36 Principles

It seemed like an innocent enough question – and it was. It was the sort of question that comes up and then you think; “...why doesn't that question come up all the time?” The question was:

“What's with these 36 principles I always here people talking about in AA? Why 36?”

The person asking the question clearly knew all about there being 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and 12 concepts and our legacies of Recovery, Unity, and service in Alcoholics Anonymous. But, why 36 Principles?

And, of course as with many innocent and common questions, I had no ready answer...

In fact, when Bill worked to derive our 12 steps from their young experience in “working” a program with respect toward the then popular 6 steps in the program of the Oxford Movement, he mentioned that he just liked the “feel” of the 12 steps – the “completeness” of the number “12” - 12 months, 12 disciples of Jesus, etc.

So, our 3 legacies and 12x12x12 may have as much to do with concepts of balance and the “science” of numerology as anything – why not 4 legacies, 11 steps, 14 traditions, 9 concepts, 7 ways you're supposed to act, whatever??!!

I'm convinced that 36 is just a round number that can be roughly mapped toward the 36 items articulated in our expressions of our 3 legacies (steps, traditions, concepts).

Or am I...?

The purpose of this web site, blog and discussion forum is to primarily present and discuss:

• thoughts about how the principles by which we live in a spiritually awakened life are expressed and supported by our 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, 12 Concepts, and 6 Warranties (...and 3 absolutes? ...other sources of principles?)

• opinions as to how the steps, traditions, concepts, and warranties express principles or how principles map to the expression of our 3 legacies

• stories about and experiences around how the concept of a “principle centered life” allows one to change and grow

• questions about the nature of a life lived in accordance with principles of the AA program of recovery

While, in respect of AA's “singleness of purpose”, this web venue is limited to discussion of recovery from alcoholism, we will encourage links to other resources available on the web oriented to other recovery programs or resources in support of developing and living a life centered around the same and similar principles as we find in AA.