In the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), spiritual guidance played a pivotal role in the recovery process. One such practice, “Two-Way Prayer” or “Guidance,” was a central element of both the Oxford Group—the Christian fellowship that inspired AA—and the early AA community itself. This practice, rooted in actively seeking and receiving divine direction, has largely faded from modern AA, where meditation and prayer are often interpreted in more personal and passive ways. However, in recent years, a new recovery group, Psychedelics in Recovery, has emerged, offering practices strikingly similar to those early traditions.
By using plant medicines like Ayahuasca and psilocybin mushrooms, members of Psychedelics in Recovery seek spiritual insight, guidance, and direct communication with higher powers in ways that mirror early AA’s forgotten traditions. In fact, one might argue that Psychedelics in Recovery, with its emphasis on spiritual preparation, direct guidance, and transformative experiences, is more closely aligned with the original practices of AA than modern AA itself.
The Two-Way Prayer Practice of Early AA
The concept of Two-Way Prayer emerged from the Oxford Group and was adopted by early members of AA as a way to actively seek God’s guidance. In this practice, individuals would engage in quiet time, often after reading the Bible, and seek to receive messages, insights, or direction directly from God. The idea was simple yet profound: prayer was not just about asking, but about receiving. Members would sit quietly, often with pen and paper, waiting for what they believed to be divine guidance to come through.
This form of spiritual practice was not passive meditation, but rather a direct conversation with God. Many members would record these communications in what was known as a “guidance journal,” and would act on these divine instructions in their daily lives. This practice was a cornerstone of early AA, as it allowed members to cultivate a conscious connection with their higher power and feel spiritually guided in their recovery.
However, as AA grew and became more secular over the decades, the practice of Two-Way Prayer began to fade. Modern AA emphasizes prayer and meditation, but these practices are generally more personal and reflective rather than focusing on receiving explicit spiritual guidance. The idea of writing down direct instructions from God has largely disappeared from the modern fellowship.
The Spiritual Practices of Psychedelics in Recovery
While Two-Way Prayer may have faded from AA, a parallel form of spiritual practice has emerged within the Psychedelics in Recovery community. Members of this group use psychedelic experiences, such as ceremonies with Ayahuasca, psilocybin, and other plant medicines, to connect with spiritual entities and receive direct guidance. Before participating in these ceremonies, members often prepare themselves spiritually, setting intentions and creating a space for transformation, much like early AA members did in their two-way prayer sessions.
In Ayahuasca ceremonies, for example, participants frequently describe receiving “downloads” of information, wisdom, or guidance from spiritual entities like Grandmother Aya, a personification of the spirit of the plant medicine. These communications are often experienced as vivid messages or intuitive insights that offer clarity about one’s life path, personal growth, or recovery process. The concept of receiving guidance from a higher power—whether through spirits, plants, or the universe—directly mirrors the early Two-Way Prayer tradition.
Preparing for Ceremony: A Spiritual Parallel
One of the key elements that connects Psychedelics in Recovery with early AA is the emphasis on spiritual preparation. In the same way that early AA members would pray and clear their minds to receive guidance, members of Psychedelics in Recovery approach their psychedelic ceremonies with reverence and intention. Participants often engage in meditation, fasting, and personal reflection in the days leading up to a ceremony, preparing their hearts and minds to be open to spiritual insights.
This ceremonial preparation aligns closely with the practices of early AA, where individuals would spiritually prepare themselves for quiet time with God, ready to receive and act on divine instructions. The reverence and intentionality with which Psychedelics in Recovery members approach their practices harken back to a time when AA was deeply connected to a more mystical, experiential form of spirituality.
Receiving Guidance from Beyond: Grandmother Aya and the Spirits of Plant Medicine
In many psychedelic ceremonies, the experience of receiving guidance is both direct and transformative. Participants often describe feeling a deep connection to spiritual entities, whether it’s Grandmother Aya during an Ayahuasca ceremony or the spirits of other plant medicines. These beings are seen as wise and compassionate guides, offering clear direction for personal growth and recovery.
This practice of receiving guidance from spiritual entities during a psychedelic journey is remarkably similar to the way early AA members believed they were receiving direct communication from God during Two-Way Prayer. Both practices emphasize the idea of spiritual communication as a two-way street, where the individual not only asks for help but also receives clear and actionable guidance. This connection between the two traditions reveals that Psychedelics in Recovery, with its focus on spiritual experiences and guidance, is perhaps closer to the original practices of AA than modern interpretations.
Psychedelics in Recovery: A Return to AA’s Roots
In many ways, Psychedelics in Recovery represents a return to the original spirit of AA, where spiritual experiences and direct guidance were seen as essential to the recovery process. While AA has evolved into a more secular and flexible program over time, with an emphasis on personal spirituality, Psychedelics in Recovery is bringing back a more mystical, experiential form of spiritual growth that is strikingly reminiscent of early AA’s reliance on Two-Way Prayer and divine communication.
By seeking spiritual guidance through plant medicines, members of Psychedelics in Recovery are engaging in a practice that aligns closely with the principles of early AA—seeking direct, transformational experiences that offer deep insight and clarity about one’s path to recovery. This practice of receiving “downloads” or messages from spiritual entities in ceremony is not so different from the way early AA members sat quietly, pen in hand, waiting for God’s guidance to direct their next steps.
Reviving Forgotten Spiritual Traditions in Recovery
While modern AA has drifted away from practices like Two-Way Prayer, Psychedelics in Recovery is breathing new life into these forgotten spiritual traditions. By embracing plant medicine ceremonies and the guidance they offer, members of Psychedelics in Recovery are continuing the original AA practice of actively seeking spiritual direction as a cornerstone of their recovery journey.
In many ways, Psychedelics in Recovery is more aligned with the mystical, spiritually charged atmosphere of early AA than its modern counterpart. Through preparation, intention, and a deep trust in spiritual guidance, members of Psychedelics in Recovery are reviving an ancient practice—one that has been with AA since its earliest days but has faded from the mainstream. In doing so, they are forging a new path in recovery that both honors the past and embraces the future.
Although not affiliated with Psychedelics in Recovery, the following is a link to worksh0p explaining the original practice of two-way prayer
