Steps

The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous can help transform a person's life in a positive direction. However, most disobedient slaves who decide to join A.A. or other 12-step groups and earnestly follow their prescribed programs become compliant, obedient slaves that slave masters and their proxies literally applaud. As a consequence, we had been inspired to rewrite the steps and traditions to help us avoid some well-lain traps.

We encourage members of Slaves Anonymous to become familiar with the steps that we read at meetings. Each member can practice the steps to restore his or her sanity and help create the conditions necessary for emancipation of our local communities. And we encourage each member of Slaves Anonymous to rewrite the steps to better serve his or her needs.

The Suggested Steps of Slaves Anonymous

1. We admitted we were dominated by slavery—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that we could restore ourselves to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives away from the care of the slave masters.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of the matrix of control.
5. Admitted the exact nature of its wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to be free of the matrix.
7. Began transforming our local communities.
8. Made a list of all persons being harmed, and became willing to stop this from happening.
9. Stopped the harm to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others more gravely.
10. Continued to observe the matrix and our effect on our local communities.
11. Sought through creative activities to improve our connection with our passion and power.
12. Having had an awakening, we tried to carry this message to other slaves and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The Suggested Steps of Slaves Anonymous ~ With Commentary

1. We admitted we were dominated by slavery—that our lives had become unmanageable. ~ As we release ourselves from denial and metanoia, we connect our pain to its root sources.
2. Came to believe that we could restore ourselves to sanity. ~ We are optimistic and trust ourselves.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives away from the care of the slave masters. ~ We choose to disentangle ourselves from the slave masters and their proxies. We reduce our “support” for them and our receipt of their “care” because of the high, hidden costs.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of the matrix of control. ~ We study the political-economic-sociocultural matrix and the motivations of the slave masters and their proxies.
5. Admitted the exact nature of its wrongs. ~ We speak the truth.
6. Were entirely ready to be free of the matrix. ~ We begin to disentangle ourselves from the matrix.
7. Began transforming our local communities. ~ We choose new entanglements that engage our neighbors apart from the matrix.
8. Made a list of all persons being harmed, and became willing to stop this from happening. ~ We notice, care and prepare to act.
9. Stopped the harm to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others more gravely. ~ We evaluate and respond.
10. Continued to observe the matrix and our effect on our local communities. ~ We stay aware and active.
11. Sought through creative activities to improve our connection with our passion and power. ~ We strengthen our capacities to be effective in our lives.
12. Having had an awakening, we tried to carry this message to other slaves and to practice these principles in all our affairs. We share our physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, sociocultural, cultural and political gifts with others.

References

• Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism (2nd ed.). (1955). (pp. 59-60). New York City, NY: Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing, Inc.
• http://www.recovery.org/aa/misc/12steps.html