Blue Fox Shaman

The Twelve Steps of Enlightenment

[Yeah, she’s gonna go for it. Fox is going to explain how to reach Enlightenment using the 12 steps of AA, slightly adapted to the path of the Seeker of Truth.]

Okay, listen up!

1. Admit Failure

Face it! You’re an idiot.

2. Believe in Restoration

You don’t even know what you don’t know. So get busy and learn some of it! Start with established paths in your cultural, religious and scientific heritage. But, word to the wise, there is a reason why you’ll mostly encounter tourists on established paths.

3. Submit the Will

Once you know a little bit, practice it, intently, in your body, spirit, and soul. What was that last one, you ask? To paraphrase Satchmo, if you have to ask what soul is, you’ll never know.

4. Take Inventory

With some success in your practices under your belt, you must undertake the Journey to Non-ordinary Reality, where you will discover the true nature of your Self and what it can be.

5. Clarification

Having seen a glimpse of who you are, begin to work on who you are destined to become. It is not just a matter of
knowing this intellectually. To become that, you must revisit your motivations, desires, fears, reasons, and relationships.

6. Letting Go (Receptivity)

A day will come when you are ready to embrace your destiny. But if giving up your old Self is not absolutely terrifying, you’re not doing it right. Here is not just an assent, but a threshold to cross.

7. Remove Shortcomings

Turn your assent into an ascent. Transformation must start in earnest. All that came before will be preparation for this. And it can happen now with surprising speed, because Grace will work alongside you. Welcome it.

8. Consider the Consequences

No shortcuts! Those are full of pits to avoid, wrong turns and dead ends. The one who persists to the end will win the Crown of Glory. But watch out! The Crown will burn one who fails to purify the Self of false pride and self-pity. In regard to your true character-take no prisoners, accept no terms.

9. Make Amends (Do the Work)

Same as last time, but this is here to remind you to complete, as far as you can, the remaking of the Self in every aspect. And, guess what, that includes your relationships with other people. Oh! You were looking for the Path of the Sanyassin? That’s two doors down. This is the Path of the Householder; much more difficult. Yeah, you can’t miss it. (Wimp!)

10. Practice Makes Perfect

I know. Third time in a row. This time to remind you that you’ll never actually be perfect. It’s a process, not a destination. You have to constantly keep working on it. On your Character, that is. Heraclitus said it– “ΗΘΟΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ ΔΑΙΜΟΝ” (character is destiny). You will be told when it is time for the Final Step.

11. The Path of Prayer

Reality and Non-ordinary reality join in blissful Union. But you still have to take out the trash and do the dishes. So, to maintain this Union, you will live a Life of Prayer.

12. Evangelization

And, when the circumstances are right, you will teach others. A Disciplined Life is prerequisite to becoming a Priestess or Priest of the Mysteries.

Okay, now take it from the beginning again.

Yes, I mean from the very beginning, again!
Now! Move!

[Man! We get ’em greener every year.]