The Recovery Spiral: A Pagan Path to Healing

Rating:
Summary: Very good start!
Review: For someone struggling with the profoundly Christian slant of most 12-step programs, I was thrilled to find a book that offered concrete ideas, rituals, etc. for embracing a Pagan philosophy of support. The book is easy to read, offers tremendously good thoughts to ponder and concrete rituals, Tarot spreads relating to each of the twelve steps, and anecdotal illustrations. It's truly a good beginning for anyone seeking to find a twelve-step solution from an earth-based path.

Rating:
Summary: At Last: A Pagan 12 Step Program!!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: At Last: The Pagan 12 Step Program!!
Review: 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 acknowledgement 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.   boudica