Everything is Possible

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” ~ Thomas Merton

Last night after a rousing game of Hand and Foot, John […]

Happy Birthday Haiku

“Our inner lives are every bit as astonishing, baffling, and mysterious as the infinite vastness of the cosmos.” ~ Adyashanti

Adyashanti’s words speak volumes to me as I am in the pondering process related to culling everything SCS-Matters in preparation for a new DebraBasham.com website. What to keep, what to save. What to repackage or […]

This Time Tomorrow

For, although it is true that fear and despair can overwhelm us, hope cannot be purchased with the refusal to feel.

~Susan Griffin

“This time tomorrow” drifts through my head like lyrics to a song I am singing but have never heard. An internet search brought a song by that name by The Kinks.

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Transformation

Recently, I included some information about transformation from J. Krishnamurti in my clergy “Insight’s” article.

Transformation is said to occur only when NONE of the following are present:

desire to change the experience judgment analysis justification grasping selfing resisting believing that “I am witnessing”

Since the coronavirus stay-safe-at-home order in March, […]

My Longings

“Strive to be uncynical, to be a hope-giving force, to be a steward of substance.” ~ Maria Popova Bulgarian-born, American-based writer

Last evening as we finished dominoes via Zoom, I asked what the most significant news of the day was. My friend said probably that the Trump administration ordered hospitals to bypass the Centers for […]

I Concur

The weather changes very quickly. At 8:45 today, my friend sent a text suggesting we cancel our 9 a.m. bike ride. Rain and thunderstorms were in the forecast. My response: “I concur.”

Concur is one of those words rarely used. It means to agree, be in accord, go along, be in harmony, be in […]

True Freedom

“When the water is muddy and you can’t see the bottom, no amount of stirring can clear the water.” ~ Debra Basham

In the U.S. the 4th of July represents freedom. People often think of freedom as freedom FROM something outside of us, but true freedom is an inside job, and nothing outside of you […]

Skies Upon Skies

“Skies upon skies are available for your flight.” – Osho Zen Tarot

I feel a little bit like the morning after Christmas, or the ninth day of Hanukkah. For the closing sharing of this eight-day Intensive/Retreat—the culmination of a two-year commitment to study and practice—I had written: When I logged on this morning, Dallas was […]

In-tension or Intention

As you speak, so you see As you see, so you share As you share, so you become

I am on retreat, and am living the spirit of the law (rather than the letter of the law) by writing a blog post. This intensive / retreat is the culmination of a two-year “Path of […]

Abandon the Unwholesome

I sincerely hope there is not a limit on the frequency of blog posts, as my process is being jarred profoundly by EVERYTHING.

This morning I saw Facebook photos of Stacey (my daughter) and her friend on the pontoon boat on Sunday. Beautiful smiling faces, cheek-to-cheek, looking into the camera: I instantly became aware […]