Debra Basham

Living and Loving

Tag: totem

  • Elephant Totem

    Sacred Stories

    She had experienced elephant as totem when she was first starting work as a clinical therapist.

    Many years later, elephant energy popped into her mind one evening.

    The next day a teacher/colleague (who was giving up formal office space) posted this on her Facebook wall: “Thought of you when I unpacked this. And if elephants are still significant for you — and it would bless you — would like to gift this to you.”



    She wrote back, “So interesting! I was appreciating the elephant symbol in my life just yesterday, and thinking back to my first baby steps into the work we/I do. I am humbled and grateful to accept this gift.”

    The elephant totem or elephant medicine will bring strength, power, courage, memory, good luck, happiness, bliss, and positivity in your new undertakings. … The elephant medicine will bring you good luck, health, and positivity.

    ~ WorldBirds.org

    Sacred stories are evidence of our connections!

  • Praying Mantis

    Sacred Stories

    Chatting on the phone, she mentioned having seen a praying mantis the previous day. It was on the cover that protects the bikes from rain. She said she had gently relocated it to the porch step, and then asked permission to take a photo. “It looked right at the camera!”

    After the photo was taken, the mantis moved back onto the bike cover, then later onto the side of the house, staying there the rest of the day.

    She looked up the symbolic meaning.

      Praying Mantis Totem

      Folks with the Praying Mantis totem tend to elevate the consciousness of others. They are gifted psychics that are willing to share their knowledge. They love to teach.

    Her friend excitedly chimed in, “I had a praying mantis on my hand in the garden day before yesterday! It stayed there until I had to gently move it onto a rock sculpture so I could finish my work.”

    We are receiving messages from nature moment-by-moment….

  • Ambiguous Moth

    Sacred Stories

    “Do you know what kind of moth this is?” she asked, texting a photo to her sister.

    Within moments her sister had sent an identification link to the Ambiguous Moth.

    These moths had been coming into their master bedroom every night — entering from the former screen porch that was being transformed into her husband’s art studio.

    Her husband spent the next day filling in all the entry gaps, and the following morning they were thrilled to wake to a bedroom free of their ambiguous friends.

    Coming in after a few minutes outside this was on his back:

    Moth medicine meaning: Moth medicine’s meaning is resurrection and transformation. A moth represents tremendous change, but it also seeks the light. Thus, moth spiritual meaning is to trust the changes that are happening and that freedom and liberation are around the corner.

    Perhaps not so ambiguous after all….

  • Liberation

      Deep Spring Center
      Thought for Today

      “I would ask you not to settle
      for anything less than liberation,
      and yet not to hurry toward it,
      but to know that if you practice
      with sincerity, love, and courage,
      it will come.
      May the way be very beautiful for you.
      May you find freedom and peace.”

    Aaron’s words slide over my being as smoothly as silk.

    We discovered mold under our dishwasher Sunday evening. It has been crawling along the floors.

    After mold remediation at the office, mold remediation on Lot 51, and now EXTENSIVE mold remediation happening here, I thought it wise to search for the meaning of mold as totem.

    Adaptability in the face of widespread, often destructive changes….

    Black Mold helps to keep me humble, and reminds me of the privileges I enjoy, however temporarily.

    An incentive to find more eco-friendly options for food, water, shelter, and other resources.

    Any species that manages to increase its population due to human influence, rather than becoming endangered or extinct, is at least noteworthy for its adaptability.

    It is truly amazing to be aware of the full monty. The full monty (or the full Monty) is a British slang phrase of uncertain origin. It is generally used to mean everything which is necessary, appropriate or possible; the works.

    Even while feeling overwhelm, I am aware how easy my life is compared to so many. Along with emotions of dread, trust holds my trembling breast. If this is liberation, it is worth the wait.

    One of the Brahma Kumaris inspirations of the day I received this morning says simply:

    Repeat after me: My current situation is not my permanent destination.