As I have shared with the group, I am working with someone 1:1 and taking her through the steps.
As I was preparing, I came across an amazing insight into the process of a spiritual experience. On page 14 of the AA Big Book, Bill writes about his spiritual awakening:
(14:1) These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric. There was a sense of victory, followed by such a peace and serenity as I had never known. There was utter confidence. I felt lifted up, as though the great clean wind of a mountain top blew through and through. God comes to most men gradually, but His impact on me was sudden and profound.
In general, we have 5 senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. And, following a spiritual awakening or psychic change, the AA Big Book, we will develop “God consciousness” or a vital sixth sense:
(85:2) Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. But we must go further and that means more action.
What I found fascinating is that Bill’s description of his spiritual experience integrates the senses of touch, hearing, and sound. It also describes the 4 different modalities of learning: visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic. Bill is then able to learn, take the necessary actions and obtain the wisdom of “God-Consciousness.” This one brief paragraph exemplifies the idea that “knowledge converts to wisdom through action.”
Based on the text:
The effect was electric: feeling or sensation
Sense of victory, peace and serenity: sensation and emotional feeling
Clean wind ….blew through and through: hearing
Utter confidence: knowledge.
After we go through the steps, recover and have a spiritual awakening, then we gain “a vital sixth sense” which is “conscious contact with the God of our understanding.” This “vital sixth sense” is granted to us in the form of simple awareness:
(87:0) What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the mind. ……we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it.
What an incredible message of hope!
