Father Bill W.

My psychologist friend Michaela from Liverpool shares her experience with Two Way Prayer and has me doing the same. Eleven percent of our podcast listeners hail from the UK. God must have big plans for his kids across the pond! Show Notes: To reach Michaela, please drop me a line at TwoWayPrayer@gmail.com and I’ll gladly forward it to her. Michaela Heaton, lives in Liverpool, England and has BA Hons degree in English & Philosophy, a postgraduate diploma in applied psychology and an MSc in Applied Psychology. She is a well known Consultant and Certified Business Psychologist supporting businesses and individuals seeking help with addiction from alcohol and drugs. “Catching the Roses”, Michaela’s first book, is an epistolary, written in letter form to St Therese of Lisieux who wrote an autobiography in the 1890’s called “Story of a Soul” which inspired her to write her own story coinciding with the visit of St Therese’s relics to Liverpool in 2009. The book follows Michaela as a contemporary pilgrim writing daily letters to St Therese, receiving emotional and spiritual guidance and a lasting legacy of love and hope. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075W8BFKV/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_glt_JJRG3KVP0YR38JGN53EJ For the last ten years Michaela has been a weekly talk show guest on BBC Radio Merseyside www.madaw.co.uk 

Fr. Bill and author Paul S. conclude their discussion of Varieties of Religious Experience. In this episode they explore how “a life of love and service” are the natural fruits of any real conversion experience. There’s also an in-depth discussion of James’ own short summary of his findings. You’ll find James’ 5-point summation truly worth studying.  Show Notes: Paul’s book titled “We Agnostics: William James…” is available here: https://rb.gy/rpvnlr The original Varieties of Religious Experience is available free in pdf form. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 An excellent biography of William James is by Robert D. Richardson. His section covering James’ delivery of the lectures that formed the book VRE is helpful in putting James’ work in clear context. It’s available here: https://rb.gy/khpbf5 Here are the five points from Chapter XX in VRE: “Summing up in the broadest possible way the characteristics of the religious (or spiritual or 12-Step) life, include the following beliefs: 1. That the visible world is part of a more spiritual universe from which it draws its chief significance; (and) 2. That union or harmonious relation with that higher universe is our true end… 3. That prayer or inner communion with the spirit thereof - be that spirit ‘God’ or ‘law’ - is a process wherein work is really done and spiritual energy flows in and produces effects psychological or material within the phenomenal world. 4. A new zest which adds itself like a gift to life, and takes the form either of lyrical enchantment or of appeal to earnestness and heroism. 5. An assurance of safety and a temper of peace, and, in relation to others, a preponderance of loving affections.” To contact Paul S. please write to me at TwoWayPrayer@gmail.com and I’ll pass your message along to him. If this has been helpful to you, please like, subscribe, share, and keep coming back.

Fr. Bill and author Paul S. continue their discussion of Varieties of Religious Experience. Paul labeled his chapter on Steps 10 and 11: “Doing Business with This Higher Power. In this episode they explore some 14 practices William James addresses as aids in making and maintaining a conscious connection with the Divine. Show Notes: Paul’s book titled “We Agnostics: William James…” is available here: https://rb.gy/rpvnlr The original Varieties of Religious Experience is available free in pdf form. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 An excellent biography of William James is by Robert D. Richardson. His section covering James’ delivery of the lectures that formed the book VRE is helpful in putting James’ work in clear context. It’s available here: https://rb.gy/khpbf5 Paul references The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. https://rb.gy/rwvm8o Fr. Bill references The Way of a Pilgrim (anonymous Author) A good translation of the Christian classic: https://rb.gy/zct8zz To contact Paul S. please write to me at TwoWayPrayer@gmail.com and I’ll pass your message along to him. If this has been helpful to you, please like, subscribe, and share.

Fr. Bill and author Paul S. continue their discussion of Varieties of Religious Experience. Paul labeled his chapter on Steps 10 and 11: “Doing Business with This Higher Power.” It’s rich and important material so we’ve broken it up into two parts. In this first episode we concentrate on the nature of a relationship with the Higher Power. Show Notes: Paul’s book titled “We Agnostics: William James…” is available here: https://rb.gy/rpvnlr The original Varieties of Religious Experience is available free in pdf form. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 An excellent biography of William James is by Robert D. Richardson. His section covering James’ delivery of the lectures that formed the book VRE is helpful in putting James’ work in clear context. It’s available here: https://rb.gy/khpbf5 To contact Paul S. please write to me at TwoWayPrayer@gmail.com and I’ll pass your message along to him. If this has been helpful to you, please like, subscribe, and share.

Fr. Bill and author Paul S. continue their discussion of Varieties of Religious Experience. Pauls’ chapter on these Steps explores the nature of forgiveness and the “melting of moods” frozen by resentment and hate. Just as God makes recovery from our addictions possible, the needed strength for forgiveness also comes as a gift. Show Notes: Paul’s book titled “We Agnostics: William James…” is available here: https://rb.gy/rpvnlr The original Varieties of Religious Experience is available free in pdf form. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 An excellent biography of William James is by Robert D. Richardson. His section covering James’ delivery of the lectures that formed the book VRE is helpful in putting James’ work in clear context. It’s available here: https://rb.gy/khpbf5 Ted/Talk by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. on his reconciliation and forgiveness work with gangs in Los Angeles / truly inspiring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipR0kWt1Fkc Story about Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission dealing with the aftermath of apartheid in South Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY-ee1hhghQ To contact Paul S. please write to me at TwoWayPrayer@gmail.com and I’ll pass your message along to him. If this has been helpful to you, please like, subscribe, and share.

Fr. Bill and author Paul S. continue their discussion of Varieties of Religious Experience. This episode is focused on the multiple problems facing the "sick soul" especially Fear, Self-Loathing, and Chaotic Impulses. Called "the Steps that separate the men from the boys" (and the women from the girls) James says these things are in fact "removable." Show Notes: Paul’s book titled “We Agnostics: William James…” is available here: https://rb.gy/rpvnlr The original Varieties of Religious Experience is available free in pdf form. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 An excellent biography of William James is by Robert D. Richardson. His section covering James’ delivery of the lectures that formed the book VRE is helpful in putting James’ work in clear context. It’s available here: https://rb.gy/khpbf5

Fr. Bill and William James author Paul S. continue their discussion. Pauls’ chapter on the 4th and 5th Steps is titled: Releasing a Dam of Tears and Finding Tender Mercy. The discussion centers around the “sick soul” diving deep into its sense of “rottenness” to discover a soul that was already there and just waiting for us to set free. Show Notes: Paul’s book titled “We Agnostics: William James…” is available here: https://rb.gy/rpvnlr  The original Varieties of Religious Experience is available free as a pdf: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 An excellent biography of William James is by Robert D. Richardson. His section covering James’ delivery of the lectures that formed the book VRE is helpful in putting James’ work in clear context. It’s available here: https://rb.gy/khpbf5 Paul referenced Viktor Frankl’s book: Man’s Search for Meaning. Available as pdf: https://rb.gy/1byuop Here’s the passage Fr. Bill referenced from Wordsworth’s poem, Intimations of Immortality: Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,Hath had elsewhere its setting,And cometh from afar:Not in entire forgetfulness,And not in utter nakedness,But trailing clouds of glory do we comeFrom God, who is our home:Heaven lies about us in our infancy!Shades of the prison-house begin to closeUpon the growing Boy,But He beholds the light, and whence it flows,He sees it in his joy; (lines 58–70) Fr. Bill referenced Jung’s Answer to Job: https://rb.gy/desvhq  For a brilliant analysis of Jung’s Answer to Job: Edward Edinger’s Transformation of the God Image: https://www.amazon.com/Transformation-God-Image-Elucidation-Jungs-Answer/dp/0919123554/

Fr. Bill’s and William James author Paul S. continue the discussion. “Letting go” is the focus. Not working so hard, but actually working less as we discover the Great Reality has been there all along just waiting for us to open the door of our inner worlds. We often make the Steps so much harder than they need to be. Lighten up – and discover the light within. Show Notes: Paul’s book titled “We Agnostics: William James…” is available here: https://rb.gy/rpvnlr  The original Varieties of Religious Experience is available free in pdf form. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 An excellent biography of William James is by Robert D. Richardson. His section covering James’ delivery of the lectures that formed the book VRE is helpful in putting James’ work in clear context. It’s available here: https://rb.gy/khpbf5 Here’s the 1935 cartoon I mentioned. A bit embarrassed to share this but the Kid in me appreciates my acknowledging his pain! Click here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6je1eIhbVvg

Fr. Bill’s guest is Paul S., author of a new book on William James, known as the Father of American psychology and twice referenced in the Big Book. This episode explores the underlying feeling state of most addicts as we first discover the mystical elements of drugs and alcohol only to be thrown into the dark places, they ultimately lead us. Step One comes alive in the discussion and gives listeners a deeper appreciation of how the seeds of recovery are present within the pain. The series will examine James in reference to each of the 12-Steps. Paul’s new book Titled “We Agnostics: William James…” is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Agnostics-Psychology-Spiritual-Addiction-Venerated/dp/B09JRD6VX2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=46V4YIM5PRWM&keywords=we+agnostics+how+william+james&qid=1639860009&s=books&sprefix=we+agnostics%2Cstripbooks%2C90&sr=1-1/ The original Varieties of Religious Experience is available free in pdf form: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 An excellent biography of William James is by Robert D. Richardson. His section covering James’ delivery of the lectures that formed the book VRE is helpful in putting James’ work in clear context. It’s available here: https://www.amazon.com/William-James-Maelstrom-American-Modernism/dp/0618919899 Fr. Bill referenced a set of quotes from the Big Book related to HOPELESSNESS. If you would like a copy, please write to him at: TwoWayPrayer@gmail.com If this has been helpful to you, please like, subscribe, and share.

This is the third and final episode of Fr. Bill’s 12-Step Workshop. The Steps are presented from the perspective of the Pioneer members of AA and the purpose of the series is to help Keep It Simple! This episode centers around the last three Steps: 10, 11, and 12. It sees them as the main area of focus for someone who has completed their Step work. But this is more than MAINTENANCE. It is receiving DIRECTION from our Higher Power and the Guidance we need for living our lives. If this has been helpful to you, please like, subscribe, and share.