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Episode 83: Recovery for the Masses--Spiritus Contra Spiritum, Sponsorship, and the Spiritual Roots of AA
In this deep dive, Angelica traces the winding spiritual andpsychological roots of Alcoholics Anonymous—from a Swiss psychoanalyst's mystical mic drop to the passionate fervor of the Oxford Group. We explore how Carl Jung’s phrase "Spiritus contra spiritum” ("the spirit of alcohol versus the spirit of God") sparked a lineage of soul-searching drunks and spiritual rebels, eventually leading to the founding of AA.
Along the way, we meet Frank Buchman, the fiery founder ofthe Oxford Group; Rowland Hazard, the wealthy alcoholic who helped spread the message; and Bill Wilson, who turned his own spiritual awakening into a movement. We also explore AA’s “three pillars”: spirituality, stepwork, and sponsorship—unpacking how connection, confession, and good old-fashioned honesty became the true medicine for recovery.
Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just here for the hotspiritual gossip, this episode invites you to consider what happens when desperate people choose grace, one day at a time.
Sources & References·
- Alcoholics Anonymous (The Big Book) – Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1939
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions– Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1953
- AA Comes of Age – Bill Wilson, 1957
- Pass It On: The Story of Bill Wilson and How the A.A. Message Reached the World – AA World Services, 1984
- Dr. Carl Jung’s Letter to Bill W. (1961) – Available via AA archives
- The Varieties of Religious Experience – William James, 1902
- For Sinners Only – A.J. Russell, 1932
- What Is the Oxford Group? – Oxford Group Pamphlet
- Sponsorship: Questions and Answers – AA World Services Pamphlet P-15
- Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous – Ernest Kurtz, 1979
- Lois Wilson’s memoir, Lois Remembers
- AA General Service Office (GSO) Historical Timeline – aa.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_movement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Alcoholics_Anonymous#:~:text=Back%20in%20America%2C%20Hazard%20went,and%20life%20to%20God's%20care%22.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Grouphttps://practicetheseprinciplesthebook.com/aa-and-the-oxford-group
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By Angelica Yingst
5
88 ratings
In this deep dive, Angelica traces the winding spiritual andpsychological roots of Alcoholics Anonymous—from a Swiss psychoanalyst's mystical mic drop to the passionate fervor of the Oxford Group. We explore how Carl Jung’s phrase "Spiritus contra spiritum” ("the spirit of alcohol versus the spirit of God") sparked a lineage of soul-searching drunks and spiritual rebels, eventually leading to the founding of AA.
Along the way, we meet Frank Buchman, the fiery founder ofthe Oxford Group; Rowland Hazard, the wealthy alcoholic who helped spread the message; and Bill Wilson, who turned his own spiritual awakening into a movement. We also explore AA’s “three pillars”: spirituality, stepwork, and sponsorship—unpacking how connection, confession, and good old-fashioned honesty became the true medicine for recovery.
Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just here for the hotspiritual gossip, this episode invites you to consider what happens when desperate people choose grace, one day at a time.
Sources & References·
- Alcoholics Anonymous (The Big Book) – Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1939
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions– Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 1953
- AA Comes of Age – Bill Wilson, 1957
- Pass It On: The Story of Bill Wilson and How the A.A. Message Reached the World – AA World Services, 1984
- Dr. Carl Jung’s Letter to Bill W. (1961) – Available via AA archives
- The Varieties of Religious Experience – William James, 1902
- For Sinners Only – A.J. Russell, 1932
- What Is the Oxford Group? – Oxford Group Pamphlet
- Sponsorship: Questions and Answers – AA World Services Pamphlet P-15
- Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous – Ernest Kurtz, 1979
- Lois Wilson’s memoir, Lois Remembers
- AA General Service Office (GSO) Historical Timeline – aa.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_movement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Alcoholics_Anonymous#:~:text=Back%20in%20America%2C%20Hazard%20went,and%20life%20to%20God's%20care%22.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Grouphttps://practicetheseprinciplesthebook.com/aa-and-the-oxford-group