Debra Basham

Living and Loving

Tag: mindfulness

  • The Spiral Path – Thanksgiving Day 2025

    Today is “Thanksgiving Day” in the US. The modern holiday was established by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, though the first Thanksgiving is often linked to the 1621 harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.

    Today is also the birthday of Eldon John Basham. As I write his name I have the thought, “Don’t ever name your child and call him or her by their middle name.” It makes a mess in the ordinary world.

    I am awake before daylight (the likely result of my having once again gone to bed about 2 hours earlier than my ‘normal’ bedtime). Alexa is shuffling songs by Alan Jackson as I start working on a jigsaw puzzle. This one is of The Major Arcana — a collection of 22 Tarot cards that unveil the fundamental archetypes of human existence.

    The subject of this puzzle opens up an inner dialog with what I came to call Holy Spirit many years ago as the name “God” dissipated in my thoughts and prayers. If I called out to God, whose God or which God would I be speaking to? YHWH is the Bible’s commonest name for God. Hinduism has the concept of 330 million gods, a symbolic number representing the infinite manifestations of the one supreme, formless reality called Brahman. There are the Greek Gods and the Roman Gods.

    To many Native Americans, the Great Spirit is a supreme, all-encompassing force or being that represents the essence of the universe and all living things. It is often viewed as the creator of the world, a life force that is present in nature, and a source of guidance and harmony. The specific name and interpretation can differ between tribes, but the concept emphasizes the interconnectedness of all existence and a universal, divine power. Perhaps my tiny bit of Native American blood (the wonders of modern DNA testing) mingled with my Christian beliefs to influence my heart’s landing on the term Holy Spirit.

    On this day I have so much to give thanks for and my heart also carries myriad impressions of the passing of my sister in January, and this past week of our long-time music friend, and the many dear ones navigating complex medical conditions — some at home and some hospitalized.

    This brings to mind the true befuddlement of worshiping an “omnipresent god” while noticing or pointing out all of the places god is not. Maybe there are not 330 million gods, but when asking myself how does my heart hold simultaneously all of the grief and relief on this day of thanksgiving, the only answer that seems honest is to say, “How could the heart not?”

    I saw this on the Facebook page of Daily Shaman:“If you’re looking for me, follow the stillness where the forest breathes between worlds. I walk the spiral path, where moss remembers and thresholds dream.”

  • Holy Happening at Aldi

    This winter John and I are in North Fort Myers. It is an unfamiliar home in a mostly-unfamiliar area. I have, on several occasions after having gone to the grocery store discovered when I was at home starting a meal, realized something I thought I had was something I had had at home in Michigan. Ugh!

    Additionally, the past three years we co-housed with Linda and Larry and I thought I had done a fairly good job of bringing the things I had not brought the past several years. But, even with the intention and the planning and the packing every square inch of the van it has been necessary to make MANY trips to the store. Just the navigating is a challenge, but add to that the fact that I don’t love shopping. And this area is very busy. Plus, Thanksgiving is this week.

    So, on Saturday morning I decided I was going to Aldi with a long list to make it until after Thursday without having to go again. I don’t use a cart. It is too cumbersome to get around. Especially when the store is busy. I use up to four of my own shopping bags. They were all full when I got to the self checkout.

    As I finished scanning my order I looked in the trash for any discarded receipts. I get these for Linda. She uses an app to get money back. I was so excited to spot three!

    I managed to get four bags of items into three bags so that I had a free hand to also carry the large take-and-bake pizza to the van. Then I figured out how to get from Aldi to Publix. As I pulled out my credit card I had a distinct feeling that I had no memory of paying for my order at Aldi. I left the store and vacated my parking spot to a waiting shopper-wanna-be and I pulled around the back of the store and drove to the far end of that strip mall behind Aldi.

    Stopping the car, I walked to the back and opened the hatch. There were the three “found” receipts, but no receipt for my purchases!

    I drove around the building and with a pounding heart I approached a woman running a register, saying I needed to speak to a manager. She said she was part of the management team, asking what I needed. “I was in here a bit ago and went through the self-check lane. When I went to pay for my items at Publix I realized I had not paid for my order. I was on counter number two.”

    “I know,” she said. When it was discovered, she had tried to void the sale, and the register had crashed and needed to be rebooted. She called for another manager to come up, and stepped away from her register to update him. They both went to a far aisle to see if they could reactivate the sale before she returned to her check-out lane.

    I heard her explain what was going on to another manager that came to help. “That lady realized she had not closed out her purchase and she came back in to pay.”

    The lines were to the back of the store by this time….

    I kept offering to go bring everything in and scan it all again. He continued to tell me that he did not want me to have to go to that trouble.

    Both of these individuals knew my transaction had been $72 and some change. He continued to work on the register before deciding to make a call to corporate and secure permission to just ring up that amount and receive payment.

    Overwhelm. Regret for the inconvenience to both of them and the whole store of shoppers. Embarrassment. I tried but failed to hold back the tears.

    As he handed me the receipt he stood up, motioned to me with his hand, opened his arms wide before stepping forward to give me a hug, saying, “You are a good person. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

    Less than an hour later I had opportunity to share this story with a friend. As I repeated those precious words that had been spoken to me by that manager, I had a profound sense this assurance was not just for me personally and I was overwhelmed by the sacredness of having been a part of an outplaying for the ONE.

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GOODNESS, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5: 22 -23

    May all beings come to know their intrinsic goodness.

    Tears are welling up again two days later as my fingers move over the keys on the keyboard giving words to this holy happening at Aldi….

  • Good Mojo

    She was calling a hospital in Michigan while she was in Florida. She desperately needed help speaking to her long-time friend. Her friend’s daughter said her mom had been convinced she would never get home. A few days earlier, while her friend’s daughter was there with her mom, they had spent 23 glorious minutes on the phone and it was so therapeutic for all of them.

    Her mom was improving, but she was not yet able to dial or hold the phone. They needed someone there to dial and put the phone on speaker.

    When she made a call to the nurses’ station, as she began to explain the situation, the unit secretary laughed softly and said, “Your timing is impeccable. I was just talking with your friend’s daughter. She just walked away! We were discussing how we can best set this all up for you.”

    They had a lovely conversation, including plans to avoid obviously busy times. They could make this work, and it was so important to have her friend feel hope again. She sent this text message to her friend’s daughter about having spoken to the unit secretary:

      “Very good mojo going on. I just called the hospital and I spoke with the unit secretary just moments after you had talked to her about my calling!!!”

    A few hours later, her friend’s daughter sent this reply:

      “She told me, LOL. Mom is doing much better. Most likely moving to rehab tomorrow.”

    And 15 minutes later, this update:

      “She moves tomorrow at noon. She didn’t think she was getting out of this hospital. This will be huge for her to get moving around. She’s been in bed now for weeks.”

    For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
    ~ Psalm 91:11

  • Blessed Coming In and Going Out

    Our niece sent us an unusual door mat as a “housewarming gift” for our seasonal home in Florida. It is a religious-themed retro sunburst that reads: “I Am Blessed Coming In” from one direction, and “I Am Blessed Going Out” from the other direction.


    Shortly before the package arrived, I had told John we needed to get a nice rug for the kitchen door since we were unable to use our front door. After Jen’s gift arrived, I loved walking in and out of that kitchen door and feeling the blessing, but after only a couple of trips in or out — although the message was still precious — it bothered me this meaningful mat would quickly become soiled.

    I have moved it to the front door to keep it pristine. I am not sure where it will end up!

    Initially I was touched so deeply that the Holy Spirit inspired Jen’s gift. She had ordered the gift before my thinking the mat needed to be replaced…. As the message worked more deeply in my heart, however, I saw the bigger picture as it relates to what we call birth (coming in) and death (going out).

    “Birth” is more often seen as a blessing. “Death” can sometimes be seen as a blessing when old age, sickness, or pain and suffering are present. We have several very dear ones on this latter path right now. For some, no amount of pain or suffering generates a welcome mat experience of feeling blessed by going out.

    Last week John and I stopped over in Zephyrhills to make music with dear friend, Ed Bennett. Rochelle Morris and Bonnie Makepeace were at that jam. We had met Rochelle “Sherpashell” Morris several years ago. She is co-author of Jingles’ Promise, a book about the death of their adult son, written with her husband Norm “Jingles” Morris. It has been a soul connection, meeting them, and we love making music with Rochelle.

    We had met Bonnie through Rochelle last year when we were here visiting with Ed and his wife, Dee. The harmony of Bonnie and Rochelle is spectacular. Hearing a couple of Bonnie’s new original songs, and the sharing she and I had afterwards have left a deep yearning in my heart for more. I want to see the lyrics written out. I imagine being able to say, “Alexa” shuffle songs by Bonnie Makepeace and hearing: True love doesn’t fade; true love doesn’t die; here in my heart, Mother’s alive….

    Your heart can hear in Bonnie’s new lyrics a transformational world view I pray daily for humanity to experience fully. This world view was expressed precisely in November 17, 2025 podcast with Ky Dickens called The Telepathy Tapes – Our Paranormal Afterlife: Finding Proof of Life After Death. (Shared with me by Claudia.)

    We are blessed coming in and going out. And we are blessed going out and coming in.

  • Prayers, Love, Hope: Essential

    One week ago today John Basham and I were on the road to Tennessee. Our drive was uneventful, along a route of perpetual autumn. I had been watching the weather forecasts and we were able to scoot southward as the rains were ending. All but about 15 minutes on Indy’s northside were driven on dry pavement. We were very grateful.

    We enjoyed seeing Jackson dressed up as a firefighter and his mom, Courtney, posing as his faithful Dalmatian. Watching Adam and Rachel celebrate their engagement with family and friends was wonderful. And we got to enjoy “Taco Man” leftovers from that with Stacey and Doug and all of the kids last evening!

    We have helped with Jackson pick-up and drop-off and I spent a day organizing and doing deep cleaning at Courtney and Jackson’s apartment. It is great to see Jackson having fun, like riding on his 4-Wheeler.


    We are beginning to prepare for traveling on to Florida, planning a stop to enjoy playing music with Ed Bennett and friends there

    Amidst these joys are the realities of more and more and more friends and family navigating very challenging situations. It would take a spreadsheet to name all of them.

    I read recently of Robert Redford having written the foreword of a book titled HOPE not long before he passed. His words speak volumes: “Hope does not need to be merely a passive wish. It can be an active force to propel us forward.”

    May all beings know they are the recipient of prayers. May all beings know they are loved. May all beings know the energy of hope.
    Prayers and love and hope, like breathing, are not optional but essential….

  • Lily Yeh – Lily, Yeah!

    The 2:00 am WhatsApp “ping” from my Singaporean friend woke me. I was able to fall back asleep, but was then awakened by a dream. These disturbances resulted in my reading the thoughts for today that bless my inbox.

    I followed my passion and was guided by the light inside of me. That light does not belong to me alone. It is innate in all of us. Everyone has it. But more often than not, we choose not to see it.

    ~ Lily Yeh (Gratefulness.org)

    I did not know this author. As I lie in the dark listening to a five-part interview my heart and mind was witnessing the importance of being awake even when the body would seem to need to sleep.

    Now that I am awake and showered in readiness for the 6:30 am EST online meditation with Still Mountain, I am having difficulty keeping my fingers on the keyboard because I am distracted by the desire to find the interview that so moved me. Please search and meet this amazing individual for yourself. I see lots of other videos, but I cannot find what I had and I want that again.

    This now moves me to profound compassion. I know my beloved friends in Canada are likely feeling this as they navigate her journey with Glioblastoma — a highly aggressive and malignant brain tumor that originates from glial cells, which support and protect neurons in the brain. Understandably, Jane Foster understands as she continues to deal with complications of the ileostomy in the aftermath of a 12-hour surgery. Michael, now at Caratel after yet another long hospital stay. He has been in more than out since May. The list goes on and on…. So many navigating so much.

    I also read the daily quote from Aaron:

      There are many ways of working with discomforting arising. They all have one thing in common, which is the opening of the heart. Eventually you may become quite skilled at making space for that which arises in the emotions and at making space for physical sensations and thoughts as well, without reactivity or fear of any of these. You are still caught in the illusion. You are busy being somebody who possesses sensations, emotions, and thoughts. And you are also busy being somebody who works skillfully with them. Eventually you must let go of the illusion without denying the illusion its place as a catalyst for learning. You must come to know who you truly are when you are not somebody who is being busy learning to be skillful.

    Today will be a bit of a break from packing and loading in preparation for our planned departure on Thursday. It seems other worldly to anticipate not sleeping in my own bed for over five months. I am feeling homesick before I have left.

    I will draw from the delicious days spent loving and being loved by family and friends and people I do not even know.

    Another step on the path reading the The DailyTejaniya:

      To recognize whether or not you have the right attitude is more important than experiencing peaceful states, or having a “good sit.”

      Right attitude is accepting, observing, and learning from your experience just as it is.

    AS I WAS LOOKING FOR A PHOTO FOR THIS POST, I FOUND THE LINK TO WHAT I HAD LISTENED TO!

    A Conversation with Lily Yeh: Art is Change.

    May you be free from suffering and know the roots of suffering.

    May you live in harmony and know the roots of harmony, living in the present moment with an open heart.

    May you have peace and know the roots of peace, acceptance.

  • 12:12 – Ten of Cups

    At 12:12 am she received a Tarot reading video from a friend via Facebook Messenger. Reaching out later that morning, she was told the message had not come from that friend. Having a sense it may have been a message from their friend who had recently died, the following day she shared the video of the Tarot reading with her sister and they made these notes:

    * This person was expecting you to leave, so they left you first.

    * It’s crazy, and they’re embarrassed. They’re embarrassed about the way that they’ve behaved. But they don’t know how to redeem themselves. They don’t know how to come back from it.

    * It’s like you are the sunshine in their life. They may have even said to you they need your energy; like they’ve never met anyone like you before.

    * Your energy is amazing to them, and they’ve never known anyone like that, because you are beautiful on the inside and on the out. This person was shocked to see that, because they’ve never met anyone with pure intentions and pure heart like yours before. They’re hanging around, and they just don’t know how to deal with it.

    The last words her friend had spoken to her were, “I really like you.”

    “I really like you, too,” she had responded sincerely.

    The Rider-Waite Ten of Cups is a highly positive card symbolizing emotional fulfillment, harmony, and the perfection of human love and friendship. It depicts a happy family dancing under a rainbow of ten cups, with a home in the background, representing a state of contentment, shared joy, and a strong family life.

    When reversed, it can signify disharmony, family conflict, or emotional instability, and there was definitely some of this going on for their friend’s family.


    Reading about the Ten of Cups: This card indicates a true emotional fulfillment, one where the lonely self-satisfaction of the Nine of Cups is shared with others to create a true sense of community and family. After learning how to love oneself, the Nine of Cups matured into the Ten of Cups, which at its core is about how true happiness stems from forging authentic bonds and connections with others. This card is most associated with a sense of ‘happily ever after’ – of family, of lasting harmony and peace.

    (While not a Tarot user, “coincidentally” she and her daughter were registered to attend a workshop the following day on working with the Rider-Waite Tarot!)

    Her sister reminded her of the idea of an “Abler Soul” relationship where one person is still in physical form and the other now has an expanded view. This has been articulated beautifully by Cynthia Bourgeault, author of the book Love Is Stronger Than Death. It seemed really important that the message was time-stamped at 12:12 so they looked up that spiritual meaning:

    12:12 is often associated with completeness, divine order, and new beginnings. It is frequently interpreted as an “angel number” or a sign from the universe to have faith, remain optimistic, and focus on your goals. This sequence can signify a divine message of guidance and support for your spiritual path.

    Do not let your hearts be troubled…. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ~ John 14:1-3

  • Alone Together

    I found these words so beautiful….

    And if its true we are alone,
    we are alone together,
    the way blades of grass are alone,
    but exist in a field.

    ~Rupert Spira Guided Meditation:
    Wherever You Turn, There is the Face of God

    You might appreciate Karen Drucker’s singing The Face of God that we used as our closing at Saint John’s UCC on Sunday.

    I was jarred awake early this morning by a Charley horse in the calf of my left leg. Moaning softly, “Ouch, ouch, ouch!” instinctively I began to press my index finger hard onto the space between my upper lip and my nose. Finally, I was able to pant-breathe sufficiently to put my foot on the floor and begin to gingerly walk it off….

    How like life? We plan, plan, plan — then life happens. It often comes suddenly, even when it is expected. A week ago we had to use air conditioning. Now the furnace is on. The conditions of life change as quickly and as drastically as the weather. What is it (what of us?) remains constant?

    The following thought was taken from one of Rupert Spira’s in-person retreats at The Vedanta from 17th to 24th September, 2022, in answer to a young woman’s question about her father’s consciousness since he had died one month earlier.

      So when was the dreamed character’s body born? It was never born. It just appeared when the dreamer’s mind localized itself as this little activity of thinking and perceiving. When did the dreamed character die? It never died. The dreamer’s mind simply stopped localizing itself as the dreamed character.

      So in the ultimate analysis, the being that your father eternally is never came into existence, never went out of existence. He is eternally present. He, not the person of your father, but the being that your father was, is now. The being that everything is. The eternal being that doesn’t come in and out of existence. A localization of that being appeared temporarily and disappeared, but it was only a localization. Your father actually never came in or went out of existence.

    Our two grandsons and their partners along with two other couples are scheduled to fly to the Dominic Republic tomorrow. This has been a long-planned trip around Adam’s 30th birthday, with lots of excitement and anticipation. Well, uninvited, Tropical Storm Melissa has entered the equation.

    What do we do when what we want to do seems not to be available? The script of Everlasting Peace comes to my mind.

    Circumstances have changed and it is time now to look to new directions to learn how to fly once more….

    When you can work, it is OK to work. When you can read, it is OK to read. When you can think, it is OK to think. But when you can’t work, it is OK for you to relax. And when you can’t read, you can still share wisdom. Because even when you can’t always think clearly, you can always enjoy the love that surrounds you.

    ~ Debra Basham, Everlasting Peace

    I am not sure what the kids will decide to do about their trip. I am sure that they are not the only humans on the planet who are navigating thwarted plans. Whether it is weather or whether it is health challenges, or world politics, or fragile economics, I am sure if we are alone, we are alone together!

    Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.
    ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11

  • Tears of Joy

    Her granddaughter — a single mother of three young girls — desperately needed an affordable, reliable used vehicle. When a friend sent her a video through Facebook with a message about answered prayer, that night before going to bed, she prayed, “Lord, we need help. We are asking you to provide a car for this family. We are trusting you to answer this prayer.”

    The following morning, before getting out of bed, she prayed again asking Jesus to answer this prayer. That very afternoon her daughter called. Her granddaughter had bought a car!

    In fact, her granddaughter had inquired about this vehicle but had not previously received a response to her inquiry. This particular vehicle previously belonged to the mother of the seller, and the mother had passed away. There was much mutual joy and relief that this young mother would now have reliable transportation.

    As she received the news, she began to cry tears of joy. She shared with her daughter the message that has inspired her prayers:

      This October, God wants you to read this verse. Stop for a moment. This is for you.

      God is about to bless you so much that you will cry tears of joy. Are you ready for God’s favor? Then don’t stop reading. Get your jars ready, because there will be oil in your house.

      John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.”

      To the lady reading this, Jesus isn’t our last hope. He is our only hope. Trust him. You will cry in October, not because someone hurt you, but because God answered your prayers.

      If you’re not ashamed of Jesus, send this to a godly sister and remind her. God will make a way. Lord, make a way for the woman who passes this along and puts, “Amen.”


    Her tears of joy included gratitude for the godly sister who had sent the message.

  • Rupert Spira

    At 6:55 am EST time her friend sent an email message to a prayer group they are both on asking for support:

    Dear friends,

    My dad is in his last days… I am hoping you can pray for his smooth transition and that he will be fine…

    Thank you so much for your help and compassion.

    Much love.

    At that exact moment she was finishing watching a 7 minute video called “You Are Not Born and You Never Die” with Rupert Spira.


    It was already 7:55 pm in Singapore in the physical world of her friend, so she placed a video call.

    She began to read to her friend notes from the video she had been taking as her friend was sending the email asking for support:”So in the ultimate analysis, the being that your father externally is never came into existence, never went out of existence; he is eternally present. He — not the ‘person’ or your father, but the being that your father ‘was’ is now the being that everything is — the eternal being that doesn’t come in and out of existence. A localization of that being appeared temporarily and disappeared, but it was only a localization. Your father actually never came in or went out of existence.”

    Sharing with great awe,”It is amazing that at the exact time you were sending the email asking for support for your father’s completing his transition, I was watching the video. I knew I had to call you right now and share it with you. So grateful you can breathe this truth to your father now.”