Divine Therapy & Addiction: Centering Prayer and the Twelve Steps

by Thomas Keating

We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.

All spiritual traditions have a wisdom literature. Alcoholics Anonymous is a spiritual tradition. Its influence and spread in the present century is going to depend on how well each generation of those in recovery assimilate and interiorize the basic wisdom that is enshrined in the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions. Thomas Keating

In this major work, Father Thomas Keating reflects on the wisdom and legacy of the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve-Step Method and its connections to, and similarities with, the Christian mystical traditions of centering prayer and Lectio Divina. In conversation with a long-time member of AA meetings, Father Thomas talks insightfully about surrendering to one s Higher Power and the journey that must be undertaken for the healing of the soul to begin.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Christianity, Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Psychology

222 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Keating entered the Cistercian Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in January, 1944. He was appointed Superior of St. Benedict's Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado in 1958, and was elected abbot of St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, Massachusetts in 1961. He returned to Snowmass after retiring as abbot of Spencer in 1981, where he established a program of ten-day intensive retreats in the practice of Centering Prayer, a contemporary form of the Christian contemplative tradition.

He is one of three architects of Centering Prayer, a contemporary method of contemplative prayer, that emerged from St. Joseph's Abbey in 1975. Frs. William Menninger and Basil Pennington, also Cistercian monks, were the other architects.
n 1984, Fr. Thomas Keating along with Gustave Reininger and Edward Bednar, co-founded Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., an international, ecumenical spiritual network that teaches the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, a method of prayer drawn from the Christian contemplative tradition. Contemplative Outreach provides a support system for those on the contemplative path through a wide variety of resources, workshops, and retreats.
Fr. Keating currently lives at St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.

Reviews

[Karen JH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, insightful, and illuminating book. Keating shows us that we are all either addicted to something or in recovery from something, as part of the human condition. The twelve steps of AA can benefit everyone in this regard, no matter what the issue. When combined with centering prayer it’s a powerful combination of “divine therapy” to release subconscious scripts for happiness that are not serving us and are holding us back from living our full lives. I went through the twelve steps and centering prayer combination while reading this book, exploring my own challenges and releasing old patterns and unhealthy attachments. It’s a powerful journey and this book will get you started on the path. Would highly recommend.

[Annie Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve Step programs started with alcohol addiction and now are used with a myriad of maladies will probably be one of the most important things to come out of the last century. This book, an interview with Fr.Keating, is about going a step further using centering meditation and personal relationships with God and dissecting each of the steps to get more out of them. Beautiful thoughts on self awareness and false pride....Highly reccomend it to people who are in recovery and want more....

[Bonnie Westmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m new to centering prayer and Thomas Keating, but I cannot seem to get enough of either at the moment. Both have been vital to my sanity and well being during this pandemic and lockdown. With Keating’s guidance and suggestions, I have progressed from weekly centering prayer sessions on Zoom to daily sessions on my own. I find God speaking to me as I make time to just be with God and listen. This is a book you just want everyone to read so they can reap the benefits you have discovered and come closer to God.

[David Fagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for anyone desiring to deepen their recovery

I have recently been exposed to the teachings of Fr. Keating and centering prayer. This interview of him and his understanding of the A.A., program of recovery and how centering prayer can deepen and enhance the spiritual awakening we are seeking has been invaluable. I will share this with all my fellows in recovery.

[Trey Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A set of extended interviews with Thomas Keating, monk and contemplative teacher, on the intersections of the 12 Steps and contemplative prayer and meditation practice — not just for alcoholics and addicts but for anyone (that is: everyone) run by unconscious motivations but seeking spiritual awakening and growth.

[Nancy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

recommended by my therapist

This book was just what I needed at this time. Not only for myself but for my sponsees in AA. The book really connected my step work to my spiritual beliefs. Easy to read and understand.

[Agatha Glowacki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, profound, deeply wise. Something I will read and re-read forever.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming into the world as spiritual and biological beings, we have three primal emotional needs: security/survival, esteem/approval, and power/control of our own life situation. This world inevitably fails to meet all of these needs all the time, and the resulting frustration leads to an over-obsession with one or more of these, which is our first and most basic addiction. The frustration of these desires causes great pain, and many of us attempt to hide from that pain through behaviors which become compulsive.

This book is about much more than freedom from alcoholism, compulsive gambling, sex, or shopping. This is about the ultimate goal of emotional sobriety, or more peace and understanding in the face of the underlying frustrations which originally lead to us hiding from our pain with these destructive behaviors in the first place. This is about freedom. It is also about surrender.

Fr. Keating applies the meditation practice of centering prayer to the 12-step recovery process as a means of opening oneself up to a more intimate relationship with the Higher Power. He provides valuable insight into the addictive process, how centering prayer opens us to divine intimacy, and how that relationship brings understanding, healing, and growth. Occasionally Fr. Keating comes off as a bit detached, or like he's hyper-focused on making his responses unoffensive. Minor quibbles aside, there is much here that I will probably be referencing in the future for insight and inspiration.

[Sarah Wilcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the casual conversation of this book. The interviewer has a deep fondness for Keating and I do too!

[Renato Santis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good idea to relate Centering prayer with the 12 steps.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly one of the best books I have read.

[Contemplative Outreach Hawaii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suggested for those getting started in Centering Prayer and for those establishing a practice.