Step 6 – Judy L. – Big Book Workshop Retreat – 2020

About This Speaker Tape

Chris and Judy lead a deep dive into Steps 6 and 7, framing them not as a one-time checklist but as a lifelong process of pruning the ego to let the 'sunlight of the spirit' in. Chris recounts a chaotic history of 'treating' his alcoholism with heroin, cocaine, and benzos, describing a life of reckless misadventure and 'emotional spiritual unmanageability.' Judy shares the grit of long-term sobriety, admitting that even after 36 years, the 'thief' in her can still be tempted by hotel bags. They move from the wreckage of 'broken instincts' and the armor of self-protection toward a raw, humble willingness to be useful to others, concluding with a collective Seventh Step prayer to surrender the defects that block their service.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Peter reads the text for Steps 6 and 7.
• 2:15 Chris discusses the 'Returning Home' exercise and the history of changing 'yous' to 'wes' in the Big Book.
• 6:40 Chris defines unmanageability as emotional and spiritual pain rather than just crashed cars.
• 12:10 Chris discusses the importance of total honesty in Step 5 and warns against withholding 'huge criminal things'.
• 15:30 Laughter: Chris describes his descent into heroin and the 'decadent' drug scene.
• 22:00 Laughter: The story of the LSD trip and the 'Fantasia' experience in the Lincoln Tunnel.
• 31:00 Chris explains the 'sunlight of the spirit' metaphor for Step 6.
• 34:10 Judy shares her experience with the 'thief' in her and stealing from hotels after 36 years of sobriety.
• 41:00 Judy discusses 'broken instincts' and the armor of character defects.
• 48:30 Judy leads the group in the Seventh Step Prayer.