Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
First step in filling a long-empty gap., September 1, 2005
Ideally, a 12 Step program stresses *spirituality* in recovery, the Higher Power, however one recognizes it, be it God or one's Higher Self. In reality, being a Pagan in recovery can be a pretty lonely, isolating experience. Paganism in often mis-understood, which can put a damper on the openess, honesty, and 'fearless self-inventory' required for recovery.
This book goes a good way to addressing the specific needs of Pagans seeking recovery from chemical and process addictions, along with rituals, writing exercises, and mediations designed to bolster the teachings of each Step.
That said, the book has some serious flaws. It doesn't spend enough *time* on each Step, or the approaches one can take to them. I have often had to turn to Beattie's "The Co-Dependent's Guide to the 12 Steps" to supplement this book, because of the sheer lack of information. The outline is there, but the emotional connection is often missing. Too much time is spent on case histories and not enough on how to apply the step to one's own situation.
One of the tools used in the book is the Tarot--a very useful tool in itself. However, the results of the readings given in the book make me wonder just where the (card) reader was coming from. The interpretations of many of the cards are pretty far out from what I've learned--and more than a little negative. The spreads are also new and somewhat complicated, requiring a lot of page-flipping. There doesn't seem much point to the complexity of some of the spreads, which seem elaborate for the sake of elboration. (Is it *really* necessary to have a spread that puts cards at the main compass points instead of using the Celtic Cross?)
The feelings of isolation a Pagan may feel in a more mainstream recovery group is indeed a danger in its hinderance to recovery, in the 'cut-off' feeling that makes it that much easier to lapse.
The book also tries to cover too much territory--process addictions like co-dependency and sex addiction to chemical addictions like alcohol and narcotics. As such, there's a lot of jumping around and skimping. If you're looking for a focus on co-dpendency, or food-addiction, you'll have to read very closely.
The personal stories add depth, but I don't buy recovery books to read about other people, I buy them to help *myself*. A lot of the space given over to the lives of strangers could have been better used in giving concrete guidelines to Pagans in need.
This is not a bad book by far, but I would not rely on it and a group alone to bolster recovery efforts. One should have a book meant specifically for one's particular addiction to hand as well, for application of the Steps does indeed vary depending on the form of the addiction.
This book can alleviate the sense of 'otherness' and isolation experienced by those whose religious practices are outside the mainstream, and the re-wording of some of the Steps can make approaching them easier (and we all know, it doesn't matter how you get 'em to come in, so long as they *keep coming*.) I, for one, had the hardest time with the wording of Step One, and find this version something I can embrace without fear--but the complaint of twisting the Steps out of true by re-wording them is not without grounds. It appears that the rituals and Tarot exercises included were put in to replace the "Twelve Tools" present in most 12 Step programs. In fact, the idea of the Twelve Tools is never even mentioned in the text.
Use this book, if you're a Pagan--but use it with a 12-Step group, be it pagan or otherwise. Use it with other books as you work your program. This is just one tool for your recovery.
If you help organize a 12-Step group, read this book for an idea of what the closet Pagans in your group--present and future--may need. Anyone in recovery knows not to spurn a tool that can help bring us to sanity and balance, no matter how it's packaged or named.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
At Last: A Pagan 12 Step Program!!, June 16, 2004
The most often used tool in the fight against addictions is the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Program. But as many pagans who have used this program know, it is very Christian oriented in it's beliefs and structure and only gives passing acknowledgment to other Spiritual Paths.
Ms. Collins has an M.S. in counseling and is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and has been a practicing Wiccan for thirty years. Her Masters work specialized in various abuses and abuse related issues. She offers in this book an option to the AA 12 Step Program. She has re-written the 12 steps so they fall more into place with general pagan beliefs and practices and includes some Wiccan principals as well.
The Pagan 12 Steps included in this book are brilliant and should find their way into mainstream 12 Step programs for the assistance in pagan addiction recovery. They are well thought out, right on the mark and place the responsibility of recovery on the individual with the assistance of Divine Presence.
The book also presents five 'Principles' for recovery. These principles assist in developing personal self worth, challenge each person to change, offer hope in recovery and foster balance, honesty, reality and success.
Ms. Collins offers an insightful personal process based on self examination through the use of Tarot Cards, and discusses various types of emotional and addictive abuses through the eyes of various persons who have gone through this self examination process, including herself.
There are small vignettes of people as they talk about their lives, their habits, their struggles with abuse, drugs, sex, family issues, relationships and other types of emotional stresses and issues in relationship to principles outlined by Ms. Collins. She goes over some Tarot spreads which highlight these issues and their base causes and assists you in the readings. She points out personal responsibilities which were missed, causes that may have contributed to their addictive issues, and solutions that are self initiated and Deity inspired.
While the 12 Step program is not always successful, it has proven to be very effective with most people who dedicate themselves to healing and change. The program as adapted for the pagan community in this book offers additional assistance focused on personal responsibility and beliefs.
I would recommend this to any practicing pagan counselor looking for a fresh view at the addiction recovery systems, especially those using the current 12 Step program. This book offers a very practical pagan addition to the program and can be used in conjunction with any program already in place.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pagan recovery with a Pagan perspective, October 27, 2005
Ms. Collins delivers a break-through book for Pagans suffering from the debilitating dis-ease of addictions. Whatever the addiction from alcohol or drugs to helping others or buying too much, this book works on the intuitive level to address the cause and changes needed to find relief from a life ravaged by addictive behaviors.
For years the Pagan sufferer has had to make do with books written mainly from a Judeo-Christian perspective. While many have found such books helpful and used them to achieve a measure of relief from their addictions, there was something "not quite right" from a Pagan viewpoint. The Recovery Spiral addresses this lack in many Pagan addicts' needs for full recovery from addiction and its harmful side effects.
Ms. Collins based her book on her own recovery since 1974, and her specialized work on abuse and abuse related issues. She takes the Pagan addict on the Path of Recovery through meditation, ritual and tarot readings all based on a reworded 12 Step system of recovery with gentle humor and guidance. Through the stories of the author herself and several others in the book we learn how a Spiral Path of recovery can work in our own lives.
Each of the reworded 12 Steps is thoroughly explained in a Pagan perspective. The rituals are simple enough even for a beginner to the Pagan Ways. The author's voice is clear and concise in her explanations of Step work. The book's three distinct sections are well laid out for anyone wanting to use the book from the newest to recovery to those with many years of 12th Step experience.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to remove old baggage from their lives and replace it with healthy behaviors so they can live with a fuller connection to themselves, their friends, family and the Divine.
W. Lyon Martin Author/Illustrator of "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child"
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