The 12 Steps In Song (read the lyrics)
As I think about sharing these songs, I realize that the 12 steps emphasize and remind us that we have gone astray through doing things "our way" and that we need to depend upon a higher power. Some of my songs, at face value, might give the impression that I can "do it My way" and be okay. I will invite you to remember, with these songs, that "my" way only works when I am spiritually connected with my Higher Power, whom I most often choose to call "Spirit". My way works when I am tuned in and one with "the way", HP's way.
With each song, I invite you to "Take what you like and leave the rest!" The lyrics have grown from my personal experiences and from my interpretation of what I hear and read within the New Thought movement of Unity. Some may touch your heart. Some might seem wrong or even offensive. All can be interpreted to meet the need you have today. For example, I sing a lot about "Spirit" and I have a relationship with Spirit (as I understand Spirit). Yet, I also believe that a sponsor, or a good friend or dream keeper, is Spirit expressing itself in this human being. If you choose to replace Spirit with Sponsor or HP or nature or whatever - GO FOR IT!
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.
- Soul Journey
- One With The All of You
- Deep Within
- Hold Me
- Can It Be
- Each and Every Moment
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- This Is The Moment
- Now
- Gratitude
- Twenty-Four Hours
- Give It Your Best Shot
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out.
- 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.
- Walking One Another Home
- I Saw A Friend
- Circle of Giving
- I Ask One Thing
- If My Life
- I'm Gonna Give It Away
- Light One Candle
- Heaven's Heartbeat
- It Doesn't Cost A Penny
In the Dark Times of the Day The 12 steps take us through a process of uncovering and owning the "darker sides" of our lives that we might release the pain and shame we carry. Only through this honesty can we get to the freedom of step 12. This song uses the phrases "taking time within the darkness" and "the blessings of the night". I would equate the darkness with the challenge of recovery - we enter a world of the unknown, trusting sponsors, the program, counselors. And it's scary...and a blessing!
Waiting In The Wings is a reminder to turn to HP, in all her forms, and she'll be there!
Precious Child Lullabye is an invitation to recall or imagine the most loving environment you can - then sit back and feel the love of your Higher Power as she sings to you.
Other pieces which speak about our relationship with HP:
Look Beyond This is not everyone's story, but it is mine. I needed to release the beliefs of my upbringing and then claim and reclaim new beliefs that matched the person I was trying to become. Inventory with a twist.
Spirit Heal Me
Cleanse Me, God Feel the freedom this song describes as you release the past in love.
Forgiven is a song about the pain we cause ourselves and the ever-present love of our Higher Power. This is forgiveness with the twist that, though we have caused others much pain, we have, in fact, caused ourselves the most pain.
Step ten reminds me to "stay in today", work the steps for this 24 hour period, live in the now. Each and every day I get another chance to show up and do the best that I can do in this moment. My life is worth living when I take the responsibility of dealing with the present moment - completely - then letting it go. The songs below help me on my daily journey.
Do You Know Her? I offer this song as a step 11 message. Prayer, for me, is placing myself in the conscious awareness of Spirit/God/HP's loving presence. Personally, I do not attach Him or Her to my God. But some people have struggled with the concept of a male God and as women in program, we are encouraged to find female sponsors. I invite you to hear the message of this song however you need to.
Life Moves On Recovery is a process of change. Until we are ready to accept that, to release what doesn't work and move on, we will not recover. This song suggests that life continues to be about change and it is our job to stay connected to HP/Spirit's message and to "take the next step".
My 12-step recovery process included a critical message that I never forget where I started. My spiritual journey has taught me to remember that Spirit/HP is the Source of all that I am and that I AM one with this spiritual source. It is my privilege and my responsibility to "be all that I can be", "believe in myself", and to "let my light shine".
These songs are all about doing spiritual 12th step work!
By Jeanne Loehnis, June 2006