In 1953, nearly two decades after co-founding Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson penned a letter that would eventually become one of the most influential pieces in understanding the complexities of long-term sobriety. In it, he explored what he called “emotional sobriety,”
Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), is widely known for his pioneering work in establishing one of the most influential addiction recovery movements in history. His development of the twelve-step program and emphasis on spirituality as a key
The paths of Tom Powers and Bill Wilson, two pivotal figures in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), intersect in fascinating and contrasting ways. Both men were influential in writing the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book, although many
Betty Eisner, a pioneering psychologist from the mid-20th century, was instrumental in the early exploration of psychedelic therapy, particularly the use of LSD for treating psychological conditions such as alcoholism. Working alongside Sidney Cohen at UCLA, Eisner was at the
In the 1950s and 1960s, a group of forward-thinking individuals, including Bill Wilson, Sidney Cohen, Betty Eisner, Tom Powers, and Gerald Heard, embarked on an unconventional journey that would intersect the worlds of addiction recovery and psychedelic research. These early
A Glimpse into the Unconventional Side of Bill Wilson: A Letter Discussing LSD Therapy A recently surfaced letter dated March 22, 1957, penned by Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of his
Exploring the Unlikely Correspondence Between Timothy Leary and Bill Wilson In the early 1960s, an unexpected correspondence unfolded between two prominent figures: Timothy Leary, a psychologist and leading advocate for psychedelic research, and Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous
It’s important to note that at the time of the belladonna treatment the word “psychedelic” didn’t exist. It wouldn’t be coined until 1956, which is, perhaps coincidentally, the year that Bill Wilson first experimented with LSD. Researcher Dr. Humphrey Osmond,
It was studies like these that eventually led to the first experimentation of LSD by Bill Wilson. During the 1940s, Bill Wilson, a bit of a spiritual seeker who was interested in everything from Spiritualism to Jungian therapy, to Jesuit
Within a few months of this first session with LSD, Bill Wilson now does his first group LSD experience where everyone participating took lower doses of LSD. Present is Bill Wilson, Tom Powers, Dr. Betty Eisner (therapist) and Dr. Sidney
And as Bill continued to experiment with “something that could make a big difference to the lives of many who still suffered” other AA members were not so optimistic. If they were not happy with Bill seeking help from a
In the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous, there is a moment, later referred to as the “White light experience” when Bill Wilson, now detoxing in the Townes Hospital has his first spiritual experience in decades. The year is 1934 and