In the Hero’s Journey, the Refusal of the Call is a pivotal stage, where the hero, faced with the opportunity for transformation, hesitates or even outright refuses to embark on the journey. This moment is marked by fear, doubt, and
In the Hero’s Journey, The Call to Adventure is the moment that sparks the hero’s transformation, inviting them to leave the safety of their ordinary world and embark on a journey into the unknown. For individuals in traditional 12-step recovery
In the Hero’s Journey, the Ordinary World is where the story begins—a place of familiarity and comfort, yet also one marked by dissatisfaction or a longing for something more. For individuals in traditional 12-step recovery programs, this phase represents life
The Hero’s Journey, a narrative framework popularized by Joseph Campbell, describes the archetypal path of transformation and personal growth. In this journey, the hero moves from the familiar world into the unknown, faces trials, gains new insights, and returns transformed.
The dark night of the soul, a concept famously articulated by St. John of the Cross, represents a period of profound spiritual crisis—a time when one’s inner world is thrown into disarray, and the soul feels abandoned by the very
When the story of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is told, the names that come to mind are usually Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, the co-founders who built a fellowship that transformed the lives of millions suffering from alcoholism. But behind
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), since its inception in 1935, has been deeply rooted in spiritual principles. One of the most profound yet often misunderstood elements of AA is the practice of meditation as outlined in the 11th Step: “Sought through prayer
For most of my adult life, I’ve considered myself an agnostic—sometimes, if I’m honest, an atheist. I walked into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous over two decades ago, desperate and determined to get sober. And I did. I stayed sober
In the world of spiritual literature, few pieces are as universally beloved and widely recited as the “Prayer of St. Francis,” also known as the “Peace Prayer.” The prayer, which begins with the lines “Lord, make me an instrument of
An Oxford Group meeting in the 1930s, which significantly influenced the early development of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), was quite different from modern AA meetings. The Oxford Group was a Christian fellowship focused on spiritual growth, personal transformation, and evangelism. In
The chapter titled “To Wives” in the book Alcoholics Anonymous (commonly known as the “Big Book”) has sparked debate and criticism since its first publication in 1939. Designed to offer guidance to the wives of alcoholic men, this chapter reflects
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, formally titled “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism,” was first published in 1939. Written primarily by AA co-founder Bill Wilson, with input from early members,