Sobriety & Enlightenment: Step One

Few people blend the Buddhist spiritual path with the 12-Step journey as seamlessly and as helpfully as Fr. Bill’s guest Kevin Griffin. A teacher of Buddhist meditation for many years as well as an excellent writer and musician, Kevin is also a man in long-term recovery from addiction with a powerful message to share. The series explores Kevin’s book One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. It’s sure to be of interest to spiritual travelers of all stripes. In this episode, Kevin shares his recovery story along with his experience, strength and hope related to Step One. You’ll find Kevin a gentle and wise teacher sure to bring added insights to your recovery program.Show notes: One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps by Kevin GriffinKevin’s website: https://kevingriffin.net/

Bill Wilson wrote: “Where did we learn about moral inventory, amends for harms done, turning our will and our lives over to the care of God? Where did we learn about prayer and meditation and all the rest? The spiritual substance of our remaining ten Steps (Steps 2 through 11) came straight from Dr. Bob’s and my own early associationwith the Oxford Groups….”Fr. Bill’s guests are Rob and Susan Corchoran, both long-time leaders in the movement that gave birth to AA.Susan’s dad, Alan Thornhill wrote several plays that helped carry the Oxford Group message of spiritual transformation to tens of thousands all around the world. And Rob’s father worked for the Groups amidst the labor unions of Scotland.Together they labored for many years for racial harmony in Richmond, Virginia helping heal the wounds of slavery and discrimination through a program called Hope in the Cities.The Oxford Group wanted to “change the world” through the program of spiritual transformation Bill Wilson used so successfully to change alcoholics. This interview will help you better understand the spiritual roots of our 12-Step programs.Show notes:    Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group·     The Forgotten Factor: A play by Alan Thornhill (pdf copy)Moral Re-Armament·     Rob Corcoran website and blog link: https://www.robcorcoran.org/Toward Transformative Reparations by Rob Corcoran and Mike Wenger https://www.robcorcoran.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Toward-Transformative-Reparations-NCHE.pdf

A beautiful man in long term recovery whose life blended 12-Step recovery with Native American ceremony, and a resurrected Roman Catholicism.  For many years, Bill hasbeen practicing a form of Two Way Prayer that has included listening to the Inner Voice speak to him and heal his inner wounds, often through poetry. Bill recently published a collection of his writings titled Our Trilogy: Poetry for Connection and Purpose. Most of us Oldtimers can spot the genuine article when it appears. Bill C. is one of these. I think you’ll enjoy hearing his story, benefit from some of his hard-earned wisdom, and enjoy hearing him read a few of his inspired poems.Show notes:  Our Trilogy by Bill Cullen: Poetry for Connection andPurpose https://store.bookbaby.com/book/our-trilogy /Cursillo MovementThe Power of Two Way Prayer by Father Bill W.·      Native American Sundance Ceremony: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Dance

When most of us addicts wash up on the shores of recovery to say we’ve lost our way seems a gross understatement. The bottom has usually fallen out from under our lives. We feel utterly lost and painfully alone. The world we knew is gone and no new world has arrived to take its place. We need a map to orient us and a guide to help us find our way home.This is the world Jungian analyst Dr. James Hollis describes in his book “Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times.” It’s likely an all too familiar world to most of us addicts. Hollis says not only are we lost, but the religious structures and cultural belief systems thatsupported yesterday’s lost souls seem out of reach for many of today’s men and women. The series describes this lost-world and how to access the “Inner Resilience” needed to find our way home. This episode is in three parts – each is focused on insights into the several gifts depth psychology can bring to us in recovery.Part 3 is the final episode in the series and covers:A.      We Are the Meaning MakersB.      From Whence Cometh, And Wither To?C.     Do We Ever Really Arrive Home?Show notes: Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times by James Hollis, PhD. The Power of Two Way Prayer by Father Bill W.

When most of us addicts wash up on the shores of recovery to say we’ve lost our wayseems a gross understatement. The bottom has usually fallen out from under our lives.We feel utterly lost and painfully alone. The world we knew is gone and no new world has arrived to take its place. We need a map to orient us and a guide to help us find our way home.This is the world Jungian analyst Dr. James Hollis describes in his book “Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times.” It’s likely an all too familiar world to most of us addicts. Hollis says not only are we lost, but the religious structures and cultural belief systems that supported yesterday’s lost souls seem out of reach for many of today’s men and women.The series describes this lost-world and how to access the “Inner Resilience” needed to find our way home. This episode is in three parts – each is focused on insights into the gifts depth psychology can bring to us in recovery. Part #2 covers:A.       Our psyche wishes to be heardB.       Fear and lethargy are our greatest opponentsShow notes:Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times by James Hollis, PhD.The Power of Two Way Prayer

When most of us addicts wash up on the shores of recovery to say we’ve lost our way seems a gross understatement. The bottom has usually fallen out from under our lives. We feel utterly lost and painfully alone. The world we knew is gone and no new world has arrived to take its place. We need a map to orient us and a guide to help us find our way home.This is the world Jungian analyst Dr. James Hollis describes in his book “Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times.” It’s likely an all too familiar world to most of us addicts. Hollis says not only are we lost, but the religious structures and cultural belief systems thatsupported yesterday’s lost souls seem out of reach for many of today’s men and women. The series describes this lost-world and how to access the “Inner Resilience” needed to find our way home. This episode is in two parts – each focused on insights into the gifts depth psychology can bring to us in recovery. Part #1 covers:A. The real issues of life are never solved – but they can be outgrown.B. The cure for loneliness is solitude.C. Our best, most demanding, and most useful job is addressing our own shadows.Show notes: Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times by James Hollis, PhD. The Power of Two Way Prayer

When most of us addicts wash up on the shores of recovery to say we’ve lost our way seems a gross understatement. The bottom has usually fallen out from under our lives. We feel utterly lost and painfully alone. The world we knew is gone and no new world has arrived to take its place. We need a map to orient us and a guide to help us find our way home.This is the world Jungian analyst Dr. James Hollis describes in his book “Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times.” It’s likely an all too familiar world to most of us addicts. Hollis says not only are we lost, but the religious structures and cultural belief systems thatsupported yesterday’s lost souls seem out of reach for many of today’s men and women. The series describes this lost-world and how to access the “Inner Resilience” needed to find our way home. This episode is centered on finding and resonating with the Greater Self that resides within and wishes to communicate with us on our journey through life. Show notes: ·     Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times by James Hollis, PhD. The Power of Two Way Prayer

When most of us addicts wash up on the shores of recovery to say we’ve lost our way seems a gross understatement. The bottom has usually fallen out from under our lives. We feel utterly lost and painfully alone. The world we knew is gone and no new world has arrived to take its place. We need a map to orient us and a guide to help us find our way home.This is the world Jungian analyst Dr. James Hollis describes in his book “Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times.” It’s likely an all too familiar world to most of us addicts. Hollis says not only are we lost, but the religious structures and cultural belief systems thatsupported yesterday’s lost souls seem out of reach for many of today’s men and women. The series describes this lost-world and how to access the “Inner Resilience” needed to find our way home. This episode takes a deep dive into the nature of HEALING found in recovery.Show notes: Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times by James Hollis, PhD. The Power of Two Way Prayer

When most of us addicts wash up on the shores of recovery to say we’ve lost our way seems a gross understatement. The bottom has usually fallen out from under our lives. We feel utterly lost and painfully alone. The world we knew is gone and no new world has arrived to take its place. We need a map to orient us and a guide to help us find our way home.This is the world Jungian analyst Dr. James Hollis describes in his book “Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times.” It’s likely an all too familiar world to most of us addicts. Hollis says not only are we lost, but the religious structures and cultural belief systems that supported yesterday’s lost souls seem out of reach for many of today’s men and women.The series describes this lost-world and how to access the “Inner Resilience” needed to find our way home. This episode draws on three major lessons Hollis learned over his many years of practicing and teaching depth psychology.Show notes:Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times by James Hollis, PhD.Robert Johnson’s, Inner WorkThe Power of Two Way Prayer

When most of us addicts wash up on the shores of recovery to say we’ve lost our way seems a gross understatement. The bottom has usually fallen out from under our lives. We feel utterly lost and painfully alone. The world we knew is gone and no new world has arrived to take its place. We need a map to orient us and a guide to help us find our way home.This is the world Jungian analyst Dr. James Hollis describes in his book “Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times.” It’s likely an all too familiar world to most of us addicts. Hollis says not only are we lost, but the religious structures and cultural belief systems that supported yesterday’s lost souls seem out of reach for many of today’s men and women.The series describes this lost-world and how to access the “Inner Resilience” needed to find our way home. Episode Three is focused on “soul work” in recoveryShow notes:Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times by James Hollis, PhD.Robert Johnson’s Inner WorkThe Power of Two Way Prayer