a Friendly Universe Project
a Friendly Universe Project
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What is A friendly universe?
What is A friendly universe?
A Friendly Universe is an ongoing experiment in small acts of kindness, created by Heart & Sunlight.
I believe tiny acts of kindness can quietly change the world. This project is my way of putting that belief into practice.
The Idea is simple:
The Idea is simple:
Someone leaves a card somewhere in the world.
Someone else finds it.
For a moment, a stranger is reminded that they are part of something larger than themselves.
Maybe they keep it.
Maybe months later they leave it somewhere for someone else to find.
The cards feature original Heart & Sunlight artwork on one side and a message of encouragement on the other. They are designed to create an often much needed reminder of our connection with ourselves, with each other, and with the mysterious beauty of being alive.
Why does this project exist?
Why does this project exist?
Because the world can feel lonely sometimes.
Because we all need a reminder that kind people still exist in the world.
Because a small gesture can change the direction of an entire day, or maybe even a life.
I created A Friendly Universe as a way of sending little reminders into the world:
You matter.
Your story matters.
You belong here.
And perhaps the universe is a little friendlier than it sometimes appears.
Did you find one of these cards out in the wild?
Did you find one of these cards out in the wild?
If you're comfortable, I would absolutely love to hear your story!
If you're comfortable, I would absolutely love to hear your story!
Want to spread a little kindness in your town?
Want to spread a little kindness in your town?
A Friendly Universe began as small handfuls of cards I mailed out completely free to anyone who wanted to spread a little kindness in their neck of the woods. And that is still the model. If you want a small handful of Friendly Universe cards, just contact me and I'll send you a link to a little form you can fill out with your info, and I'll send them your way! I cover postage - they are a gift from me to you, and then to whoever else they happen to find.
Something new I've decided to do with them is to offer larger packs of them in my Etsy shop for anyone who would like a bunch rather than the handfuls I can afford to send out for free.
So be looking out for Friendly Universe card packs in my Etsy shop!
Annnnd, While supplies last, every purchase of my artwork will receive 5 Friendly Universe kindness cards as my thank you for supporting my work, and as another way to spread a little kindness out there.
This includes prints as well as anything from my Etsy shop, aside from Friendly Universe card packs of course 😉
If you order Prints, be looking out for an email from me with your invite to receive your cards.
If you order from my Etsy, your package may include an invitation with instructions for receiving your cards. If your invitation wasn't included for any reason, simply send me a message with your order number and I'll happily send you one.
The friendly universe origin story
The friendly universe origin story
Long before A Friendly Universe had a name, I was leaving little notes for strangers.
It all started in middle school.
My grandfather gifted me a stack of blank pink notes for Christmas one year, which may sound like a boring gift to some - but to me, these blank notes were full of potential. There's something about a blank piece of paper that gets my gears spinning with ideas.
I began writing little encouraging messages on the pink slips of paper, and secretly leaving them around school for other students to find.
This went on for quite a while.
Then one day I got called into the principal's office.
Sitting on his desk was an enormous stack of my little pink notes.
Apparently people had been collecting them and turning them in.
This was a small private school with pretty strict rules of conduct. Apparently my encouraging notes had broken some unspoken rule.
I don't remember if I actually got into trouble, but I do remember being told to stop leaving notes around school.
But alas, the universe had other plans.
Years later those little notes became kindness cards.
This was my first official Kindness Card design, circa 2015.
I gifted a bunch of them to my friends to hand out to strangers.
And thus began the first official Kindness Card Project.
Some of those friends still have one or two hanging around to this day ☺️
Some of those friends still have one or two hanging around to this day ☺️
over the years they have existed in many different forms.
over the years they have existed in many different forms.
They were even used as a way to honor the life of a dear friend of mine.
They were even used as a way to honor the life of a dear friend of mine.
He embodied the very heart of the Kindness Cards project with his big, gentle heart. This version was distributed widely across the US to his friends and family, who diligently handed them out and hid them places for strangers to find.
And now they're finding their way back into the world once again.
This time they incorporate my own original artwork, and I've decided to finally give the project a real name, officially bringing it into my overall mission as an artist:
To remind people that they matter, that they play an integral role in our collective story, and that the universe is their friend.
And this time, no one can stop me 😈
Stay in touch
Stay in touch
A Friendly Universe is on instagram
A Friendly Universe is on instagram
Does this project resonate with you?
Does this project resonate with you?
If so, you'd probably also resonate with my work.
If you'd like to see occasional artwork, reflections, stories, and updates from Heart & Sunlight, you can subscribe to my Substack below. I'd love to have you ❤️
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