Debra Basham

Living and Loving

Tag: full moon

  • Moon in Clouds January 23, 2024

    The moon was directly overhead where she was wintering in Southwest Florida. It looked full, had a gorgeous lunar halo, and she could see a distinctive heart shape in the clouds so she grabbed her phone to take a photo to share with her friend in Colorado. It was often cloudy at home in Michigan, and she would miss seeing the full moon, so her friend had been sharing a photo of the full moon for several years.

    But when she looked at the photo she had just taken there were two images, both were undistinguished as the moon. One looked like shelving and the other was just a whitish streak, similar to what happens if you move the camera too quickly. Checking online she saw that the moon was not even full until two days later so she did not try again to get a photo.

    The following morning, however, she received a magnificent photo taken by her friend in Colorado.


    Although the “full” moon was still two days away, her friend had captured the image she had failed to get — complete with the heart she had seen in the clouds!

    “The same moon shines in every back yard,” as the saying goes….

  • Fireworks!

    As my fingers find their way on the keyboard, fireworks are booming around me. That is how some people celebrate New Years. My thoughts go to the Veterans with PTSD and dogs who feel panic when experiencing loud noises.

    New Years is such a significant opportunity for ritual. It is one of my favorite days of the year. This year, it is also a full moon.

    The full moon is a time to release thoughts, beliefs, habits, memories, attitudes. Let go of everything that no longer serves you, bless and release what you no longer need in your life. Honor and transform any aspect of yourself that you have outgrown. The energy of the full moon joins powerfully with the beginning of 2018.

    Barbara Brodsky has been my meditation teacher for many years now. Each day she shares a “Thought for Today.” I love the words from December 31, 2017:

    Deep Spring Center Thought for Today
    To manifest in the world begins with intention and conscious thought. What do you wish for yourself? ‘May I abide in well-being and freedom from affliction, freedom from anxiety, freedom from hostility and ill-will, and may I maintain well-being in myself. May my heart open and flower. May I love and be loved. May I find the healing that I seek. May I find the ways to live in harmony with others and them with me. May I be free from suffering. May I be happy and find peace.’ Now offer those same intentions for the world.

    As I wait for the noise outside to stop, I welcome the inner silence which is always there.

    Do you receive the Sacred Story each Saturday? If not, go to DebraBasham.com to subscribe to receive posts by email. This one fits so well with our New Years intention:

    Things Will Get Better
    by Debra Basham

    Sacred Stories

    These were very dark times as she was recovering from alcoholism. It was not that she wanted to drink—but neither did she want to live.

    She had rolled up towels to put around the doors and windows and intended to turn on the gas and end her pain.

    She heard a knock at the door.

    “Who is it?” she asked.

    A woman answered. “It is Pat. I have an appointment with you.”

    Not wanting to draw attention from the neighbor, she opened the door a crack. Pat marched in, went right to the kitchen and sat at the table, looking over at the towels. “See, your name is right here on my calendar.”

    Pat went on to say her husband was an alcoholic and she knew about depression. “Things will get better,” she said.
    Then she left….

    (Note – This story was shared in a public AA talk and while I do not have written permission to share it here, I think you will agree that the teller of the story would want others to know things will get better.)

    Make this next year your best. Gift the world with your authentic being. You are a peaceful soul….