Meditation is Life - Heartful Art by Raphaella Vaisseau

I was asked today to share how I built my meditation practice.
Here's my answer:
     Currently, my life is a meditation. I meditate off and on throughout every day, while walking in nature, waiting in a checkout line etc. It started in 1975 with a 6-week enlightenment experience I had while traveling from Minneapolis to Niagara Falls, across upstate New York in the most glorious autumn ever, to Boston, and back to Minneapolis. The intention I declared to the Universe was, among other things (like a closer relationship with my daughter and making new friends) to have greater spiritual inner awareness. A longer story than this, but the final message from the Universe to me at the end of the six weeks was, “Contact Anja. Her teacher will be the one to get you off of the planet.” (Exact words.) I knew Anja was a patient of mine at the dental office I worked at so I went to work, found her file, called her on the phone and asked, “What are you into. I have to know.” She invited me to an MSIA seminar she was hosting that night. I didn’t have a car at that time but I took 3 buses and walked several blocks to get there. I was cautious about the seminar but it seemed straightforward to me so at the end of the evening I asked, “What’s next?” Someone suggested a little poetry book called, The Spiritual Promise, which I bought. I journeyed home and when I got there, not wanting to disturb the people whose home I was staying at, I sat on the floor under a tiny lamp to read. While I read the book my heart opened. So magical. I knew I was home. As Spirit would have it, MSIA is an acronym for Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (note the almost exact words I declared to the Universe). My conscious journey in multi-dimensional consciousness began that night, on November 15, 1975. Three months later I moved into an ashram in Minneapolis with 17 other MSIA students, including Anja who has been my best friend since then. She and I traveled the country singing our original spiritual folk music, thinking we were the very ones to bring in the New Age.
     I take my studies seriously, as you may know. The meditation I learned how to do was active, not trying to empty the mind but rather to chant tones and/or focus on breathing. The tones I started with were HU (God) or Ani-Hu (empathy with all creation). Two years later I received my 1st initiation, was given my own tone, and from that point through this day, I used/use my personal tones from that and future initiations. Living in a spiritual ashram made it easy to be consistent with meditation because we were all committed to spiritual enlightenment and were meditating at odd hours all the time. It was glorious. There was a period a few years later when I no longer lived in an ashram, and instead was married (to another MSIA student) when, after I claimed the meaning of devotion as “living out my vows” in the world, I made a commitment to meditate for 2 hours a day, which I did for 3 years.
     At a time when, a few years later still, after having moved to LA and deciding to leave my marriage, I found a lump in my breast that was cancer. The doctor gave me 10 years. I thought, wait! I don’t want to leave yet. In meditation I had strived to be one with God. Instead, I course corrected, changed everything about my life, continued my spiritual studies but in a more balanced way, and I started living my life for me, expressing who I am (rather than taking care of everyone else). My entire company was created after that point. I have been supporting myself with my art for over 25 years. Meditation now is like breathing. I pause and consciously sit to breathe my tones, but I also feel them always around me as I drift to sleep, wake up, be in nature, share with others, even while I’m working at the gallery. Meditation is life.

- Raphaella Vaisseau

Thirty-Five Years of Devotion to Spiritual Inner Awareness: 11-15-1975 through 11-15-2010

I'm celebrating today. It was 35 years ago today, on November 15, 1975, that I experienced a dramatic spiritual awakening and consciously began my journey of walking the path of soul transcendence. It's taken many forms over the years, and my personal devotion to my continued inner spiritual awakening has not wavered since then.

Celebrate with me in whatever way feels right to you - prayer, glass of wine, dance, sing, take a walk in nature, think of me, congratulate yourself on your own chosen spiritual path, do nothing, or ... whatever works for you.

Enjoy! With Love and Blessings, Raphaella

"Breathe in Breathe out" for Yoga practice destressing breathing meditation by Raphaella Vaisseau from Heartful Art as 2x3 magnet to 20x35 banner

Life can be as simple as breathing in and breathing out. Our breath can be the simplest of meditations in and of itself. A person can practice anywhere at any time by pausing to notice the rhythm of breathing in and breathing out. Inhale, exhale. In and out. One breath at a time. Slow it down. Breathe deeply. Relax. This focus on breathing can be an exercise in remembering to keep things in perspective. Keep it simple.

Meditation and breathing exercises are known to reduce anxiety and stress through relaxation. Yoga, a healing system practiced for more than 5,000 years, is a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation. Whether you are a student of yoga, a person interested in health and fitness, or a person under stress wanting to take better care of yourself, paying attention to your breathing is beneficial.

Sometimes a person needs a reminder to relax, slow down, breathe deeply, and keep things in perspective. Loved by yoga students, yoga teachers and all who practice meditation, stress reduction, or are interested in health, fitness, and well-being, this "Breathe in Breathe out" poster is just that - a good reminder, and beautiful as well. Raphaella's opening flower painting, like a mandala, can further inspire your journey to relax, slow down and go within. It's shown here as an 11 x 14 LG POSTER. It is also available as an 8-1/2 x 11 MED POSTER, a 5 x 7 SM POSTER, a 2 x 3 MAGNET, frameable MATTED PRINTS (quotations with mat - ready to frame) in 5 x 5, 5 x 7, and 8 x 10, and a 20 x 35 vinyl indoor BANNER for the wall of your favorite yoga studio.

Contemplating Happiness

In my organizing and dusting bookcases I came across a book by Richard Carlson "You Can Be Happy No Matter What." I've never read it but there is was on my bookshelf. I've been contemplating happiness for weeks in preparation for the upcoming Landmark Education Seminar by the same title, starting in September. This might be a good time to read a chapter or two.

His opening paragraph goes like this: "Happiness! It's something that all of us want but that few of us ever achieve. It is characterized by feelings of gratitude, inner peace, satisfaction, and affection for ourselves and for others. Our most natural state of mind is one of contentment and joy." 

-Raphaella Vaisseau

New Video from Abraham-Hicks: The Vortex

Abraham - as translated by Esther Hicks - recently gave the definitive explanation of what they mean when they talk about alignment with Source Energy.

At the end of the workshop, after spending a long segment with a workshop participant who was struggling with circumstances that seemed overwhelming, Abraham gave perhaps the most passionate and amazing rampage they have ever given. The emotional reaction of the workshop attendees confirmed its power as a touchstone for anyone wanting to know when they are in, and when they are out of, their Vortex of Creation - where the only reality that serves us truly exists.

Recorded on June 20, 2009, at an Abraham-Hicks Law of Attraction Workshop in Boston, Massachusetts.
For nearly 25 years Esther & Jerry Hicks have produced books, audio recordings and videos based on the Teachings of Abraham, and their latest book, entitled "The Vortex, is currently on the New York Times bestseller list.

Esther explains that when she speaks for Abraham, she is interpreting blocks of thought from Non-Physical Source Energy - which she also sometimes identifies as her "Soul". Esther doesn't use the word "channeling" to describe her process, since she is not in a trance and is not hearing a voice in her head. Rather, she has trained herself to verbally interpret the same unerring Inner Guidance that is available to all of us.

For more information, please view our YouTube video entitled "Abraham Explains Who They Are", or go to http://www.abraham-hicks.com and listen to the audio entitled "Introduction to Abraham", and explore the wealth of other information available there.

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.