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All AA/NA peoples - what is your higher power?

Phase0)))

Phase0)))

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
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104
So I am very involved in AA now, even though I always hated it, but now I really like it. However the biggest thing I struggled with, like most other people, is the concept of a higher power.

Now I consider myself to be a pretty intellectual guy, I've studied many religions and spiritualities, mostly Gnosticism, Occultism, Esotericism, etc.
As well as the Abrahamic faiths and the East Asian thoughts.

When I came into AA, I hated the word "Higher Power". It was so bland, and elementary sounding, devoid of any intellectual thought. Just 2 words pissed me off that much, funny huh? I do like the term "A god of your own understanding". I like that a lot actually.

So I have already known my higher power(s). I am a Norse Pagan, or what people call Forn Sidr, so I did not struggle with understanding my path. But most of the people in AA are Christians. All the meetings are at Churches. If we don't say the serenity prayer at the end, we usually say the Lord's prayer. I think that maybe I would be judged if I revealed my beliefs to someone in the program who is a devout Christian. But I did know one guy in the program who was a Theistic Satanist, which of course meant that we got along well.

Anyways, so I am asking you guys, who are in AA or NA, or any other recovery groups, what is your higher power and did you struggle with the concept at first?

Thank you!
 
Pretty hard to explain, but it works for me. It is not the Christian concept of God though. It also continues to change all the time and the longer I stay clean and work a program.

My advice: Try to keep it simple. My early HP was "the process of recovery".
 
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phactor said:
Pretty hard to explain, but it works for me. It is not the Christian concept of God though. It also continues to change all the time and the longer I stay clean and work a program.

My advice: Try to keep it simple. My early HP was "the process of recovery".
Click to expand...

^Sure.

You could interpret this as anything that fits your beliefs.
I think it´s all about energy, big ban, some great "thing" that caused our existence.

Don´t get stuck because of the wording. Adapt it to your own understanding of what really helps.
I was never comfortable with that either.
AA is based in sharing experiences, healing though acceptance of who you are.
Focus on that link of good willing, your willpower etc.
I find some AA/NA people to be quite open minded. Ask them how they feel about it.
The people I know don´t even believe in God.
They are there to try to be sober that´s what is important. Your recovery.
 
I always find it fascinating how many people find AA has a heavy Christian influence. In my area AA meetings are not generally held in churches, and the vibe is quite secular. Talk of God and a higher power is generally nebulous, and I get the feeling that Christianity is looked at somewhat askance. Not long ago we had a topic meeting about the concept of a higher power and one young guy left a remark that touched me. He said he struggled with the concept of God, so he chose the sun as his higher power because he could see it and feel it.

My higher power is God, but I really have no idea what that means. The nature of my God changes all the time depending on where I'm at and what I need. I'm not even sure I believe my God actually exists, but even as a myth it provides a framework for me to release and trust in something outside of myself.
 
My brother used to call the God at his meetings "Good Orderly Direction"-as he didnt like religion
All of his meetings were in churches, he would have been thrilled to have had a meeting somewhere other than a church!
 
My higher power is based on New Age spirituality. Energy, vibrations, the big bang, law of attraction, karma, etc. In recovery, I have noticed that life seems to come together when you turn your will over to God.
 
vancbc said:
I always find it fascinating how many people find AA has a heavy Christian influence. In my area AA meetings are not generally held in churches, and the vibe is quite secular. Talk of God and a higher power is generally nebulous, and I get the feeling that Christianity is looked at somewhat askance. Not long ago we had a topic meeting about the concept of a higher power and one young guy left a remark that touched me. He said he struggled with the concept of God, so he chose the sun as his higher power because he could see it and feel it.

My higher power is God, but I really have no idea what that means. The nature of my God changes all the time depending on where I'm at and what I need. I'm not even sure I believe my God actually exists, but even as a myth it provides a framework for me to release and trust in something outside of myself.
Click to expand...

It really depends on the area, I have been in a few different locations and I can say some are very secular (tend to be bigger cities), some religious (small communities) and some inbetween (working class areas).

When I move to a large city in a few months, I will be hitting up many more AA meetings. Might even switch over and try the AA way of doing the steps.

As for meetings being held in churches... the reason is because the rent is usually cheap. It is in the traditions of the 12 steps that no outside entity (including a church) can have any influence on the group itself no matter what.

I actually was involved in a situation in where I had to urge a meeting to find a new location because the Pastor of the church was trying to influence the meeting.

Don't get too tied up in where the meeting is held. Some of the most progressive meetings I have been to are held in churches, shit, for a long time certain denominations carried the GLBT meetings. I honestly think that GLBT 12 step meetings changed the perspectives of many pastors over the years.
 
My Higher Power I refer to as my Super Powers. The main Powers I have are meditating on my breath, especially in the forest (and listening to the birds) and exercise. These are the Powers strong enough to get me right when I am heading towards an anxiety filled life.
 
Something that has really helped me is I see evidence of some type of power greater then self working in both my life and other people's lives when they start to recover. There is a reason that some of the friendliest and kindest people you will ever meet are often at 12 step meetings.
 
My higher power is Kevin Smith. Knowing that Kevin Smith is out there, still making and writing movies, being hilarious on stage, and just generally doing his thing is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow. When I'm having tough times I pray to Kevin Smith to remove my spiritual defects and help me to progress in my recovery, and I depend on him a lot for my continued sobriety and recovery.
 
phactor said:
It really depends on the area, I have been in a few different locations and I can say some are very secular (tend to be bigger cities), some religious (small communities) and some inbetween (working class areas).

When I move to a large city in a few months, I will be hitting up many more AA meetings. Might even switch over and try the AA way of doing the steps.

As for meetings being held in churches... the reason is because the rent is usually cheap. It is in the traditions of the 12 steps that no outside entity (including a church) can have any influence on the group itself no matter what.

I actually was involved in a situation in where I had to urge a meeting to find a new location because the Pastor of the church was trying to influence the meeting.

Don't get too tied up in where the meeting is held. Some of the most progressive meetings I have been to are held in churches, shit, for a long time certain denominations carried the GLBT meetings. I honestly think that GLBT 12 step meetings changed the perspectives of many pastors over the years.
Click to expand...

There's a badass one in my area held in a Unitarian Universalist church for NA
 
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