spare, wonderful. If you've got $200 burning a hole in your pocket and want to send them my way I will praise your name.

Donations are very much not tax-deductable.

Buy My Stuff

If you haven't yet bought a copy of Why Buddha Touched the Earth, maybe you could consider doing so?

My Cafe Press store has t-shirts, coffee mugs, and the like. More designs coming soon. (Ok, coming eventually.)

There will be more options here soon -- I'm working on making photo prints available.

Hire Me

Schedule a shiatsu session if you're near Baltimore, or hire me for a consulting or coaching or speaking gig, or commission a poem or song, why not? You can contact me at

Buy Books at Powells.com

Powells.com is the best new and used bookstore on the web. Click on that affiliate link and go buy something, and I'll get a few pennies.

Thanks!