THIS JUNETEENTH … Today We No Longer have to be a Slave to Our Own Past – Step 3

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“Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and over look the old.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882) U.S. author / poet

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What have you done to NOT feel like a “slave” to the past, lately?

What does it mean to not be a prisoner of your own thoughts or past mistakes?

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Set Them Free – Sting (4:06)

What is Juneteenth (4;33)

Trust Thyself by Emerson (3:07)

Stunning Deep Sea Meditation (5:03)

Today’s Juneteenth SFZ ties personal freedom to recovery from addiction, echoing core spiritual principles in recovery literature. Step Three calls us to surrender control and let a higher power guide our lives. Authors like Carl Jung and William James emphasized that healing often begins when we stop relying solely on our ego and reach for spiritual strength. Addiction enslaves the mind, trapping people in guilt and hopelessness, as described in Life with Hope. Like bell hooks’ writing on healing and liberation, the passage reminds us that freedom begins from within.

The Third Step Prayer, from The Big Book, helps us release self-centered thinking. This surrender does not weaken us; it strengthens us. Thomas Merton, a spiritual writer, argued that letting go of the false self reveals our true, whole self. That’s what this prayer does—it asks for release from ego so we can live with purpose.

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words serve as a timeless echo of this truth. He calls us to leave behind shame and swim into deeper waters. That journey—of diving into self-discovery—offers renewed self-respect and wisdom. Like Iyanla Vanzant says, healing doesn’t mean forgetting; it means choosing freedom over pain.

Juneteenth reminds us of a nation’s past bondage and the joy of liberation. Similarly, recovery asks us to face the pain of addiction and choose spiritual freedom. We don’t erase the past; we outgrow its hold on us.

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Comments

9 responses to “THIS JUNETEENTH … Today We No Longer have to be a Slave to Our Own Past – Step 3”

June 21, 2025

Eli🌱

For me, it’s a repeated conscious decision to stop rumination and perseveration. To substitute a tic with a positive habit as much as possible.

Reply
June 21, 2025

Zen

What it means for me not to be a prisoner of my past, is to not hold shame for my regrets. In fact, to not dwell on regrets at all. In recovery I have come to recognize that life is a series of events that are as intended.

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June 19, 2025

Elexi W.S.A.

I think my HP, Creator or Great Spirit is trying to evolve by opening my doors into where I want to get too, and sometimes constant good reflections of protection, and my reality keeps me safe, and constant reflection on where I’m at, or wanting to get to.

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June 19, 2025

Sabrina J

“There is more than one sort of prison, Captain. I sense that you carry yours wherever you go.” This line is spoken by Chirrut Îmwe to Cassian Andor in Rouge One.

A profound statement that sometimes we keep ourselves prisoners of our past, or perception, grief, etc. Certainly I have been a prisoner to many of those, including the disease of my addiction. Any time I diminish my potential and allow my ego to imprison me with limitations, my higher power shines light through miraculous ways and sends the potential to change and set myself free.

Thank you for allowing me to participate and share on my path of healing.

Reply
June 19, 2025

E-Dawg

My higher power is eternally changeless. He is the same yesterday today and forever and that helps secure my Foundation with him so it’s me evolving and aspiring to be more like him…

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June 19, 2025

Ari L

For me, its expanded to have a few components, including something innate like a soul, a sense of animism, and a sort of polytheistic thing based on the ideas of egregores. I also lean into a lot of traditional ideas, and have tried in my life to actively connect to certain deities or find inspiration from them.

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September 22, 2012

Adam

I just know that for me to avoid getting mired down in my past I continually look forward, work on my faults, and just try to forgive myself for my past. It is a continual effort that I have to do every day.

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June 22, 2012

JB jr.

Not sure whats been enslaving me lately, but Sting’s Set them Free song always makes ma feel like I can soara ove the clouds.

Reply
June 22, 2012

easy does it

Most mornings i dont know how to pray but the third step
prayer always puts me right on track

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