Monthly Step & Tradition Letters
- January : Step 1 & Tradition 1
- February : Step 2 & Tradition 2
- March : Step 3 & Tradition 3
- April : Step 4 & Tradition 4
- May : Step 5 & Tradition 5
- June : Step 6 & Tradition 6
- July : Step 7 & Tradition 7
- August : Step 8 & Tradition 8
- September : Step 9 & Tradition 9
- October : Step 10 & Tradition 10
- November : Step 11 & Tradition 11
- December : Step 12 & Tradition 12
January : Step 1 & Tradition 1
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 1 and Tradition 1. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 1 ***
"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more - the Big Book opens with Bill's Story (which details how one of the A.A. founders found that he was powerless over alcohol and that his life was unmanageable) and I think Chapter 3, "More About Alcoholism" talks about this in detail. There's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 1 ***
"Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (see p. 562). There's more in "The Long Form;" Tradition 1 is at the top of p. 563 (in the 4th edition):
"Each member of Alcoholics Anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. A.A. must continue to live or most of us will surely die. Hence our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare follows close afterward."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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February : Step 2 & Tradition 2
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 2 and Tradition 2. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 2 ***
"Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more in Chapter 4 (We Agnostics), starting about page 44. And there's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 2 ***
"For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's a little less (for some reason) in The Long Form, which starts on p. 563.
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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March : Step 3 & Tradition 3
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 3 and Tradition 3. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 3 ***
"Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more in Chapter 5, starting on p. 60. And there's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 3 ***
"The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form, which starts on p. 563.
"Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse non who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provide that, as a group, they have no other affiliation."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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April : Step 4 & Tradition 4
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 4 and Tradition 4. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 4 ***
"Made a searching and fearless inventory of ourselves."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's a lot more in Chapter 5, starting on p. 64. And there's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 4 ***
"Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form, which starts on p. 563.
"With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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May : Step 5 & Tradition 5
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 5 and Tradition 5. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 5 ***
"Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more in Chapter 6, starting on p. 72. And there's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 5 ***
"Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form, which starts on p. 563.
"Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose - that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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June : Step 6 & Tradition 6
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 6 and Tradition 6. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 6 ***
"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more in Chapter 6 (Into Action), starting about page 75. And there's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 6 ***
"An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous" (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's a little more in The Long Form, which starts on p. 563, which has more about some of the traditions, and lists them all together:
"Problems of money, property, and authority may easily divert us from our primary spiritual aim. We think, therefore, that any considerable property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material from the spiritual. An A.A. group, as such, should never go into business. Secondary aids to A.A., such as clubs or hospitals which require much property or administration, ought to be incorporated and so set apart that, if necessary, they can be freely discarded by the groups. Hence such facilities ought not to use the A.A. name. Their management should be the sole responsibility of those people who financially support them. For clubs, A.A. managers are usually preferred. But hospitals, as well as other places of recuperation, ought to be well outside A.A. -- and medically supervised. While an A.A. group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or implied. An A.A. group can bind itself to no one."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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July : Step 7 & Tradition 7
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 7 and Tradition 7. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 7 ***
"Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more in Chapter 6 (Into Action), starting at the top of page 76. There's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 7 ***
"Every AA Group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form, which starts on p. 564, which has more about some of the traditions, and lists them all together:
"The A.A. groups themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their own members. We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying any obligation whatever, is unwise. Then too, we view with much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds with no stated A.A. purpose. Experience has often warned us that nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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August : Step 8 & Tradition 8
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 8 and Tradition 8. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step8 9 ***
"Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more in Chapter 6 (Into Action), starting in the middle of page 76. There's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 8 ***
"Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form; tradition 8 starts at the bottom of p. 564 (in the 4th edition):
"Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional. We define professionalism as the occupation of counseling alcoholics for fees or hire. But we may employ alcoholics where they are going to perform those services for which we might otherwise have to engage nonalcoholics. Such special services may be well recompensed. But our usual A.A. '12 Step' work is never to be paid for."
There's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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September : Step 9 & Tradition 9
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 9 and Tradition 9. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 9 ***
"Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's much more in Chapter 6 (Into Action), starting in the middle of page 76. There's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 9 ***
"AA., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form; Tradition 9 starts at the top of p. 565 (in the 4th edition):
"Each A.A. group needs the least possible organization. Rotating leadership is the best. The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committee, and the groups of a large metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which often employs a full-time secretary. The trustees of the General Service Board are, in effect, our A.A. General Service Committee. They are the custodians of our A.A. Tradition and the receives of voluntary A.A. contributions by which we maintain our A.A. General Service Office at New York. They are authorized by the groups to handle our over-all public relations and they guarantee the integrity of our principle newspaper, the A.A. Grapevine. All such representatives are to be guided in the spirit of service, for true leaders in A.A. are but trusted and experienced servants of the whole. They derive no real authority from their titles; they do not govern. Universal respect is the key to their usefulness."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org
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October : Step 10 & Tradition 10
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 10 and Tradition 10. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 10 ***
"Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more in Chapter 6 (Into Action), starting in the middle of page 84. There's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 10 ***
"Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy"
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form; Tradition 9 starts at the top of p. 565 (in the 4th edition):
"No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues--particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion. The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one. Concerning such matters they can express no views whatever."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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November : Step 11 & Tradition 11
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 11 and Tradition 11. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 11 ***
"Sought through prayer and meditation to increase our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There's more in Chapter 6 (Into Action), starting at the bottom of p. 85. There's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 11 ***
"Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form; Tradition 11 starts near the bottom of p. 565 (in the 4th edition):
"Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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December : Step 12 & Tradition 12
We are all invited to share, at any time this month, on Step 12 and Tradition 12. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
*** Step 12 ***
"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 60). There's more in Chapter 7 (Working with Others), starting on p. 89, which is all about the 12th step. There's even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Tradition 12 ***
"Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities."
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (see p. 562). There's more in The Long Form; Tradition 12 starts at the bottom of p. 565 (in the 4th edition):
"And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility This is to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all."
There's more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org/
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