A GUIDE FOR WORKING THE TWELVE STEPS (In the Manner Used by the Founders)
The author of this book is also the co-author of a book with Mark Houston entitled “A Twelve-Step Journey to SELF-Transformation.”
[NOTE: Mark H. was sober from 10-19-82 to his demise on 2-19-2010. Together, at the time of his death, Mark and the author had taken over 20,000 people through the Twelve Steps.]
“A GUIDE FOR WORKING THE TWELVE STEPS (In the Manner Used by the Founders)” is first a guide that modern-day alcoholics and sponsors can use for working the steps promptly, as did the earliest sponsors; it can be used by those first beginning to sponsor but who have no experience with taking someone through the steps;
it can offer insights for those dealing with emotional and mental needs (as referenced by Bill W.) and can be used with those who have a traditional view of God as well as those “having trouble with the God part.”
If you have worked the steps according to the traditional methods and found that which you have been seeking, then you will not need this guide.
This guide is intended to offer a totally new experience with the steps and takes into account the pointer offered by Bill W. that alcoholics are “physically intoxicated, mentally intoxicated, emotionally intoxicated, and spiritually intoxicated.”
He emphasized that they must find ALL FOUR LEVELS OF SOBRIETY, not just physical sobriety, if they are to live happy, healthy, productive lives.
This guide incorporates what was learned by interviewing people who worked the steps with the founders and who shared the methods used by some of the early sponsors who had guided them through the steps; it is also based on information received from people who worked the steps with Dr. Bob and Clarence S.
That being said, we are not trying to tell anyone how to do anything. We are sharing our experience with something that has helped some who needed more help than they have found so far.
This guide is one of two that the author is aware of that guides protégés through the steps in four sessions, but the other guide uses the Oxford Group’s more religious approach where this guide offers techniques that were used by some of the early founders and sponsors and focuses more on AA principles alone.
The Big Book reports that the founders guided protégés through the steps in “three or four hours.” Some feel that the Big Book could not possibly be stating the truth about that time line, but we found from interviews with some of the early members that such was the case.
You may first want to use the guide yourself; then, in your twelfth-step work with others, you can use this guide one-on-one as you go through The Work. Eventually, after using the guide several times, you will likely find that you have mastered the process and can take people through all twelve steps without the guide at all.
The guide is divided into four parts which take an hour or so each, and while we had doubts, Mark and the author tried it and it worked! As Mark said, “This process need not be long and arduous.”
If you are interested in a different experience with the steps, this guide might be for you. Best regards on your journey to being totally happy and joyous and free.
Other recovery books by this author:
“THE TWELVE STEPS AND ADVAITA / NON-DUALITY: A 21-Day Plan For A Psychic Change”
and
“A Twelve-Step Journey to SELF-Transformation.”
Price: $2.99
