Unconditional Living and the Law of Attraction - New Heartful Art by Raphaella Vaisseau

What is unconditional living? Students of the Law of Attraction believe that what a person thinks, says, and does creates a vibration that attracts more of the same. Like attracts like.

Everything in the Universe is vibration. Some vibrations are higher than others. The more a person is in alignment with the vibrational essence of their desire, the more likely it is to manifest. Abraham-Hicks teaches that we each have an "emotional guidance system" (our feelings) within us that is our indicator of how close we are to vibrational sameness with our desires. This is key. When we feel negative emotions, such as sadness, fear, or worry, we are separating ourselves from that which we want, and, because we are on different vibrational wavelengths from our desires, they cannot manifest.

If everything in our world is vibration, and higher vibrations get me closer to God as well as manifesting my desires, I want my vibrations to be as high as possible every minute of every day. All year in 2014 so far, I've been waking up in the morning with the intention to pick a word that resonates with me for the day that can keep me on a high vibration. I pick words like confidence, exhilaration, clarity, happiness, appreciation, and hundreds more, and I write them on a chart I have on the wall. When I began, more than eight months ago staying aligned with the high vibration of the word I picked for the day was more of an effort, but now, with practice, it is easier.

We've all heard the phrase "unconditional loving" and many people strive to practice it. In my studies, I've been practicing unconditional living. I don't want to feel happy just when good things happen, I want to feel happy all the time. I don't want to feel clarity just when I've had a good night's sleep or a great cup of coffee, I want to know clarity and have access to it all the time.

The practice of unconditional living is something that has evolved for me over the past couple of weeks as I've made a point to notice when I'm happy or sad and why. I observe if something happened to affect my mood, and yes or no, I've made a deliberate effort to stay on, or get back on, the higher vibration regardless of what happened or what is going on. As an example of what this might look like in real life, before I go to the mailbox, where I often find checks waiting for me, I remind myself that I intend to stay in a good mood either way, checks or no checks. That's just one example. But perhaps you get the idea.

I created this Feel Good poster to put on my wall to remind me to do just that - Feel Good regardless of conditions. Besides, I love it so much, it makes me feel good. So, I'm happy to share it with you too. You can click on the poster to go to my etsy shop where you can buy it if you'd like. Enjoy it, share it if you'd like, and feel good.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

ERA: Speak Up and Support New Efforts to Pass the Equal Rights Amendment with Heartful Art by Raphaella Vaisseau

In 1923, Alice Paul authored the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Amazingly, it remains unpassed to this day.

According to a July 24, 2014 Ms. Magazine blog post by Stephanie Hallett, new legislation has been proposed by two US Congresswomen, Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Jackie Speier (D-CA), to finally get this thing passed.

The text of the ERA consists of 24 words: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Click here to purchase Raphaella's version of the ERA as an 11x14 poster on Etsy. To support your activism on this issue, volume discounts and smaller versions of this artwork are available. Mail copies to your congressional representatives and ask them to support this important legislation.

Share this news with your friends. Join the congresswomen, Ellie Smeal (Feminist Majority President and publisher of Ms.), Terry O'Neill (NOW President), and other leaders and activists in stepping up.

Speak out. The time is now. Pass the ERA.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

Nature's Magnificent Beauty: Being at Caspersen Beach by Raphaella Vaisseau (heartfulart.com)

Ten minutes from where I live is a magnificent sandy beach that I love. Constantly changing, constantly moving, alive with manta rays, dolphins, sea horses, sand crabs, seagulls, blue herons, egrets, eagles, and more, Caspersen Beach never ceases to uplift and thrill me with its beauty. See more pictures on Flickr  from an hour spent here recently. Follow @heartfulart on Instagram for glimpses of life in southwestern Florida, including many visits to the Gulf.

Thoreau captures the beauty of our world in his timeless book, Walden: "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." I wish you the best of days as you walk on this beautiful planet.

- Raphaella Vaisseau

Wise Words of Henry David Thoreau on Heartful Art by Raphaella Vaisseau

This lesser-known quote from the beloved transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, speaks to me: "Every leaf and twig was this morning covered with a sparkling ice armor; even the grasses in exposed fields were hung with innumerable diamond pendants, which jingled merrily when brushed by the foot of the traveler. It was literally the wreck of jewels and the crash of gems ..." Every day as I marvel at the extraordinary beauty of this world we live in, I hear Thoreau's words in my heart and head.

I love nature with a passion. I am a seeker, devoted to aligning myself with my best and highest expression of the gift of life and the world we live in. One day, years ago, during a spiritual retreat in Minnesota, we were given an exercise to go outside and find something in nature that reflects who we are. We were given an hour to do this. When the facilitator said to start, I rushed out the door and ran full speed down a country road in the woods, thinking that by getting first to the farthest place, I would be the one to find the treasured thing. I searched frantically for something meaningful. Not finding anything, I was fearful that the time would be up and I wouldn't have discovered the perfect thing I wanted.

It was then a glimpse of a beautiful flower flashed momentarily through my mind. I had rushed past it being first out the door. I turned around and walked back to the beginning, to the building, and there it was, just to the right of the door: a magnificent flower unfurling it's beautiful self. I knew this was the thing I was looking for. I found it and it had been right there all along. I wouldn't have had to go farther than one foot from where I'd started my quest. Again, I heard Thoreau's words in my heart and mind, and understood: "Such is beauty ever, neither here nor there, neither in Rome nor in Athens, but wherever there is a soul to admire. If I seek her elsewhere because I do not find her at home, my search will prove a fruitless one."

The power of the universe is within each one of us. The beauty and wisdom of the ages is inside of me and you, and it is available to us, should we choose to turn the key to and open the door of our hearts, and use the power of our minds. As wonderful, beneficial, and helpful it might be to travel to faraway places, take another seminar, read another book, find another teacher, if we are doing that in order to find the piece that's missing in our own selves, we will not find it. We must first know we are a magnificent creation and the power, beauty, and majesty lie within. Know the truth and the answers are inside.

Look within. Discover the ever-unfolding miracle of being. Step out into the world with the knowing that you, me, and all of us are equal parts of the magnificent creation of our glorious world. What you find, and me as well, will amaze us even more.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

"What's Right For You, What's Right For Me" by Raphaella Vaisseau

     Our world is diverse: diverse in climate, terrain, topography, animal life, culture, and in our human family. Diversity is a big part of what makes this experience of life here on Earth so interesting and beautiful. Tolerance of diversity is essential to freedom. However, tolerance, as important as it is, is only the first step.
     The next step is taking a look at the differences among us and celebrating them. Yes, celebrate, even adore. It's noticing contrast that gives us ideas of what we want more (or less) of, who we want to be, where we want to go, and who we want to spend time with. Henry David Thoreau posed this question: "Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?"
     The essence of being free allows room (tolerance) for everyone's unique expression. No need to all be alike. Being different doesn't threaten anyone simply by being different. It's layering judgment, righteousness, fear, scarcity, and other negative emotions on top of differences that create separation.
     John-Roger, founder of MSIA (the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness), shares three spiritual guidelines for us: 1. Take care of yourself so you can help take care of others; 2. Don't hurt yourself and don't hurt others; and 3. Use everything for your upliftment, learning, and growth. Simple, yet profound.
     Common sense is not common. There is no rule book for our diverse human experience. We figure it out as we go along. Again, Thoreau's words speak the truth: "It is never too late to give up our prejudices."
     In reality, giving up our prejudices can look like giving someone the benefit of the doubt, refraining from thinking you know what's best, or right, for another person, letting go of the need to compare and find fault. It's about respect. How might our world transform if, instead of being fearful of others not like us, we were curious and eager to learn from one another? How might our lives be enhanced on a daily basis by accepting an individual's choice to step outside of a traditional, accepted way of being and walk a different path?
-Raphaella Vaisseau

Frogs, Flora, Fauna, and Creativity by Raphaella Vaisseau

The other night in a dream I was swimming in a beautiful body of water and met a frog. It was a large green frog coming right at me, eyes saying something intently to me as it approached. I was mesmerized by the scene. The blues and greens and yellows were stunning, and neither one of us spoke. When I awoke, I was aware still of the presence of the frog and I wondered what message it might have for me.

I thumbed through Ted Andrew's Animal Speak until I found Frogs on page 356. "Transformation through Water and Sound" it said. "A totem of metamorphosis, [the frog] is a symbol of coming into one's own creative power." The author asks "Are you needing to dive into some fresh creative water?" That sounded good to me so I took out my paints and let creativity flow forth from my inner being. The result is Flora and Fauna, a 5x7 swirl of blended color evocative of rain forest ambiance and lush watery spaces. Enjoy my art. Love frogs.
-Raphaella Vaisseau

"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