[royster]

steps 7 thru 12

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

We ascendants have come to realise that there are certain impacted energies we just don't have the wherewithall to remove. This step asks for Grace. We need to understand what Grace IS: it is asking God to look upon us, knowing we see our mistakes, and are helpless children. This loving exchange will prompt a revelation in your life, I assure you. Please note the very first word is "humbly".

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make
amends to them all.

Willingness is key to any progress. Are you willing to compremise? Are you willing to admit you're wrong? Are you willing to change? Because if you offer the lip-service without the intention, it is a "half measure" that "avails us nothing". Making amends is event-specific, and the broadest definition is to apologise. More may be involved, but that depends on the severity of the situation. In merely becoming willing to make amends, we have cleared enormous gobs of gunk from our minds and hearts.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do
so would injure them or others.

An apology, the making-good on a debt (or a faith payment toward a debt), the admission of where you were wrong...all these are tough experiences, but after they're done, you feel better. And a situation of impacted energies that would otherwise be permanent is therefore resolved...permanently. There ARE situations that bringing up the past does more harm than good, but this is why we were fearless in our moral inventory: if we have to "bite the bullet" and make amends, let's do it, and do it well.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly
admitted it.

Having taken the time to correct the thinking that produces impacted energies, and having cleared impacted energies, why would we replace them!? This step involves 'spiritual maintenance' of staying clear, keeping an eye on our old habits re-emerging, and making the manageability of our lives sustainable. No a bad deal at all.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with
God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us
and the power to carry that out.

Do you see what this step asks? Now that you've cleaned up your life a bit, God can better communicate with you. Many ask about "how can I contact my spirit guides?" This is one sure-footed way to do this. Remember: we don't lay down and get fixed: we actively work on our healing, allowing the universe to slowly increase Its influence, in increments we can trust...and that the universe KNOWS are sincere. Your own spiritual path is from this point, uniquely yours, and it is between you and the God of your understanding where you go.

12. 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.

You can only offer truth to people, you can't go door-to-door looking for converts. And "practicing the principles in all our affairs" means in each and every corner of our minds: we don't reserve a little area for exceptions-to-the-rules. Those little exceptions will quickly be the loopholes in which relapse re-enters any recovery you are trying to accomplish. "On earth as it is in heaven", so in all our thinking we are consistent with simple principles of honesty.