I thought it would be helpful to have on one page all of the multiple documents that I have found online about the Traditions.
The goal of all these references is to be of service to the 12 Step community and to help carry a message of hope “to those who still suffer and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
*If any of the original sources of the documents below believe that this is in violation of copyright, please contact me directly through the blog or by email at: emotionalsobriety2013@gmail.com
Introduction
The 12 Traditions are the general guidelines and guiding principles that keep 12 Step support groups focused on unity and singleness of purpose.
They address how, as addicts, we can live and work together as individuals within a group, the 12 Step organization as a whole and with the world outside.
In order to look at how to practice the traditions, a great place to start is this pamphlet on the topic by AA.
Individual Traditions and Worksheets
Below are copies of the traditions as outline in the AA 12 & 12 and worksheets:
Tradition 1
Tradition 2
Tradition 3
Tradition 4
Tradition 5
Tradition 6
Tradition 7
Tradition 8
Tradition 9
Tradition 10
Tradition 11
Tradition 12
Study Guides on the Traditions
This is one that I particularly like:
tradition_study_workbook_formatted
These are additional documents on how to learn more about the traditions:
The 12 Traditions Workshop Pack (2004)
Bill W. on the Traditions
This is a copy of the articles written by Bill W. on the traditions and published in the book Language of the Heart.
12 Traditions – Language of the Heart
Amazing Traditions Worksheet
This is a wonderful document by Dave F. on the traditions. It is very through and quotes many of the original sources on all the traditions. Elsewhere on the blog you can find the links to hear his talks on the traditions.
How to Personalize the Traditions
Dan S., who wrote the BBA, suggested in a talk on the traditions that the traditions need to be personalized in order to understand them.
Here is another link to the worksheet he wrote:
12 Traditions Checklist
This is a copy of the 12 traditions checklist, originally published in the AA Grapevine.
This is a variation of the traditions checklist with a few additions:
Cippenham Sunday Traditions Checklist
Combined Steps and Traditions Study Guide
I love this handout. I found it years ago on line, but unfortunately it is not available on the site where it was originally posted.
Second_Surrender-Daniel_T_Paris_France_2013
Smaller Documents
These are 2 smaller documents on the spiritual principles of the traditions:
Sacrifice-Through-the-Traditions_v2
spiritual_principles_of_the_12_traditions
12 Step Traditions Literature
This is a link to the NA 12 & 12 called How It Works and Why.
These are study guides from NA on the spiritual principles and the traditions:
Practicing-the-Principles-of-Our-Traditions
This is a very nice document on presenting the traditions by CA:
This is a study guide of the traditions from Al Anon. I like it because it focuses on how to apply the traditions to relationships, not just the group.
TraditionsAsAGuideToHealthyRelations
Official AA Literature
This is by Bill W. on the traditions and how they developed
This is a classic and wonderful visual explanation of the traditions
Links to Official AA Literature:
Group Inventory
A group inventory (each word is to a different link to the same information) is a wonderful way to assess “How well is our group carrying the message of recovery?”
Group Conscience
Below are a few articles that I found on how to have an informed group conscience:
This is an article from 1958 on AAs Group Conscience in Action from the AA Grapevine.
Here is a great link to a discussion on tradition 2 and group conscience which includes direct quotes from program literature.
Please note: *If any of the original sources of the documents above believe that this is in violation of copyright, please contact me directly through the blog or by email at: emotionalsobriety2013@gmail.com
As of 8/30/2020 all the the links on this page were active. If you find that any like is broken, please let me know.
Thank you!
In love & service,
Shira