Recovery And Paganism

[Dr. Antfarm]

This may not be very appropriate but I am an alcoholic and addict and have been in recovery for awhile now. I also belong to a certain 12 step group. Now what I was wondering if anyothers here can relate, how they combine the two? Feel free to PM me or Email any responses. I understand about anonymity. Thanks very much for help with this potentially difficult subject.

[Kalika]

This may not be very appropriate but I am an alcoholic and addict and have been in recovery for awhile now. I also belong to a certain 12 step group. Now what I was wondering if anyothers here can relate, how they combine the two? Feel free to PM me or Email any responses. I understand about anonymity. Thanks very much for help with this potentially difficult subject.
:hugz:

Well, for starters, this community is a great source of support.

Are you asking how to combine paganism and your recovery?

I would say that becoming more involved in/on your chosen path, finding a true calling, and learning to love yourself and respect your body all tie in together - I think that if you WANT to stay clean - get involved in something else. Join a basketball team for example... or a book club, or something that will help keep you occupied and meet new people...

Don't know if that helps, but I hope it gets you thinking anyways.

Blessings,

Kalika

[Dr. Antfarm]

What I'm looking for is how other members in Recovery work say, a 12 step program and their path of choice. I've been clean and sober for a few years now (don't like saying how long, it's not a badge). I'm also an alcohol and drug counsellor (for abit longer anyway). I maybe making something out nothing here, and it may just be something matter of fact. It's late, and I'm probably not making much sence, so I'll shut up. Thanks Kalika.

[Wascally Wabbit]

I don't know the answer but I wish you luck. I'm sure that having a belief in the divine helps, and a community such as this for support. You should do a search for threads with keywords in them. There must be threads for alcoholism and addictions.

[Tzhebee]

I'm an addict as well. I went through 9 brutal months of rehab to clean myself up and thankful I am still clean. I'm not worried about my anninimoty, I screwed up, I have to deal with it. Hiding behind some closed door with a bunch of other screw-ups and only using my first name makes me feel like I am dirty and did something I should be ashamed of. That's not the case.

Honestly, the 12 step program didn't work for me. At least not like it was "supposed" to. Step one is to surrender yourself to a higher power, basically saying I have no control over my life? Nope sorry. I adhear to the opposite philospohy: every action I make in my life is MY responsibilty. Now, once I side-stepped that step, the rest of them pretty much made sense, once I twisted them a bit to fit with me.

But, I didn't place a whole heck of a lot of effort into it either. I was a "band-aid" attendee. The best thing the meetings did for me was make me feel not so alone and to see that I really didn't have it as bad as I thought.

I've heard that there is a Pagan AA-type 12 step program out there. If you search for 12-step, you can find a couple older posts (2001ish) that discuss this same thing.

Best of luck to you!

[Sylvan]

Person I know on another board has started a site just for Pagans in recovery..
http://handcraftedpagan.com/pagansinrecovery/

Hope that helps... :smile:

[kiara]

I don't have any answers, just a :hugz: for support. It's not easy to give up an addiction.

[Gala]

I'm not an addict.. well except for food. but
I think like Tz. I would have problems just because of the higher power thing. I too believe that our Problems are our own making.. However.
In place of surrenduring yourself to the "higher power" you ask the divine to help you.
Design your plea in such a manner to reconcile with the phase of the moon ...or just as you would any ritual.

I don't know exactly what the 12 steps are... but I had a friend who joined because she couldn't let go of her ex girlfriend and she was driving everyone crazy... everybody needed a 12 step..
Maybe they do.. but she was like some religious people who try to get you to go to church all the time.
Then on the other hand, my mom has a friend who quietly goes each week to her AA meeting and has for many years. Most people don't know. It helped her. So ... (shrug)

My ex would never even try to help himself. He stopped drinking for 13 years.. then when he left me he started up again and has never stopped that was 10 years ago.
He's too macho to ask for help and doesn't believe in psychology etc.

I think some times people replace one addiction with another. And although some addictions are benign, I think that is something that needs to be considered.
And I think some of these 12 step programs do that.... cause the person to become addicted to the 12 step program. Which is guess considering the alternative that's ok.

Keep it up and remember that MW has great people here. I hope it works for you. I'm happy for you that you are getting better. :colorful:

[Nighthawk]

You know guys... I have ben here awhile..and the other day I realized this was a religous message board... Hmm, for all kinds. Guys, if you have a path... and have your program, I think you could make it work well. Or, maybe I misunderstood the whole thing..

[HolographicJoe]

I don't really have anything to offer you, but to say that I'm also an alcoholic and I have been successful in applying my obsessiveness to magick instead of booze. My association with AA was short but life saving. Over the long haul god has worked better for me than the 12 steps. Other than to say, "hello, brother," I don't think I can help. But greetings bro!

Joseph