---
title: Blog | 12 Steps (3)
description: 12 Steps | The Next Step | Weekly Wisdom on Addiction, Recovery, Families, and Everything In-Between (3)
---

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[![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Having%20Had%20a%20Spiritual%20Awakening.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/having-had-a-spiritual-awakening)

## [“Having Had a Spiritual Awakening”](https://blog.theretreat.org/having-had-a-spiritual-awakening)

 \[fa icon="calendar'\] Jan 4, 2023 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [12 Steps](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps), [alcoholism](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism), [12 step program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-step-program), [AA Big Book](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-big-book)

[\[fa icon="comment"\] 2 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/having-had-a-spiritual-awakening#comments-listing)

The 12th Step of Alcoholics Anonymous says, “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps…” So, what is this “spiritual awakening” and why is it so crucial to long-term recovery?

[Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/having-had-a-spiritual-awakening)

[![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Preserving%20Our%20Unity.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/preserving-our-unity)

## [Preserving Our Unity](https://blog.theretreat.org/preserving-our-unity)

 \[fa icon="calendar'\] Aug 31, 2022 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [12 Steps](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program), [Alcohol & Health](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcohol-health), [Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/treatment-program)

[\[fa icon="comment"\] 7 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/preserving-our-unity#comments-listing)

In sobriety we build new connections to ourselves, our families, and our communities. In our meetings we embrace all who have “a desire to stop drinking” to our tables. Healthy groups lower barriers to sobriety by creating inclusive spaces and meetings. Healthy groups broaden their understanding of what recovery means for people with different experiences.

[Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/preserving-our-unity)

[![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Steps%20Six%20and%20Seven.jpg)](https://blog.theretreat.org/character-defects-steps-six-and-seven)

## [Character Defects: (Steps Six and Seven)](https://blog.theretreat.org/character-defects-steps-six-and-seven)

 \[fa icon="calendar'\] Jun 29, 2022 8:15:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [12 Steps](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [AA Big Book](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-big-book), [Alcohol & Health](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcohol-health), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program)

[\[fa icon="comment"\] 3 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/character-defects-steps-six-and-seven#comments-listing)

 

[Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/character-defects-steps-six-and-seven)

[![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Working%20with%20Others.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/working-with-others)

## [Working with Others](https://blog.theretreat.org/working-with-others)

 \[fa icon="calendar'\] Apr 20, 2022 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [12 Steps](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps), [12 steps of aa](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps-of-aa), [AA Big Book](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-big-book), [12 Traditions Of AA](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-traditions-of-aa)

[\[fa icon="comment"\] 4 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/working-with-others#comments-listing)

 

Chapter seven of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, is devoted entirely to working with others. You get a clue from the author of the “Big Book”, how important certain steps are by the amount of space he devotes to them. When the author has devoted an entire chapter to working with others, i.e., Step 12, it must be important.

[Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/working-with-others)

[![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Recovering%20In%20the%20Heat.jpg)](https://blog.theretreat.org/recovering-in-the-heat)

## [Recovering In the Heat](https://blog.theretreat.org/recovering-in-the-heat)

 \[fa icon="calendar'\] Jun 16, 2021 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [12 Steps](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [AA Big Book](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-big-book), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group)

[\[fa icon="comment"\] 1 Comment](https://blog.theretreat.org/recovering-in-the-heat#comments-listing)

You can turn up the heat emotionally. You can turn up the heat physically. But what do you do when your emotional and physical temp are turned up, and you can’t access the reset gauge?

[Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/recovering-in-the-heat)

[![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/people-2567915_640.jpg)](https://blog.theretreat.org/a-brief-history-on-sponsorship)

## [A Brief History on Sponsorship](https://blog.theretreat.org/a-brief-history-on-sponsorship)

 \[fa icon="calendar'\] May 14, 2020 12:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [12 Steps](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [AA Big Book](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-big-book), [12 Traditions Of AA](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-traditions-of-aa), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group)

[\[fa icon="comment"\] 2 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/a-brief-history-on-sponsorship#comments-listing)

A definition of the word sponsor published at a time when the A.A. program was in its infancy states: “Sponsor - One who assumes, or one to whom is delegated, responsibility for some other person.” Webster, circa - 1936

[Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/a-brief-history-on-sponsorship)

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