CALL IT "GREAT SPIRIT" or WHAT YOU MAY "We can call it the group, the pro- gram, or we can call it God. The only suggested guidelines are that this Power be loving, caring and greater than our- selves." (The Basic Text, p. 24) THE WILLINGNESS TO BELIEVE IN A POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES - " ' IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF BEING WILLING TO BELIEVE IN A POWER GREATER THAN MYSELF. NOTHING MORE WAS REQUIRED OF ME TO MAKE MY BEGINNING.' ... Scales of pride and prejudice fell from my eyes. A new world came into view." (The…

In re: The Now "It's being here now that's important. There's no past and there's no future.   Time is a very misleading thing.  All there is ever is the now. We can gain experience from the past, but we can't relive it, and we can hope for the future, but we don't know if there is one."  - George Harrison (1943 - 2001) musician & songwriter (the Beatles)   What beneficial results have you experienced lately from living in the now, one day at a time?    Yesterday -  The Beatles (2:25)  Thich Nhat Hanh Surrender to The Now (1:28) Meditating…

THE FLOODGATES OF EMOTION BEGIN TO OPEN - The dammed-up emotions of years break out of their con- finement, and miracu- lously vanish as soon as they are exposed. As the pain subsides, a healing tranquility takes its place." (12 & 12, p. 62) "The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise." - King David (c.1037-970 BC) second king of Israel   In what ways would a "broken and repentant heart" be on display through your own spiritual practice, lately?   Blame It - (Jaimie Foxx & Jake Gyllenhaal) …

"We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed." (The Big Book, p. 23)  "The ignorant mind, with its infinite, afflictions, passions, and evils, is rooted in the three poisons. Greed, anger, and delusion."- Bodhidharma (c. 5th century AD) Zen Buddhist monk & founder of Kung Fu.   What delusions that you mistakenly hold about yourself that you feel oughta be SMASHED? The Grand Illusion w/ lyrics (Styx) (4:38) The…

" ... this emerging from isolation through the open and honest sharing of our terrible burden of guilt, brings us to a resting place where we may prepare ourselves for the following Steps ... ." (12 & 12, p. 62)  "What we're all striving for is authenticity, a spirit - to - spirit connection." - Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ) U.S., TV mogul / actor   Under what circumstances have you felt especially connected with your HP or fellows? Hold On – Wilson Phillips (3:41) Otters  & Others Holding Hands (1:41) The Embrace – Ashana Singing Bowl Meditation   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno  …

"... in Steps One through Three, we were given the basic tools we need to negotiate the path of recovery."  "On this spiritual foundation, we lay the principles of commitment and perseverance as we work the Sixth Step." (It Works, How & Why, p. 44)   What experiences have you had with overcoming adversity, lately?   Try - Janis Joplin Live at Woodstock (4:13) Michael Sams (1st Gay NFL Draft) Overcoming Homophobia (3:18) Come Together - Gary Clark Jr. & the Justice League (2:32) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBJnoMP1Uyc   The King and The Spider   Vikram was a brave king. Once, he had…

"Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer." - excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven   How have you been loving when helping someone close deal with pain in their own lives, lately? Cloudbusting - Kate Bush (6:56) Kundalini Fear Release Meditation (16:46) Ambient Solaris Space Meditation (11:57)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRHA9W-zExQ   The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe ONCE upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.…

"The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection." (The Big Book, p. 60)   What are some of the indicators you use to gauge your own spiritual progress, lately? The Pleasure Principle – Janet Jackson (4:36) Buddha’s 14 Principles of Human Life (2:00)  Shingon Buddhist Fire Ritual - Mount Koya, Japan (22:31)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--A-5Dxmf74   The Most Beautiful Heart :   One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had…

How might an attitude of hope help to free us from the prison fear creates? "From time to time I had brief feelings of dread that Big Gay Sunday would have very few people show. But that was not the case. Lots and lots showed. And fortunately when those feelings came I allow them to dissipate and feel confident that I did what I could and the rest was outta my hands." - JB jr. Coming Back to Life - Pink Floyd (6:27) Freedom from Fear - the Aung San Suu Kyi Story (6:59) Burmese Meditation Techniques (52:25)   THE "FREE…

THE 1st STEP FILLER - "The First Step has left a vacuum in our lives. We need to find something to fill that void. This is the pur- pose of the Second Step." (The Basic Text, p. 23) "In so far as one denies what is, one is posses- sed by what is not, the compulsions, the fantasies, the ter- rors that flock to fill the void. - Ursula K. Le Guin (1929 - ) U.S. author   Song of the Siren - This Mortal Coil (3:11) Bill Moyers interviews Ursula Le Guin (22:42) The Most Beautiful Song Ever Anime…