Seamus Talks

In this session we consider life in Recovery. By Step #10 we are told that we have entered the "world of the Spirit." What does this mean and how does one live in such a world?

Discovering and uncovering those aspects of our character that are not our authentic self is discussed in this session. Like a sculptor releasing the figure from a block of marble, the Steps chip away that which is not who we are meant to be.

In this talk we consider the vital Decision of Step Three and what exactly it means. A self-driven, self-sufficient, self-reliant life does not work for alcoholics. What is the alternative?

being Power-less, we begin the process of getting this Power. It is not about getting holy or religious, nor is it bout getting to Heaven or saving one's soul. Thôis program is about finding a Power - and it has to a power greater than our own power. We hear from others (who have no reason to deceive us) that they have experienced this.

This begins the Spiritual path of the Twelve Step Recovery journey. Being clear about the Problem, having admitted powerlessness in recovering from it, we are asked to set to one side our previous understandings and begin an open-minded experiment.

a) Agreeing upon Our Common Problem. b) As important as a Fellowship of shipwreck survivors is, that is not enough for Recovery. c) Need for a Solution...

By making amends, the man discovers he is removing most of the obstacles causing his illusion of separateness, a.k.a. "spiritual malady."

In this session, having dealt with Step 12 in the previous session, Seamus and the crowd wrap up the twelve successive weeks in St. Peter's Church in Del Mar, California. Everyone there - and there were hundreds - were offered CD's, MP3 discs, website QR Cards - whatever method was preferred. What a job by all the volunteers - for we were all volunteers. The talks are carried in Audio, Vid...

In this and Step Twelve the speaker reports how it is sometime quite difficult to stay in harmony with a Power Greater than himself. But if he persists, his life will take on a new meaning. And, after all, is not that what the journey is all about.

At this point on the path the man has ceased fighting anyone or anything, even alcohol. He found that sanity has returned - as promised in Step Two. His freedom from addiction's insanity had come about without his having to focus on it. By remedying the Spiritual Malady all sorts of unexpected results followed.

In which this alcoholic discovers what is meant by Humility and begins to realize that anything in his character or behavior that separates him from others, needs to be discovered. he then becomes willing to make amends for anything he has done.

In which this person discovers that the Program is not about Self-Perfecting. That so-called Defects of Character are perhaps not what he thought they were, but things that stood in the way of his usefulness. That he might just have to live with some characteristics in himself his ego found annoying.

Scary idea that turned out to be such a relief - allowing a fresh start for the "rest of his life".

he discovered that this step was not at all like confession of "sins", but more like getting obstacles out of his way.

This man's understanding of what this step was a bout was so far off the mark - it took some atheists to set him straight.

It came as a surprise to this man that atheists were sometimes better able to arrive here than he - in spite of his background.

A very personal look at how the recovery process began for one man.