Magical Moments in Everyday Life in the World of Heartful Art and Raphaella Vaisseau

Yesterday was an extraordinary day at the Venice Farmer's Market here in Florida. It wasn't just the record sales of my Heartful Art (best day ever at the market), but many sweet moments of conversation with women and men who browsed the inspirational art I create for them continue to touch my spirit and uplift me this morning.

One woman shared her experience from twenty years ago when she woke up and knew, "I am enough," believing this inner knowing was a gift from God given to her in her dream. She'd been sober for two years at that point and went on to be a recovery counselor. She has since helped countless others realize this important truth as well. At home on my refrigerator I have a page from Louise Hay's daily affirmation calendar from June 18th of last year. It reads, "I am neither 'too little' nor 'too much,' and I do not have to prove myself to anyone. I am okay just as I am."

Another magical moment was recalling and sharing an experience I'd had at my Heartful Art Gallery in Sausalito eight years ago about a hornet:

"As I prepared to leave the gallery tonight I noticed a rather large hornet crashing against the sunlit windows of the gallery looking for a way out. I was tired and ready to leave. However, the thought of the hornet's long night ahead if it remained trapped inside was not a pleasant one. I put down my bags and fetched my rescue tools (a stepstool, backboard and vase), and set about my task. After I carefully captured the insect in the vase and covered the open end with my backboard to prevent escape, I made my way for the great outdoors. As I did, I talked to the little creature, saying that it would only be a moment longer and all would be well. The hornet continued to struggle, thinking itself caught. As I reached a safe distance from my gallery door, I removed the backboard and released the hornet into the air. It was free. A thought occurred to me as I watched it fly away that it might be a similar feeling of loving compassion our Mother/Father/God, our Higher Self or our guardian angels have as they guide us through our trials and tribulations here on Earth. The hornet didn't know that in it's capture, I was bringing it to freedom. It only felt the confinement of the glass. Sometimes we may think we are blocked and feel there is no way out, but who's to say there are not unseen forces capturing us from unpleasant fates and circumstances and gently carrying us to freedom. As we breathe a sigh of relief at our eventual escape, know that we are not alone. Give thanks where thanks are due." - Raphaella Vaisseau, Journal, 03.11.05

When hearts are open, and vibrations are in sync, human interaction can be so perfect and beautiful. Whatever the catalyst, heart-to-heart sharing is important. It allows growth, understanding, and beauty to be present, be felt, and to flourish. I appreciate the opportunities I have every day to interact with my beautiful fans and collectors of my Heartful Art. I sincerely thank you for blessing me with your support, and honoring me with your sharing. - Raphaella Vaisseau

Affirming the World We Want with Words and Heartful Art by Raphaella Vaisseau

Affirmations work. Words are powerful. What we affirm we can strive for until our believing makes it so. Words and positive self-talk became forever tools in the tool-box I use to navigate life in 1975 when I first read "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale. I was in Lowell, Massachusetts at the time and around that time I had a powerful change of consciousness and began my quest for spiritual knowing. I learned more about affirmation while reading the 1963 edition of Joseph Murphy's book, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind."

Recently I've discovered the importance of feeling in the practice of affirmation. Yet this is not new information to the already initiated, as Thoreau wrote in his journal, vol. 3 on April 22, 1851, "It is not the invitation which I hear, but which I feel, that I obey."

In the old days I'd write an affirmation and repeat it 100 times a day for 32 days in a row. It was a powerful exercise. Now I simply live affirmations on a daily basis, loving the words that surround me as I work. I enjoy the quotations and color that fill me as I create positive, life-affirming art to assist you and everyone in having a great life and great relationships.

As Lewis Mehl-Madrona said, "Every thought is a prayer, and every prayer is answered". Remember, any thought can be replaced by a new thought in each moment. So, don't get hung up on challenges. Rather, switch your focus to something you love, and find a feeling that is the essence of that. Go with the flow, and your emotions will lift. Surround yourself with positive words and positive people. Abraham-Hicks teaches that fighting against something makes it stronger, so instead be FOR what you love - in your self, in others, and in the world. Namaste. - Raphaella Vaisseau

A Day Exploring Boca Grande with Friends

Living in Florida, with so much beauty surrounding me every day as I look out the windows of my home studio as I work, or run an errand near the beach, I sometimes forget to take a day off to spend quality time with friends and explore a local travel destination. Thursday, February 7th, I did just that.

My friends John, Stan, Shirl, and I drove to Boca Grande for lunch, and to explore the exotic little town on Gasparilla Island. Although it's located less than 30 miles and a short 45-minute drive from home, I hadn't ventured there in the four years since moving to Venice in the fall of 2008.

We lunched at Temptations, walked under tree canopies on Banyan Street, explored shops and galleries, and enjoyed walking and talking while we shopped and photographed beach architecture, flowers, churches, their golf cart transportation (for pups), and life on the island. I was thrilled to discover the art of Del-Bourree Bach at the Hughes Gallery on Park Street in the little downtown. See more photos for a glimpse of our day. - Raphaella Vaisseau

"Loving you is blessing me" by Raphaella Vaisseau - a Valentine and more

Here's a new 8x10 matted, colorful print of the "almost famous" love affirmation I created decades ago to express the joy received when loving someone or something unconditionally: "Loving you is blessing me."

As a student of spiritual enlightenment, I've been working with the concepts of law of attraction, karma, and the circle of life for a long time. The up side of the Law of Cause and Effect (what you put out comes back to you) is that it includes the good stuff as well as the not-so-good.

Whether you believe in karma or not, let your feelings be your guide. Doesn't it feel great inside of you when you are centered in your heart and sharing your love unconditionally? You betcha!

Not only is this a great Valentine, but it is a happy addition to the walls of any baby nursery or child's room. It's a present for anyone, any time that you'd like to remind that you love them, and you are totally enjoying giving the gift of love to them.

Live in the present moment. Notice the joy in loving. And, know I am blessed by loving you, my family, friends, and fans.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

Review of 2012 and Declaration for 2013 in the life of Raphaella Vaisseau

Each year, late in December, I review the past 12 months and declare what I want to create for myself in the New Year. These reviews are a gift to myself and are all about me and my life. I believe we each have a part to play in the dance of life, and this review is about my part. As I see it, the world will take care of itself. My job is to play my part the best I can, so I can hold up my end. I love the life I've been given. I gratefully use it to learn, grow, express, share, and love even more.

2012, a year of Freedom, was a great one for me. I said yes to myself in many areas of my life, producing breakthroughs in family relationship, quest for adventure, financial stability, and manifesting greater success in business. Perseverance, focus, determination, and a vigilant adherence to keeping my thoughts (and thus my vibration) on what I want more of were keynotes of this win-win year. Practice, practice, practice. Breathe in, breathe out. Expand and simplify. Be happy.

Sound too simple to be true? Maybe. Nevertheless, it works for me. It's more proactive than accepting reality and going with the flow. And a good amount of faith and trust are involved. Which leads to ... more practice.

Since I first heard Abraham-Hicks discuss vibration in 2008, I lifted myself up, embraced life as a grand adventure, and set about to understand the law of attraction. I love the game of it all. Playing the game is a moment to moment choice of noticing my feelings, acknowledging, and self-correcting.

I use everything as an opportunity to uplift me, and make me stronger. I look at the beauty that appears all around me. If I'm feeling a negative emotion, I think of my kitten. The very thought of her perfect little furry face, and her tiny paws reaching out to touch mine never fail to bring me back to the center of what's important. This year I've taken giant steps in learning to refrain from telling old stories (of things I prefer not to attract, of grids I prefer not to activate) and instead, speak affirming, positive words, think happy thoughts, and focus on the good.

As I continue expanding and simplifying in 2013, I am expecting even greater accomplishment. 2013 is a six year in the 9-year cycle of numerology. It's all about creating balance, security and reliability. I've been working up to this one. After a year of freedom, travel and pushing out, I'm ready for a year of refining, organizing, and simplifying the home front. At the same time, I am preparing for even more expansion in the future by manifesting a new office environment and investing in new, amazing equipment for my business. It's the next logical step for me. As my business success continues, I'm moving in the direction of having employees again, and the first step for me might be to ease into it with an intern.

Etsy is amazing. Again a game. If you're an artist or a creative type, I hope you have an Etsy store. I'm breaking all kinds of records every month with sales and opportunity generated from Etsy. In 2013, I plan to expand and develop my Etsy store even further. Plus, I plan to update heartfulart.com, master Pinterest and Tumblr, and then explore whatever new technology comes about with all our geniuses on the planet. "Etc." is a keynote for life, don't you think?

Another beautiful thing that happened in 2012 was a shift in my consciousness around food and the environment. Thanks to the Transition Movement and UU's Environmental Film Festival last March, I shifted to a greater awareness of the vast changes sweeping our globe and the myriad possibilities, solutions, people, countries, and corporations doing work to take care of what's next. I've been composting since April and made many dietary changes as well. My dream of creating an intentional community of artists, writers, gardeners, builders, and other creative types is gaining momentum. As I continue reducing my debt over the coming two years, by 2015 I expect to be making plans and bringing that project into reality. In the late 70s, I lived in a spiritual ashram in Minnesota with 18 like-minded people on the same path and I loved it. So, I know it will work for me. Community is one of my favorite things. Community with individual spaces. Fun to think about.

Life is good. Happy New Year. Where have you been, and where are you going in 2013? Let me know.      - Raphaella Vaisseau 12-31-12

Nature's Art (and Music) on Caspersen Beach in Venice Florida - by Raphaella Vaisseau

It's always beautiful at Caspersen Beach in Venice, Florida. I've experienced the beauty there many times since moving to the Gulf Coast almost four years ago. I have often said it feels to me like I'm walking in a watercolor painting when I'm there. Yesterday I had the same visual feast as I usually do, but it was the sounds, and my hearing, that awakened more fully during my walk.

Perhaps it was because only a scattering of humans were there. It's off-season here, and it was dinner time. I had just rushed downtown to the post office to get the day's Heartful Art orders in the mail before closing. As I left the post office and got into the van I love so much, I felt especially free and happy from the day's work. As I asked myself, where should I go from here, I remembered I still needed to get my daily walk in, so I decided to go the extra couple of miles to Caspersen.

It must have been dragonfly dinnertime too. As I drove on the road to the beach, a million dragonflies swarmed all around my van. I happen to love dragonflies, so I slowed way down to 10 mph so I wouldn't harm them in their frenzied flight. It was an awesome sight.

After parking and leaving my shoes in the van, I found my way to the beach. The quietness was evident right away. The surf was calm; the waves gently lapped the shore. No wind or crashing water this time. As I walked, I enjoyed the shore birds feeding; witnessed pelicans diving for fish with power, beauty, and graceful accuracy; and noticed egrets intently focused on the water around the moss-covered rocks on which they were perched.

I listened as I walked, and as I did my senses awakened even further. I heard the sound water makes as it sifts thru shells and fine sand as the surf moves out from shore. Like a subtle tinkling of a percussive musical instrument of some kind that I couldn't identify. I walked through nature's artwork that is Caspersen Beach and was treated as well to nature's concerto.

Filled with appreciation for the ability to see and hear these beautiful things, I completed my time on the beach, which felt more like a meditation than exercise. Actually, it was both. I walked on the shell-strewn sand toward where my van was parked. After brushing the sand from my feet, and putting on my shoes, I drove again on the beach road. I watched for the dragonflies, but they had settled down and had pretty much finished their snacking. Nighttime. Time for home.
- Raphaella Vaisseau

Venice on Dwellable

Lady Gaga Defines Living Out Loud and Inspires Me to Express Even More of Who I Am

Up until now, I've never actually listened to Lady Gaga's music. When I've seen clips of her performances on the news or at awards shows, I've mostly been fascinated by the amazing costumes, dramatic staging, the LOOK of everything - thinking how brave she must be to express herself like she does. Thus being so preoccupied, I completely missed her music.

Intrigued, and looking for something to read on a New Years Eve flight to Arizona, I found Lisa Robinson's article in Vanity Fair (Jan 2012), "In Lady Gaga's Wake" which I enjoyed very much. I came away with even more respect for this woman, and even more of a curiosity about what it takes for a person to be so brave, so free, and so strong to express herself so fully.

To live my life fully and express who I am is the very thing I've been efforting to do in my own life for decades. One of my transcendentalist heroes, Henry David Thoreau says, "If I am not I, who will be?" Not, who will I be, but who will be ME if I am not. It's this that has continuously pushed me to take another step into myself and pull out a greater expression of me. Time and time again.

When another heroine of mine, Oprah Winfrey, interviewed Lady Gaga and her mother for the Oprah's Next Chapter show, which airs on OWN TV, I watched with eagerness to learn more. I was not disappointed.

The segment began with the launch of the Born This Way Foundation at Harvard. "Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, the Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2011 to foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a safe community that helps connect young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a kinder, braver world." Pillars of the Foundation appear to the right. Click on the image to see it on the foundation's website where they provide a link to download a printable copy for yourself and ways to get involved.

Throughout the two hours of Oprah's Next Chapter interview, I continued to be inspired with insight into the life and expression of the woman who is Lady Gaga. It is her desire to empower everyone she meets with the courage to be themselves and to know in their hearts they are not only OK, but phenomenal. Including me.

As much as I've grown, learned, and accomplished in my life, I sometimes feel it's too late for me to break through the barriers I still feel hold me back. I often wish that as a child I had had the tools to stand tall in who I am, the power to speak up for my beliefs, and the courage to plunge forward into the world to express the dreams of my heart. These are the very things Lady Gaga offers to us all. During the interview with Oprah, Lady Gaga's mother, Cynthia, read the beginning of a fan letter they'd received recently: "Dear Germanotta Family and Born This Way Foundation, I'm a 66 year old grandmother that dances around the kitchen to Stephanie's music ..." Maybe it's not too late for me, after all.

Fully appreciating Lady Gaga's beautiful spirit and gifts, I'll watch the interview again. Then I'll listen to her music, listening for more clues, and I'll bravely take one more step to express myself more fully in the world, to share my gifts in a bigger way, and to simply BE who I am.
-Raphaella Vaisseau