Step 12 & Tradition 12
The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives. The traditions are what guide most AA groups. The traditions certainly inform our group conscience decisions and the original structure for GROW. We look forward to your shares.
Step 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.”
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous(affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 60). There’s more in Chapter 7 (Working with Others), starting on p. 89, which is all about the 12th step. There’s even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
Tradition 12 : “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.”
This tradition is listed in one of the appendixes in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous(see p. 562). There’s more in The Long Form; Tradition 12 starts at the bottom of p. 565 (in the 4th edition):
“And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility This is to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.”
There’s more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. You can find the books “Alcoholics Anonymous” and “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places.