The 12 Traditions: A Guiding Light
The original (Great men of the highest honor!) AA long ago devised twelve traditions that reflect more of a quasi-government for willingly, without pay, and not of the Brotherhood organization of AA. A guiding "rule," once internalized then thereafter went without saying in devotion and servitude to the Brotherhood of all, men and women alike.
Understanding the Core Principles
The 12 Traditions are as equally important in understanding how and why AA works worldwide, as they correlate directly with the 12 Steps of AA. They provide a framework for unity and effective functioning within the fellowship.
Are the 12 Traditions like 'voodoo' rituals? Or 'magic' tricks?
If you're worried this is 'voodoo' or something strange, please know that the Traditions are simply guiding principles. You have to believe in whatever it is in your unseen worlds in order to come to see how all roads—the ones we have traversed for centuries in great, vast multitude soul time—will direct you onto the "RIGHT HWY" for you. We can't wear each other's shoes, but we sure can push a brother or a sister down the hill! 🙆
What does it all mean for me?
Mental security, peace, knowing that your rights, morals, and values will be upheld with the utmost respect and strict adherence. Unwavering support and representation in all AA 'structural' and transparent interactions. Period.
What's the porpoise? 🙋
The core purpose of the 12 Traditions is to ensure the unity and effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous. They serve as a spiritual guide, ensuring that the fellowship can best serve its members and carry its message of recovery to those who still suffer.
So What Are These Traditions?
- Our common welfare should come first, personal recovery depends upon AA unity.
- For our group porpoise 🐬 there is but one authority and a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are trusted servants; they do not govern.
- The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.
- Each groupbshould be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.
- Each group has but one primary porpoise 🐳--to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
- An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary porpoise. 🐋
- Every AA group light to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
- Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
- AA as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
- Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
- Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press 📰, radio 🎤, [TV 📺] and films 🎥.
- Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all of our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principalities before personalities.
~~ C. 1952, 1953, 1981 by A.A.Grapevine, Inc. and Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing (now known as Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.) All rights reserved.
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