Review of 2008 in the life of Raphaella Vaisseau

From discouragement to rebirth, what a great year 2008 turned out to be for me. Never one to get stuck in discouragement for long, and always the seeker, I found the fuel to reinvent myself. Again. I'm reminded of my favorite Alice Walker quote: “I thank God for the optimism of my Spirit”.

Early in the year, in an effort to lift myself up, I jumped with both feet into all forms of new sources of inspiration and spiritual study I could find: from Joel Osteen's weekly Lakewood Church television messages to books, services and study groups with Ernest Holmes' Church of Religious Science. By early spring I'd discovered the live broadcasts of Louise Hay's www.hayhouseradio.com which eventually led me to the magnificent work of Jerry & Ester Hicks and the teachings of Abraham. My “ah-ha” moment came in April when I understood a new interpretation of vibration and thought. From when I claimed myself as an artist back in 1981, I've known that my intention while creating art was integral to the outcome. It's why changing my last name to Vaisseau (vessel of light) was so meaningful to me, and why I committed myself to painting from my heart not my head. Abraham affirmed this in a discussion of vibration, saying “The vibrational imprint of what I give to a painting is more important than the image itself.” In listening to the hour-long seminar, the mathematical part of my brain awakened to a new understanding that “whatever I'm giving my attention to generates a vibration.” Everything has a vibration: every action, every thought, everybody.

I started paying attention to my vibration, to how I was feeling and to what I was giving my attention to. I learned that a belief is simply a thought we keep thinking and to change a belief we need to change the way we think. I learned we can only deactivate a thought by activating a new thought which replaces it. I began to practice, practice, practice. Results immediately appeared in my life which fueled even further study.

I embraced Abraham's mantra that “life is supposed to be fun” and set about finding a new place to live where I could create the next adventure in my life and my business. I picked Venice, Florida and moved there in the fall of 2008. Since then, I've met many new friends, I am enjoying the beauty of Florida, and I am enjoying the satisfaction that discovery affords. After two years, I've moved through the stages of grief I experienced as a result of the closure of Heartful Art Gallery in Sausalito in October of 2006, and have now moved on. I thought I would be there for the rest of my life, but alas, it wasn't to be. Inspired by the wisdom of Abraham, I am now seeing life as a grand adventure and I am embracing every experience as an opportunity for expansion and growth. I love where I am. For me, 2008 was a great success.

Playing for Change (peace through music)

Wow. A friend (Fe) just sent me this video and, after I enjoyed her gift of words and listened to the music, I checked out their website: http://www.playingforchange.com/ - "Playing For Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music." Take a listen, check out their website, and join if you want.

Long and Winding Road - Wild Locks photo

complacency,
originally uploaded by wild locks.

From Wild Locks on Flickr - I love pathways because they symbolize the journey of life - the path we are all on together. This is particularly beautiful to me because the foliage is so lush green and the path goes through such a thick forest. Inviting, restful, mysterious and more.

Magical Sky Blessing from Hanna L.

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originally uploaded by Hanna L..

Beautiful Christmas blessing too. Happy Christmas Eve everyone.

New from Abraham-Hicks: Natural Weight Loss

If you want more, pre-order your 2-cd or dvd sets here.

Path to Dog Park

This is something you don't see in Minnesota, California or Oregon. Can you read the sign by the bridge? "Beware of Alligators" - It's on the path going to the Paw-Paw Dog Park on Venice Beach here in Florida.




I am thoroughly enjoying my grand adventure. See more photos on my Flickr site.

Wood Stork in Venice

I've never seen a Wood Stork before. I saw this bird on Thanksgiving Day at a pond in Venice, FL. I posted it on Flickr and a nice and knowledgeable person told me what kind of a bird it is. For me, it's a sign of healthy babies for everyone!!! Love to all the babies.

An Abraham perspective on Wall St. and Economics with Jerry & Esther Hicks

Simple wisdom, brilliant truth.

Enjoy!

Oprah's Post-Election Gift of Song "We Need Each Other Right Now"

It was fun to watch Oprah's Post-Election Special Show today after Obama's historic Presidential win. Here's a song she gave us all to share with our friends: BeBe Winans and Friends singing, "We Need Each Other Right Now". It will be available on itunes tomorrow. Enjoy!

Itty Bitty Titty Committee

Amazing indie film about feminist activists, directed by Jamie Babbit. I LOVED IT!!! Get it from Netflix. Here's a pic of the zine from the film, which could have been a page from my old zine, Women Voices, which I published while living in LA in the mid-90's along with Revenge T-shirts and End Violence Against Women greeting cards. The whole movie was a hoot - and a page from my life in West Hollywood. Click here to buy your own copy of Itty Bitty Titty Committee.

New Online Audio Visual Dictionary

clipped from news.yahoo.com Wordia.com offers everyone the chance to record and upload a video of themselves defining their chosen word in a complete democratization of the language that will have Samuel Johnson, the compiler of the first dictionary, turning in his grave.

Wow. Maybe this will inspire me to get a webcam.

Numerology

I'm packing for my move to Venice, Florida next week and found a page I'd taped to my kitchen wall last New Year's Day. It's the write up for 2008 being my #1 Personal Year, the beginning of a new nine-year cycle. Briefly, it said things like "important new beginning" "What you do this year will influence the course of events in your life for the next eight years" "new direction ... for long-range project" "by October your new direction will begin to emerge" --- voila! I hadn't read this since then but it was in April I started searching for a new city, May when I connected with Serenity Gardens in Venice, June when I checked out the possibilities and I make the actual move next week on Sept 26th. I will be in my new home by Oct. 1st and ready to begin!!! I've been feeling a shift in the focus of my work as well. I am excited to see how this all unfolds. How the change impacts my creativity and where I go from here. What fun!!!

shadow dancers

shadow dancers,
originally uploaded by pleaseEnjoy.

My daughter's new family honeymooning in Hawaii.

San Francisco Street Scene

Truck-Castro1,
originally uploaded by heartfulart.

Here's a photo of a rusty old truck parked in the Castro district of SF. I'll be leaving this Bay Area in 3 weeks and heading for the Southern Bay Area - south of Tampa in Venice, Florida on the Gulf Coast. I'm posting this memory shot of my walks through the City by the Bay. I will keep in touch.

Octotillo Twilight - by rejuvesite

Octotillo Twilight,
originally uploaded by rejuvesite.

Isn't this a BEAUTIFUL photo? I've been browsing flickr to find images for my Virtual Reality practice - places I can go to in my mind to feel my connection to Source.

Abraham-Hicks Virtual Reality Exercise - Day 2

Yesterday was a success. I thought of about 10 VR sites to spend 30-seconds in throughtout my day. My goal is to make my dominant vibrations thoughts of my choosing instead of random. I believe this will allow a feeling of well-being to be my dominant life experience. Having spent 30 years doing meditation and visualization using affirmations, words and images, it's taking a little practice to simple "pick a place" and go there to feel inspired in the moment.

Here's me in 1976 at the top of Trail Ridge Drive in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado with gull perched on my outstretched hand. What a thrill for me!

The grand experiment continues.

Virtual Reality and the Teachings of Abraham

My whole life changed (once again) late in April '08 when I listened to Ester Hicks & the Abraham-Hicks "Ask and it is Given" seminar on hayhouseradio.com. Since then I have been studying the Art of Allowing and Deliberate Creation by listening to their seminars as often as possible. They have their own website and video clips of their seminars on their AbrahamHicks youtube blog. Today I've begun a 30-day commitment to including as many meditations of virtual reality throughout my day as I remember to do so, so that my dominant thoughts and vibration are about allowing the stream of well-being that is my true nature. Check it out their material if you're so inclined.

Glynis McCants - The Power of 8

Today on www.hayhouseradio.com I listened to the final minutes of Glynis McCants' show , "Glynis has your number". A caller shared her success with "The Power of 8" from Glynis' book so I immediately went to her website to get the facts. Here's what she recommends: "The number 8 encourages financial security. I have had many clients put an 8 in their wallet, and just leave it in there. Next thing you know, they get a check out of the blue that they were not expecting, or they get a surprise promotion. The bottom line is that it does increase the prosperity in their life. I suggest you print out or write the number 8 on a piece of paper, put it in your wallet, and forget about it. You might want to put an 8 up on the wall where you pay your bills. You are simply letting the universe know that you are ready for more financial prosperity in your life. I have had hundreds of emails from people telling their story of financial success by doing this. If you want to speed up the process, I suggest you start repeating the following affirmation no less than 15 minutes a day and you will get results."
"I pay my bills with ease, and I always have extra money"

Raphaella's art on CafePress products

I discovered CafePress yesterday and immediately started building a storefront called "Raphaella's Heartful Art". I have only uploaded one image so far: Heart for Life which is available on note cards and on a canvas tote bag. What fun!!! I've had many requests for greeting cards of my posters, so if you have a favorite one you'd like to purchase, shoot me an e-mail telling me what product you'd like that poster on and I will upload the image for you on the products of your choice. At least I think that's how this might work. As usual, I'm making one choice at a time.

Hay House Radio

Have you listened to Hay House Radio? I tuned in last week at the start of The Mary and Heather Show, and heard them say "Today is Shameless Plug Friday so if you have a business you'd like us to applaud, give us a call." I immediately dialed into the show and shared Heartful Art on air with their many listeners. After my "shameless plug" I listened to the rest of the show and discovered more of what they're up to with MomsTown: helping entrepreneurial moms make money. Check it out if you're a mom with a business. And listen in to Hay House radio for more great shows by all the Hay House authors like Wayne Dyer, Debbie Ford, Louise Hay, Denise Linn, Cheryl Richardson, Doreen Virtue, Esther & Jerry Hicks plus much, much more. Podcasts, live shows, links, conferences. They have just about everything you could want to inspire you and spark ideas for self awareness, positive life change and encouragement. I'm making it a part of my day.

Heartful Art's Wedding Quotes featured in New Age Retailer magazine

Spring is on the way. If you now a bride who is busy planning her wedding, you may be interested in the many blessings we have available online. Also, we have a page where many options are listed for gifts, wedding favors and custom orders. Click here to check it out.

Heartful Art highlighted in Reno's Lakeside Community Church "Connections"

Reno, Nevada's Lakeside Community Church included Heartful Art in their Winter newsletter. Check out the whole issue on their website www.lccreno.org. They're up to some amazing things this year, including an ecology ministry and new ways to support each other in spiritual growth. Besides our regular line of New Thought products, Heartful Art created a poster using the words of Rev. Liesa Leggett Garcia. Click here to see it online.

2008 - Year of Expectancy

2007 completes a 9-year cycle for me, beginning while I was still in Ashland, Oregon and includes the move to the Bay Area in 2000, the six years of having a gallery in Sausalito, and the shifting of Heartful Art's business model from retail to wholesale in the fall of 2006. This New Year of 2008 begins a new 9-year cycle which will be a Manifestation of Right Thinking and the Realization of Imagined Possibilities. I've declared 2008 a Year of Expectancy. I am keeping my mind on thoughts of happiness. I radiate joy and I am filled with faith, hope and expectancy. Like Jewel, I am expecting miracles around every corner and through every door, with every phone call, and every new day. I believe in God, and I never waver in my belief. I expect the best. I give thanks for all the blessings in my life. Everything in my life is a blessing.