When the Heart is Clenched in a Fistful of Fear, There is but One Option Left – Step 9

PRAY FOR PEACE - "Whenever we con- front a difficulty that we do not think we can handle, we ask God [or our Higher Power] to do for us   what  we  cannot do for ourselves." (The Basic Text,   "We receive His peace when we ask Him for it. We keep His peace by extending it to others. Those are the keys and there are no others." - Marianne Williamson (1952 - ) U.S. spiritual author / speaker   Ask Me - The Smiths (2:59)  Selected Quotes from Marianne Williamson (1:45) Paradise Peace Garden - Sounds of Nature Meditation (6:15)…

Continue ReadingWhen the Heart is Clenched in a Fistful of Fear, There is but One Option Left – Step 9

Do You Know What It is Your HP Wants Most for You? Step 9

SOAKED IN PINK CLOUDS OF GLEE - "We've begun to see that God's [or our Higher Power's] will for us is the ability to live with dignity, to love ourselves and others, to laugh, and to find great joy and beauty in our surroundings." (It Works, How & Why, p. 81) "It is not God's will merely that we should be happy, but that we should make ourselves happy." - Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804) German philosopher   Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin (4:04) Brief Immanuel Kant Bio (3:14) Reiki Tantric Meditation for Happiness (9:43)   What do…

Continue ReadingDo You Know What It is Your HP Wants Most for You? Step 9

Making Amends for Our Most Repugnant Transgressions without Shame or Reservation – Step 9

A "TRUE SPIRIT OF HUMILITY & LOVE" MENDS THE PANGS OF SHAME -  "... we ask ourselves if we are doing this because we are truly sorry and have a genuine desire to make reparations ... . If we answer 'yes' to this question, we can be assured that we are approaching our amends in the true spirit of humility and love." (It Works, How & Why, p. 62) "A man should never be ashamed to own he has been wrong, which is but saying, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." - Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744)…

Continue ReadingMaking Amends for Our Most Repugnant Transgressions without Shame or Reservation – Step 9

A Good Way to Keep” the Pain Body, which is the Shadow Cast by Our Ego,” in Check – Step 9

THE SHADOW OF OUR HUGE, HEAVY GUILT BEGINS TO FLOATS AWAY -  "Memories of the past no longer hold us back ... ."  "We are free to dream and to pursue the fulfillment of our dreams.  Our lives stretch out before us like a limitless horizon." (It Works, How & Why, p. 69) "The storms of the past are receding. The skies are brightening. And the horizon is beckoning once more." - U.S. Pres. Barack Obama (1961 - ) Energy speech 12/8/09   Eckart Tolle Brief Bio (2:51) This Wreckage - Gary Numan live (7:46) Eckhart Tolle Pain Body Meditation…

Continue ReadingA Good Way to Keep” the Pain Body, which is the Shadow Cast by Our Ego,” in Check – Step 9

How Self-Acceptance Frees us to Follow our Dreams & Allow Others to do the Same – Step 9

FREED BY SELF-ACCEPTANCE SO OUR DREAMS CAN TAKE FLIGHT -  "We no longer have to be right all the time. When we give ourselves this freedom, we can allow others to be wrong. Freedom to change seems to come after acceptance of ourselves."  (The Basic Text, p. 58) "Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country." - Anais Nin (1903 - 1977) U.S. novelist   New Life - Depeche Mode live c. 1981 (4:06) Henry Miller & Anais…

Continue ReadingHow Self-Acceptance Frees us to Follow our Dreams & Allow Others to do the Same – Step 9

For Us, Being Responsible means that We are ‘Responding with Love’ – Step 9

GRATITUDE FUELS A LOVING HEART - "When brimming with gratitude, one's heartbeat must surely result in out- going love ... ." (As Bill Sees It, p. 37) "An understanding heart is everything in a teacher ... . One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling." "... warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." - Carl Jung (1875 - 1961) Swiss Psychologist   The Gratitude Campaign (2:36)  Carl Jung Brief Bio (1:57) Dyer on Manifesting Your Dreams Guided Meditation LP (20:34)…

Continue ReadingFor Us, Being Responsible means that We are ‘Responding with Love’ – Step 9

In Remembrance of Nelson Mandela: A Legend whose Selflessness Transformed a Nation – Trad. 9

SELFLESSNESS AIDS THE NEEDS OF THE MANY -  " ... no society of men and women ever had a more urgent need for continuous effectiveness and permanent unity.  We ... see that we must work together and hang together, else most of us will finally die alone." (The Big Book, p. 561) "He made us realize, we are our brother's keeper and that our brothers come in all colors." U.S. Boxer Muhammad Ali on Nelson Mandela, 1st native African President of South Africa, who died 12/5/13 at the age of 95.   U.N.I.T.Y. - Queen Latifah (4:17)   Nelson Mandela's…

Continue ReadingIn Remembrance of Nelson Mandela: A Legend whose Selflessness Transformed a Nation – Trad. 9

Why ‘What They Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Them’ , Usually does Far more Harm than Good – Step 8

"VANITY, PRIDE & ARROGANCE" oh my -  "There were cases, too, where we had damaged others who were still happily unaware of being hurt.  Why, we cried, shouldn't bygones be bygones? Why do we have to think of these people at all? These were some of the ways in which fear conspired with pride to hinder our making a list of all the people we had harmed." (12 & 12, p. 79) "The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance." - Samuel Butler (1835-1902) English novelist   Sri Swami Vishwananda speaks on pride and ego Pride (In…

Continue ReadingWhy ‘What They Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Them’ , Usually does Far more Harm than Good – Step 8

When Confrontation Comes, “Remember, You don’t Choose Love; Love Chooses You” – Step 8

OUR SPIRITUAL MYSTERY - "It may be possible to find explanations of spiritual experience such as ours, but I have often tried to explain my own ... ." "I know the feeling it gave me and the results it has brought, but I realize I may never fully understand its deeper why and how." (As Bill Sees It, p. 323) "Remember that you don't choose love; love chooses you. All you really can do is accept it for all its mystery when it comes to your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing then reach out and give it away."…

Continue ReadingWhen Confrontation Comes, “Remember, You don’t Choose Love; Love Chooses You” – Step 8

Ding, Dong! Do We Dare to Open the Door to Our Demons … Once More – Step 8

THE ENEMY WE BATTLE NEVER SLEEPS - "In our disease, we are dealing with a destructive, violent power greater than ourselves that can lead to relapse."  "We can never fully recover, no matter how long we stay clean. Complacency is the enemy ... ." (The Basic Text, pp. 84-85) ON THE BATTLE FIELD - "When World War II broke out, our A.A. dependence on a Higher Power had its first major test. A.A.'s entered the services and were scattered all over the world. Would they be able to take the discipline, stand up under fire, and endure ... ?" (As…

Continue ReadingDing, Dong! Do We Dare to Open the Door to Our Demons … Once More – Step 8