https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip daily 0.75 2025-05-31 https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/octopus-1 monthly 0.5 2025-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/bfdf9473-f37e-4e45-a140-b7081352f809/Octopus+1+lap+quilt+in+progress.jpg Works in Progress - Octopus 1 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/freedom-quilt-1 monthly 0.5 2024-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/7ca3b161-e14a-4336-b2cd-3d8f509698ef/top+of+freedom+quilt+copy.jpg Works in Progress - Freedom, update - Make it stand out Top half (sky part) of my freedom quilt, in progress. Lily Michaud https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/freedom-quilt monthly 0.5 2024-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/a0e9a482-79e9-42cb-b22f-b06c9a058d11/blue+queen+anne%27s+lace.jpg Works in Progress - Freedom Quilt - Make it stand out A closeup of a Queen Anne's Lace cyanotype on fabric. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/bb3c9e15-171f-4594-994e-25adbba4e712/working+in+the+sun+souwester.jpg Works in Progress - Freedom Quilt - Make it stand out Working in the sun, cyanotypes chemicals may be applied to cloth, and are sensitive to UV light only. The exposures are long. Depending on the light conditions, my images were exposed 3 to 12 minutes. The Sou'wester lodge is in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/dad0ed19-9ae7-46b0-a8af-2f53954ffc8e/Monkey+flower+in+rinse.jpg Works in Progress - Freedom Quilt - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/d94b7f16-33be-4683-83c8-4908f0145f32/souwester+worktable.jpg Works in Progress - Freedom Quilt - Make it stand out Herbs from top to bottom: Uva ursi, cedar, and pearly everlasting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/89fa2945-0612-423b-91be-4f1d1a49e17d/souwester+lodgings.jpg Works in Progress - Freedom Quilt - Make it stand out Here is where I stayed. My family roots include Irish travelers and I often fantasize about living on the road. But, how can you do that and have a garden? It's a tough call. :) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/136825c8-ac21-4b55-8863-e3952cc1943d/geese+herbs.jpg Works in Progress - Freedom Quilt - Make it stand out Playing with triangles, here are some prints in geese formation. From left to right: Ladies thumb, blackberry, red clover, rose, hawthorn, yarrow, queen anne's lace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/38107529-6ff1-43c6-af1e-3544d46d7011/quilt+blocks+freedom+quilt.jpg Works in Progress - Freedom Quilt - Make it stand out Here are some quilt blocks that are coming together. From top to bottom the images show the sillouettes of cinquefoil, bleeding heart, and hawthorn. The lighter fabric is dyed with indigo. https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/wedding-quilt-update monthly 0.5 2024-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/0ed76cbb-4db1-4308-a9e8-8277ebe7eff4/slut+from+quilt+sm.jpg Works in Progress - Wedding Quilt Update - Make it stand out Close up of Wedding Quilt (in progress), 2024. https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/wedding-quilt monthly 0.5 2024-02-02 https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/6-plant-medicine monthly 0.5 2023-11-24 https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/tales-of-the-city monthly 0.5 2023-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/31f0e528-12d7-4242-b931-402ce725fcaf/MoonFacewithGunLilyMichaud.jpg Works in Progress - Tales of the City - Make it stand out Moon Face with Gun sketch, c 2022 https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/baby-blanket monthly 0.5 2023-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/13e67501-0437-4342-9f5c-3a0a5164e607/Pearls2.jpg Works in Progress - Baby Blanket - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/5ed86468-6846-4c86-a3f2-f61da0abfcd7/NikeBlanketscrap.jpg Works in Progress - Baby Blanket - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.lilymichaud.art/wip/Blog Post Title One-rcnb7-er72n monthly 0.5 2023-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/e91a9ce9-e340-4183-ad0b-0d2880990590/WeddingQuiltPearlsInProgress.jpg Works in Progress - UN Decries “Parental Alienation” - Make it stand out Work in Progress: Wedding Quilt, Lily Michaud, a queen-sized problem. 2023- https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake daily 0.75 2024-08-27 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/fly-awake monthly 0.5 2024-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1724726517314-US23GH4R7J7DQGAC0TE7/Getting+Out+of+Bed+sm.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - fly awake - Make it stand out Here is a photo of a moment I became aware of my subtle body leaving my physical as I entered into dreamtime. https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/dreaming monthly 0.5 2024-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/8fd8c355-d00f-4e85-8b66-478bf00ac20d/IMG_0233.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Dream - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/5c19544f-1d21-4bb3-a9b4-5c558ec54e58/Labradorite+Wide.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Dream - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/ed3e3dce-ef42-4483-9dfd-3150a676c22e/The+garden+still+exists+sm.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Dream - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/lucidity monthly 0.5 2024-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/33e4567b-99cd-4727-b301-4d85e66b3b02/Living+a+dream+sm3.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Lucid - Make it stand out Lily Michaud, Living A Dream, digital photograph, 2005. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1a288c9f-cb33-403d-a0b0-687d588b0491/Aerial+View+sm.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Lucid - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/flight monthly 0.5 2024-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/96c5af79-6fbb-4219-a973-5f868f4eb51a/Jump%2C+stretch+out+your+neck+sm.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Analysis - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/a-space monthly 0.5 2024-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/a9778f02-58e1-44f2-9a84-8d017c012f9c/IMG_8359.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - A Space - Make it stand out In a magical garden, we share dreams around the fire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/77758f76-f6fe-4ba3-bec6-5b1a3a556a20/IMG_8469.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - A Space - Make it stand out Magical, experimental music weaving through grandmother maple and fairy gardens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/2452e8a7-6d4a-4987-9112-5802a4be53a9/IMG_8467.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - A Space - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/6ca211d6-07fd-4b59-9831-32f85d32ba72/IMG_8474.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - A Space - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/e5408cdb-b00b-4151-bf46-2f1f2af3607f/IMG_0419.JPG Fly Awake/Dream Journal - A Space - Make it stand out Trying not to frighten fairies…alas, missed again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/e9156dd7-10b0-45ad-b342-9c6503ad0a91/Ganesha.JPG Fly Awake/Dream Journal - A Space - Make it stand out Ganesha and chocolate cosmos at the entryway. https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/engage monthly 0.5 2024-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/65f54821-a3f1-4b26-b36c-900b9cbba56d/dream-art-michaud.JPG Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Engage - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/89763e60-a501-4aad-aca5-87cc9125fcf6/thisisadreamposter2.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Engage - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/5ae4ff63-b8eb-4168-b3f3-38e00eb9ad2c/Release+redacted.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Engage - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/53fb8730-8a32-4bdc-befa-0947f7e266a9/crossover+handbill+redacted.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Engage - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/0bd1425e-4872-4443-a36c-4fb4b3555644/fearnot+web.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Engage - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/collective monthly 0.5 2024-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1721934688669-DZ9S8N4PSFHDIDBW6GH2/IMG_8350.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Collective https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1721934689119-NICBGQ7MY879VEBHYLBV/IMG_8354.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Collective https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1721934689807-D73Z3W5Q1NKUTHX9C4Q5/Curb+Strip+Plantings-Beech+St+Project.jpeg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Collective https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1721934686097-G3ZO8WXUQ98OUQA7KOFX/IMG_1150.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Collective https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1721941355792-I0P6RGBV7M9VW81QTYA3/IMG_0232.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Collective https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1721938878398-JJD0GXJ0BO35JFGEEG4A/Nature+Club2.jpg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Collective https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1721934695512-TP957FSKSTMUW1EPI64N/Hummingbird+Brianna+.jpeg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Collective https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1721934696395-K7H5R0XVK3G879J8X422/Hummingbird+1.jpeg Fly Awake/Dream Journal - Collective https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/dream monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/art monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/portland+oregon monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/installation+art monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/site+specific+art monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/art+and+dreams monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/flight+in+dreamtime monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/lucid+dreaming monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/art+and+consciousness monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/video+art monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/community+based+art monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/fly+awake monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/bird+in+flight+video monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/lily+ananda+michaud monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/photography monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/fly+awake+tea+garden monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/lily+michaud monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/dream+groups monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/manifestation monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/tea+community monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/community+building monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/intersection+repair monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/street+painting monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/little+library monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/fly-awake/tag/interactive+neighborhood monthly 0.5 https://www.lilymichaud.art/freedom-quilt daily 0.75 2025-06-27 https://www.lilymichaud.art/freedom-quilt/thyme-life-or-death-situations monthly 0.5 2025-06-27 https://www.lilymichaud.art/freedom-quilt/a-rock-and-a-hard-place monthly 0.5 2025-05-31 https://www.lilymichaud.art/freedom-quilt/change-or-die monthly 0.5 2025-04-26 https://www.lilymichaud.art/freedom-quilt/freedom-quilt monthly 0.5 2025-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/5b3551bc-6484-4e3a-b600-39c1b00274c3/Freedom+Quilt+Lily+Michaud+Full+2048.png Of The Moon - Freedom Quilt - Make it stand out Lily Michaud, Freedom Quilt, 87.5” x 76.5” (twin), cyanotype and indigo dyed cotton and silk, 2025. https://www.lilymichaud.art/about daily 0.75 2026-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/b05215a2-b1ad-4a30-b753-36f8b525c552/stillfromtwohearts.jpg About - Make it stand out Still from video: 4/5 A woman has two hearts, 2022. https://www.lilymichaud.art/contact daily 0.75 2024-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/fa418a76-69a1-48e8-b0f8-c98f5be247f6/Michaud+calendar+section.jpg Contact - Make it stand out Lily Michaud, Moon Calendar (detail: ≈ 6” x 6”,) photolithography, 2001. https://www.lilymichaud.art/home daily 1.0 2025-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1d2b4e1c-df73-429d-9878-3917a202cff9/Center+House+CU+Lily+Michaud+Freedom+Quilt+2025+sz+%3C2048.jpg Lily Michaud, Artist - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/9842c055-c255-4017-af65-c394e8122640/11pearls.jpg Lily Michaud, Artist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1722051296146-2H9II7AFJIUODQHBBQL8/Getting+Out+of+Bed+sm.jpg Lily Michaud, Artist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/5d64997d-bb56-43fa-a693-8c1adedfcc7d/water+6+t.png Lily Michaud, Artist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/fa674b40-44ba-47d7-b8cb-d7012a9eca89/Lily+Michaud+photograph+Untitled+wall+2+t.png Lily Michaud, Artist https://www.lilymichaud.art/femmelife daily 0.75 2026-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/0dfa77ae-e8a9-406a-abf5-94632e15858e/fltitle100gray6.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/767b233c-1487-4a42-ba83-eb54eed99741/7dotart+copy.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/4c0d618f-6e34-4c0e-afb3-382571021ec7/Dowry+Quilt+Lily+Michaud+Section+Moon+Gun+2025.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1f04e4cd-90e4-4632-ad21-8709fee339c2/Dowry+Quilt+Lily+Michaud+2025+CU+Slut+Bitch.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/b9800d23-2cc6-47f7-9952-d9d648da9012/Dowry+Quilt+Close+up+Money+Shot+2025+Lily+Michaud.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/d3b36f1a-c84a-4b75-9d63-51fa34303f4a/femalelinefull.jpg Femme Life - 3/4: Mother Lode/Mother Load, Lily Michaud, my mother’s meditation pants, and other fabrics from my female lineage on canvas, 52” x 34”, 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/5f94faad-5240-4504-8c2d-4a75f16fa4a9/femalelinecu.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out 3/4: Mother Lode/Mother Load, Lily Michaud, close-up. Stitching of my daughter with her head close to mine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/f9c4615b-efec-4400-a6f7-29484c590ea2/Femalelinereverse.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out 3/4: Mother Lode/Mother Load, Lily Michaud, close-up. Hankerchiefs from my Grandmother (top) and daughter, sewn on reverse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1619244085437-MWJ3OSQB18VFTYXNUQ4S/batshitcrazyforever.gif Femme Life 3/Bat Shit Crazy, Lily Michaud, performance video, 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/30c14393-c97d-4223-ac66-183c18fd948e/Lily+Michaud+Coming+Home.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out 1/2: Coming Home, Lily Michaud, my wedding dress, corset, and various fabrics & paint on canvas, 36” x 60”, 2018-2021. The second chakra is called, svadhisthana. This roughly translates to “your own place” or home. The second chakra is the locus of desire, need, emotion and pleasure. I love this name because it implies that embodiment & sovereignty, as well as honoring other’s boundaries, is the definition of a healthy second chakra. It is also the mark of a healthy culture in terms of sexuality and emotional wellness. We can be centered and grounded, we can experience and enjoy pleasure, all while we nourish healthy emotional and physical boundaries. I sewed my wedding dress using a soft cotton silk sateen and an authentic Regency era pattern. I was captivated by Jane Austen. I loved her wry wit and romances that developed slowly & with thought. The reality of my marriage was the opposite of my fantasies. The vulnerability of childbearing and times of physical weakness were opportunities for him to have greater power, to manipulate with greater ease, and to degrade me. Sex was a weapon for him. I was not the only one he hurt in this way. After my divorce, I delved into transforming sex from being associated with trauma to a sensual, tender, and spiritual choice. I created this record in stitches from my wedding dress and other favorite fabrics. The process returned me to my sense of home & comfort in my body. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/9842c055-c255-4017-af65-c394e8122640/11pearls.jpg Femme Life - Make it stand out 1/2: Eleven Pearls, Lily Michaud, digital photograph, 2022. This piece is about the male gaze and treatment of the female as a sex object. It is about how the current cultural climate leaves healing as the only accessible avenue to deal with misogyny. edited 10/15/23 Over and over again, I have experienced abuse and violence. It has ranged from a man who I chose to share a private space ignoring my verbal “no” to violent treatment from a trusted spouse to being assaulted by strangers. Whatever happened, the legal response was that it was either my fault, it did not happen, or, if there was evidence it was their fault, it still didn’t matter…the police and court system enforced their belief the abuser’s right to freedom was more important than my right to bodily sovereignty. This is against the law. Often the reaction of family and community members was also demeaning and involved victim blaming. Frequently unreported, about 90% of the women I know shared they have experienced some form of sexual trauma. When they spoke up, they also heard disparaging messages or were silenced. We have often been described as women “with issues”. About 95% of college students decline to report rape to avoid the vitriol that many survivors face. In a survey of survivors who reported to the police, 87% felt blamed for the incident and/or pressured not to report. (Brown University, Myths About Sexual Assault Reporting). In the USA, 97.5% of perpetrators of sexual assault escape punishment (RAINN). The court commonly treats these as insignificant crimes, false reports, or a woman’s way of disparaging a man’s reputation. In the later case the woman may be punished for reporting. FBI studies indicate the false report rate for rape is about the same as other crimes. Studies show the false report rate for rape ranges from 2.1 to 7.9%, read more at NSVRC. As in the case of juvenile Pieper Lewis (2022), efforts at self defense are often punished. After killing the man who repeatedly raped her, Lewis was required to pay $4000 in fines and provide $150,000 in compensation to her rapist’s estate. Our culture and legal system, rather than these survivors, have “issues”. Unfortunately, this is a global problem. Over and over again, lawyers have explained to me that the “justice” system will not provide support to me, children, nor any other victims or sexual assault, abuse, or domestic violence. They explained how engaging the law would almost certainly make matters worse. I was specifically informed by one lawyer, “This is a special area of the law, where the reporting person is given the punishment that you would expect for the perpetrator”. Women and children lack a legal avenue to maintain their body sovereignty. For those who believe we live in a post-sexism world, this shows how far we are from equality. (shift of thinking globally, thank you United Nations: Apr 13, 2023) Recently laws have passed at the national level (2022, Kayden’s Law as part of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, United States) and in many states (check to see if your state has passed Kayden’s Law) to help reduce the sexual abuse of children. Incest has been shown to be far more common in cases of domestic violence. It is not infrequently a tool for the perpetrator to continue to inflict harm on their former intimate partner after separation. (2021, Merle Weiner) In April 2023, the United Nations came out against the legal practices that punish reporting parents worldwide in cases of sexual abuse (2023). By ignoring sexual abuse and punishing mothers, as is typically the case, the courts support violence against both women and children. The above law changes and UN recommendations debunk the myth that accusations are typically false, sharing the evidence that they are the opposite: as frequently true as all other crimes that are reported. It is no more likely a woman would falsely report rape, or abuse, than that someone would falsely report a robbery. It is a far greater problem that victims are afraid to report the crimes at all for fear of their safety or legal censure. This legitimate fear of engaging with the law leads to further abuse and, in some cases, murder of women and children. In most of these cases the court systems, Child Protective Services, and/or police had received multiple requests for help that were ignored. (Center for Judicial Excellence, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, worldwide statistics from the UN) Ending abuse also reduces the likelihood of suicide for victims. (JAMA, 2020; The Guardian, literature review) All ages and genders are at risk for sexual abuse but, 99% of abusers are male (CalPoly Humboldt Supporting Survivors). The issues we should focus on are the permissiveness with which our society treats men who lack empathy, including gun access, and the objectification of women in the media. While presented under the guise of “free speech,” most porn falls into the category of hate crime. It often debases women, portrays violent acts, and largely shows women in service; rarely experiencing any pleasure. While not as extreme, mainstream media often perpetuates similar gender dynamics. The effects of our sick media culture include long-lasting emotional injury, numbing, and empathetic developmental delay. Studies show that sexist men respond to images of scantily clad women as tools. Sexism puts women at risk. (2009, Scientific American Women As Sex Objects) We need to shift our cultural focus to highly honoring empathy and believing survivors. We also need to emphasize sex as being a privileged way to engage in sacred physical love and connection. Daily silent meditation is an accessible way to nurture empathy. In meditation we sit with our body and mind. Like a good parent we learn not to get frustrated with our emotions and thought patterns, and that we can choose to gently redirect our focus back to the meditation technique. Over time we learn to hold space for the many things that come up with the only reaction being centering. This is learning unconditional love. When we can love ourselves we can love and hold space for others. We can be in relationships and have the presence of mind to observe our desires rather than acting on them without consent. Distance between experience and reaction gives us space for empathy and higher decision making processes. This makes us better partners, neighbors, coworkers, and parents. Until this shift happens, the primary way for victims to be successful in a culture that favors perpetrators, is to become master pearl makers, ie infinitely resilient. A determined, warrior-like approach to healing and embodiment is necessary to have the energy required to fight systemic support of violent behavior and toxic masculinity. My favorite tool for resilience is the Kirtan Kriya (there is one version for women and, one that is gender neutral). The women’s version is an easy 3 minute yogic practice. Done on a daily basis, I find it to be an invaluable tool for healing PTSD and staying grounded during secondary victimization that happens when people from all areas of life project baseless blame and distrust towards victims of sexual crimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/f177f4ae-332a-4ee9-81d3-fba0aeeb667c/flyingdown1848.jpg Femme Life 1: Bird Diving, Lily Michaud, digital photograph, 2021. https://www.lilymichaud.art/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2022-12-04 https://www.lilymichaud.art/gallery-5-1 daily 0.75 2022-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/093987cb-54d0-4a13-a06f-095a15167d9f/flyingdown1848small.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/1661919935390-BOALNQU05VW7F8B5ZNRX/NeverAgainBatwide8x3.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/d3b36f1a-c84a-4b75-9d63-51fa34303f4a/femalelinefull.jpg https://www.lilymichaud.art/water daily 0.75 2024-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/eaf808b6-d8f8-437f-b439-8d07b13238e6/water+4+michaud+2001+t.jpg Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/15b29fb9-9c4c-4bb4-a429-c2afee2d1449/water+6+tr.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/96232c02-9087-4e47-80c7-cff20d1e144a/lily+michaud+photograph+water+5+tr.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/268e41cd-c294-4163-a525-eab2decf8bc4/lily+michaud+water+7+photograph+tr.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/a41ba705-9113-49f0-a17f-a4862bf4fd3a/lily+michaud+water+8+tr.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/81a60841-c56b-49e8-8b55-43c7f27d9825/lily+michaud+water+9+photograph+tr.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/26301b0b-57ca-4209-be99-0c23e7294cd6/lily+michaud+water+10+photograph+tr.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/a203f45a-7d24-4663-bb5e-f6d18d68bc0b/lily+michaud+water+11+photograph+2001+trb.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/52451359-d955-4b59-bfa7-76dbd376e1bf/lily+michaud+water+1+photograph.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/f9b9b198-56e4-4e17-af4d-c979a7547b60/lily+michaud+water+2+photograph.png Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/6a258564-c851-44dc-b9e7-b97f1c7a9f53/lily+michaud+water+3+photograph.png Water https://www.lilymichaud.art/form-is-emptiness daily 0.75 2024-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/aea7a15a-1f61-47e5-be4e-dac3ae5f523f/Lily+Michaud+Photograph+untitled+wall+5+t2.png Form is Emptiness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/fa674b40-44ba-47d7-b8cb-d7012a9eca89/Lily+Michaud+photograph+Untitled+wall+2+t.png Form is Emptiness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/0bc54467-d53e-42be-93df-b733878520e5/Lily+Michaud+photograph+untitled+ground+4+t.png Form is Emptiness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/00381dbc-4094-4407-a143-e6a7ccda24a4/lily+michaud+photograph+untitled+wall+3+t.png Form is Emptiness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/857a4b67-350f-4496-9da6-be5a73150571/Lily+Michaud+photograph+Untitled+ground+3+t.png Form is Emptiness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/37ad84e7-2e0a-4b6a-8b20-cd6f551261ce/Lily+Michaud+photograph+untitled+ground+1+t.png Form is Emptiness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/ae6c6023-be8b-4b68-805e-a47cb6f7e95d/Lily+Michaud+photograph+Untitled+wall+1+t.png Form is Emptiness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/cb5385e7-574e-495d-a26a-7855b5943c08/lily+michaud+photograph+untitled+ground+2+t.png Form is Emptiness https://www.lilymichaud.art/new-page daily 0.75 2025-03-10 https://www.lilymichaud.art/new-page-2 daily 0.75 2026-02-12 https://www.lilymichaud.art/water-sequence daily 0.75 2024-08-24 https://www.lilymichaud.art/water-sequence/portfolio monthly 0.5 2024-08-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/2ae03d43-9d46-46c8-8623-8e1ccec3bb09/water+1+2+3+michaud+2001+tr.png Water Sequence - Water Lily Michaud, Water, nos. 1-3, 2001, silver gelatin prints, 13.5", 13.5", 14" d. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/eaf39883-9650-43ef-99b2-e904115018d1/water+4+michaud+2001+t.png Water Sequence - Water Lily Michaud, Water, no. 4, 2001, silver gelatin print, 17" d. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/3efd3832-f10d-491d-bb94-f28ee6176e47/water+5+and+6+michaud+2001+t.png Water Sequence - Water Lily Michaud, Water, nos 5, 6, 2001, silver gelatin prints, 15" d. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/3e6a679e-d909-4a43-877d-e34424fdbdba/Water+7+8+9+10+michaud+2001+tb.png Water Sequence - Water Lily Michaud, Water, nos. 7-10, 2001, silver gelatin prints, 12" d. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6040d417fe0cc52d1cc49f06/bf7dbb6e-c0f5-4cd0-b410-45f97b2d8bdb/water+11+michaud+2001+t.png Water Sequence - Water Lily Michaud, Water, no. 11, 2001, silver gelatin print, 9.5" d.