Natural Dreamwork and the 12 Steps: The Recovery Chronicles #00

Note: in these posts, I will speak about dreamwork in the context of the recovery program known as the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is a christian based program, and I will necessarily refer to the concept of God. Over time, my own journey has lead me to an Animist veiw of spirituality, which is to say I believe that all matter is infused with the intelligence of creator and that thus there are mulititude of gods and goddesses. For the purposes of The Recovery Chronicles, I will speak in the language of AA to maintain a consistency with those who have an understanding of that program.

“Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure.” Rumi

I came to the dreams by way of recovery. Most of my friends in recovery know this and have supported my journey over the years. I could not have possibly known in the early part of the new century when the alcohol had stopped working and the genie of rage had escaped from his lantern, that I would one day awaken as a teacher and healer.

A preposterous idea which had neither seed nor sun in the years, days and months leading up to my bottom, when all hope had been lost. No amount of pride, shame, or denial could offer a shield from the moment of clarity that said, "I'm done."  It was not a fantastical moment, there were no bright lights, no burning bush, nothing to portend the true coming storm. It was simply a moment of clarity where I knew that I must change or die.

When we hit bottom, finally admit we are powerless over alcohol and that our lives have become unmanageable, we hope for freedom from the mental obsession and physical compulsion to use or drink. We are small minded in that moment, for there is no way to understand the possibility of actually finding our soul again. We have no concept of our true potential and what is possible for us. We do not understand grace or how grace could enter our own lives. We must learn...sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

Today I follow a spiritual path rooted in wisdom of my dreams and tempered by my 12 step recovery work. I understand and embrace gratitude for my alcoholism. Today I work with others and their dreams. With my clients who are in recovery, I share that special bond of the band of fellows that we are in our shared language and understanding of 12 step work as the foundation of all that we do.

The basic tenets of the 12 steps are steeped in a gnostic approach to spirituality, namely that we choose a God of our understanding and enter into a personal relationship with that God to maintain a daily reprieve from our alcohol-ISM. Once we have obtained physically sobriety, the work of emotional sobriety takes on a crucial importance.  The truth is that all "AA's ", code word Spiritual Warrior!, become Bodhisattvas if they so choose.

A Bodhisattva is essentially one who journeys deeply into themself to find the cause and acceptance of their suffering. Through this process, they learn humility, they learn compassion for themself, they make their amends. They come to terms with their past, neither regretting it nor wishing to close the door on it. Their difficulties are alchemized into love through the grace of their God and a whole new set of values displaces their previous beliefs. In the huge upwelling of gratitude that comes from this experience, they wish that all could be enlightened to this compassion and love, that all could find healing. They then actively choose to return to the world and to carry this message of hope to others. This concept is the foundation of Step 12, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps (the journey inward), we sought to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."

In these postings, I will share my experience of recovery and how the dreams have supported, challenged and opened me in unexpected ways. I will share guidance and tips as to how you can begin to bring the power of your dreams to support your recovery work. And I will offer insights and stories from my own dreams and recovery work.

How is it then that our dreaming life can help us?

The dreams are like a lantern shining God's light into our darkest corners. They also illuminate our Divine potential as human beings with a purpose here on this earth now, today. Dreams will bring us repeatedly to the felt experience of acceptance of our powerlessness, showing us the subtler nuances of how our lives are unmanageable. Our Higher Power will come over and over in the guise of various Archetypes to provoke us, to teach us, and to guide us towards wholeness. We look to our dreams to more fully reveal our habitual patterns, the character defects which block us from our Higher Power, so that we may learn and understand that they are not our only choice. The dreams will support our 11th step work by providing us with the felt experience of our deep connection to Higher Power. They open us to our own Gnosis, the Promises, and a wisdom that is unique to each of us for carrying the message of our recovery and the hope for others.

Please sign up for my mailing list, bookmark this site, or send me your email address to receive a link to these postings. I will be posting periodically.

Practicum: Start writing down your dreams. Along with the dream narrative, make a note of what step you are currently working on and/or what character defect seems to be most troublesome in your life. If you have trouble remembering your dreams, check out my Tips for Dream Recall.

Check out my booking page if you would like to explore your dreams with me: Bookings. Feel free to share comments or questions here. I will answer all who take the time to write.

To find all posts from The Recovery Chronicles simply enter "recovery chronicles" into the search bar the top of this blog.

In fellowship on the Road of Happy Destiny,

Laura Smith-Riva