"Activism, GMOs, and the Law of Attraction" by Raphaella Vaisseau

I believe in choice and free will. However, as I've become aware of the introduction of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) into our food supply, I've learned from the Institute for Responsible Technology and other sources that "the FDA does not even require the labeling of GMOs in food ingredient lists." Thus, until GMO labeling is required, the choice to avoid GMOs is not an easy option for consumers in the US.

Making a difference matters to me, and contributing to the greater good is important to me, as it is to many people. Several years ago, Gregory M. Lamb wrote in the Christian Science Monitor: "Nearly nine in 10 [Americans] (85 percent) agree they can make the world a better place through their actions, 91 percent say it's important that individuals get involved in positive social change, and 77 percent say getting involved is personally important to them, according to a [2011] survey of more than 2,000 American adults conducted by Walden University, an online university, and Harris Interactive, a market research firm."

At the same time, I believe in the Law of Attraction, that where a person puts his or her attention will attract more of the same. So it would follow that fighting against something would make it stronger. How then can one navigate this universal law to effect change? How does activism mesh with the Law of Attraction. These are questions I've been pondering of late.

Much of my Heartful Art inspires people to stand tall, speak up, be brave, and walk the talk of whatever it is each person believes. Marianne Williamson's words from A Return to Love speak to the power we each have when we "let our own light shine."

Perhaps the key in this instance (instead of fighting against Monsanto and similar companies who have been creating genetically engineered food for over 20 years) is to focus on what I want more of, which is to have mandatory labeling of products containing genetically modified organisms in the US.

According to The Center for Food Safety, 64 countries around the world currently require labeling of genetically engineered food. I would like the US to be on that list. Labels offer consumers the choice to buy GE food or not. To join in this effort, or to learn more about this issue and "let Washington know that Americans want labeling of genetically engineered foods" explore Just Label It.
- Raphaella Vaisseau

I Can Do It! Tampa 2011 - Part Two: Louise Hay et al

November 11-13, 2011 I attended an I Can Do It! Hay House Conference in Tampa, Florida with two of my friends Joanie and Elaine. (Note: If you missed Part One of my experience of the Conference, read about it here: I Can Do It! Tampa 2011: Part One: Marianne Williamson.)

Wayne Dyer gave the keynote presentation on the first evening in which he encouraged us to treasure our magnificence, live from the end, and assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled. Live from the place as if it were already an accomplished fact.

Much of what was said served to remind me of what I already knew to be true. Yet it was exhilarating to be in the presence of many of my favorite authors – people who are my role models, people who to my way of thinking are walking their talk. Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson have a new book out, You Can Create An Exceptional Life. They were adorable as they talked about mirror work (positive self talk while looking at yourself in the mirror), and shared hints and tips of how they live their lives. One of my favorite take-away affirmations is one Louise has had in her bathroom (directly across from the toilet) for decades, "I bless and prosper everyone in my world and everyone in my world blesses and prospers me."

Doreen Virtue is always a pleasure to experience. Sweet vessel of light, she works with angels assisting people. You can participate in her weekly call-in show on hayhouseradio.com every Wednesday or listen to rebroadcasts throughout the week.

Saturday evening's keynote presentation was from Gregg Braden, "bridging science and spirituality." He talked of history, assumptions of science, Heart Math and the Global Coherence Initiative and purported that "strong collective emotion has a measurable impact on the earth's geomagnetic field." The main point I came away with from this session is that cooperation is key. Choose love. Choose cooperation.

Carolyn Myss opened Day 3 of the Conference and spoke of prayer and grace. Her prayer is, "God, give me the courage to see You in everybody." And in difficult situations, she prays "Keep me in a field of grace." The graces include 1) a sense of Reverence (my life is holy), 2) Piety (see the divine in others), 3)Understanding (having empathy), 4) Fortitude (courage to do what I know in my heart is the truth), 5) Counsel (not to betray myself), 6) Knowledge (sacred truth, revelation), and 7) Wisdom (wise choices, holy force moving through me).

Debbie Ford was next, and is the author of The Dark Side of the Light Chasers, which I can personally vouch for as a life altering read. I first experienced her transformational work in a televised workshop on Wisdom TV around 2001, so I was very excited about being in the room with her in Tampa. First she shared the opening of her movie, The Shadow Effect. Then she walked us through a few exercises so the participants could have an experience of embracing the shadow, and thus having a breakthrough. Her belief is that "when we fall in love with our dark side, it becomes a part of our light." There is only love, she says.

Already filled with inspiration and insight from the motivating speakers I journeyed on. Joan Borysenko's latest book is about burnout and appropriately titled Fried. She listed stages of burnout and steps you can take to recover. If you're emotionally exhausted, working too hard, have diminished self care, and start isolating, you may be in burnout and this book could help. A take-away for me was to ask myself what revitalizes me and put what I love first. Figure out a way to fit it in. Doing this will increase the total amount of energy that I have. She suggested we be mindful of what the energy of aliveness feels like and do more of that. Ah, more food for the soul.

Last but not least was Marianne Williamson, who gave the final keynote talk. It was with Marianne that my I Can Do It! Conference began on Friday, and I was eager to hear more from her. She began with a prayer to be a vessel of love and then explained, "Just as the absence of light is darkness, the absence of love is fear." She urged us to be willing to see things differently and accept that everything people say to us is either love or a call for love. Interesting, she said, that the word communicate has the word commune within it. Her daily prayer each morning is "for the happiness of everyone I interact with today." Make everything spiritual. If you're going to make a call, make it to be a blessing for the person you're calling. Send love to them in advance. Ask self, "Where am I not as loving as I could be? Where am I not as much of a blessing as I could be?" Then have a change of heart. Say to God, "What can I do for you?" Marianne ended with asking the audience to turn to each other and repeat Namaste as "The love in me salutes the love in you." She encouraged us to do this throughout each day as we walk in the world. So that is my intention. That, and incorporating all of the wisdom and insight I gained in this fabulous 3-day experience with these great teachers into my daily life.

Namaste.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

I Can Do It! Tampa 2011 - Part One: Marianne Williamson

As promised, I Can Do It! Tampa energized my mind, body and spirit. I attended the 3-day conference with my friends, Joanie and Elaine. We stayed at the Marriott, across the street from the Tampa Convention Center where we enjoyed a 12th floor view from our balcony and comfy beds. Happy for our girlfriend time together and anticipating enlightenment, we attended keynote speakers, various conference workshops, and breakout sessions, and rejoiced in the inspiration available to us. After each event, we shared our insights and breakthroughs over salad, oatmeal, or rice curry and vegetables.

My three-day journey began on 11-11-11 with an all-day workshop with Marianne Williamson. Her newest book, A Course in Weight Loss, offered sound advice, practical exercises and plenty of revelations to me personally. I immediately saw the wisdom of embracing healthier eating, and intend to work through the book’s 21 chapters on my own, or with a small group of women in Venice starting in January 2012.

Marianne taught us that “every moment gives us an opportunity to rise to the occasion of our higher selves” and challenged us to consider “any thought that is not love is fear” and “any thought that does not support my perfection is an attack.” Throughout the three days of the conference this theme in different words was interwoven from various speakers as a deeper understanding of the importance of self love.

That first morning in Tampa, as I listened and participated in the Course in Weight Loss exercises, I felt a shift within me. My journey of self-love and conscious healing of my inner child began forty years ago in the seventies when I found a path to spiritual awakening. Yet, here in this workshop with Marianne Williamson, another layer of onion was being peeled; another petal of the perpetually opening lotus blossom opened, and I glimpsed further within.

Already the price of the conference admission was worth it, and I had just begun.
-Raphaella Vaisseau
P.S. Click here for slide show of my 3-day experience at I Can Do It! Tampa, November  11-13, 2011

IONS Institute of Noetic Sciences - Resources and Inspiration for Good

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