Here's Tom with the weather...

Today, we're very privileged to have a presentation about the fascinating Life & Times of a true AA Pioneer –Marty Mann…and the presentation will be conducted by Mily.Margaret Marty Mann (October 15, 1904 – July 22, 1980) is considered by some to be the first woman with long term sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous.[1]There were several remarkable women in the early days of AA including but not limited to: Florence R. of New York, Sylvia K. of Chicago, Ethel M. of Akron, Ohio. AA co-founder Bill Wilson was Marty's sponsor. Marty wrote the chapter "Women Suffer Too" in the second through fourth editions of the Big Book of AA.Mann organized the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism (NCEA) in 1944, which later became the National Council on Alcoholism (NCA), and then the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), to address concern with other drugs.[2] She traveled across the U.S. educating medical professionals legislators, businessmen and the public to the importance of treatment and education of the fatal disease of alcoholism.[1] In 1976 the NCA organized Operation Understanding where 50 celebrities and professionals gathered to address the social stigma surrounding alcoholism. Actors, politicians, sports legends, physicians, lawyers, clergy and more stood up in the hotel ballroom and said "I am an alcoholic." The NCA hoped to reduce the social stigma surrounding alcoholism and encourage individuals and their family to get treatment. Marty hoped to raise social awareness that alcoholism is not a moral weakness but a deadly disease.See us every Monday  at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk   Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ 

Today we're talking about the Well Community – a recovery community in the North of England – it's an urban conurbation populated by people in recovery, that offers a range of high-quality services which are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Support is free to members and is provided by staff and volunteers with 'lived experience' of addiction. The team also specialises in providing support to people with mental health issues, offending behaviour, childhood trauma, learning difficulties, domestic abuse and homelessness.They've become a well-known and highly respected service provider in Cumbria and north Lancashire. Of those who've used our services, 69% have recovered after 6 months.THEIR MISSIONTo build a movement that supports sustainable recovery for people facing severe and complex social exclusion by valuing and harnessing the strengths, skills, partnerships and other assets present in every community.THEIR VISIONFor people facing severe and complex social exclusion to have the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives through involvement in a community that supports their recovery, encourages (stigma-free) social integration, builds their abstinence and wellbeing, and is led and organised by their peers and families.Representing the Well Community is Ged Pickersgill…who was for 30 years, an active class A substance misuser, Street homeless, ex offender, repeated hospitalizations, got clean with 12 step program  in June 2015 and now run 62 bed supported Housing project in the community. See us every Monday  at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password TomOur website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ

Today we're discussing the leaflet, ‘A newcomer asks' - and how it's tone perhaps doesn't reflect the AA of today.This British Pamphlet was brought to the USA by a member who passed it around. In 1980, USA/Canada General Service adopted and adapted it, making it available in English, French, Spanish. The spirit of the pamphlet shows a tolerant and liberal approach to AA…an approach that some may argue has given way to a certain amount of authoritativeness and rigidity... Find it it here : https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/literature/assets/p-24_anewcomerask.pdfor read it here:https://www.aa.org/newcomer-asksSee us every Monday  at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk Join our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 This leaflet is intended for people approaching Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) for the first time. In it we have tried to answer the questions most frequently in the minds of newcomers — the questions which were in our minds when we first approached the Fellowship. Am I an alcoholic? If you repeatedly drink more than you intend or want to, if you get into trouble, or if you have memory lapses when you drink, you may be an alcoholic. Only you can decide. No one in A.A. will tell you whether you are or are not. 

Today we're talking with David Best - DAVID BEST has worked in the addictions field for 20 years, predominantly in England in a range of university and policy posts, including work at the Maudsley Hospital and the Institute of Psych eye atry at Birmingham University and with the National Addiction Centre. His main research interests are around treatment effectiveness and the recovery agenda. In the latter capacity, he was the first chair of the Scottish Drugs Recovery Consortium and of the UK Recovery Academy. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and is attempting to develop models to understand recovery peer networks and the growth of recovery capital.His Book, Pathways to Recovery and Desistance: The Role of the Social Contagion of Hope, has been described by Shadd Maruna, Queen's University Belfast as thus: ''In this remarkable new book, David Best turns his considerable gifts toward developing a full-fledged sociology of "hope" - surely the most important and misunderstood concept in the fields of criminology and addiction studies. My hope is that it starts a revolution of hope studies in recovery work." See us every Monday  at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.ukZoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ  

A wonderful episode in discussion with Emiliano L from BIPOC  (Black & Indigenous People of Color) in Sacramento, California...Describes his journey into AA. How he loves AA but felt he needed a safe space to share his story, outside of Traditional meetings.He is joined by several others who describe their own sober journeys as Black, Indigenous People of Color in 12 Step recovery.Here's Tom with the Weather is now on a Monday - the podcast that examines Recovery from every angle…a safe space for open-minded discussion about those issues or perhaps even taboos that affect recovery.These are the topics, often whispered about in church basements, or grumbled over - by the bleeding deacons and Big Book Thumpers - that are verboten or scoffed at.We want to give free voice to those subjects that get Alkie witches and warlocks burned at the stake or at the very least, hounded out of their home group.And a quick aside…we run this account for free so we welcome any contributions via paypal at Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Monday  at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk   Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ 

Here it is...controversial, or what?A select few of Tom contributors (those who showed up!) discuss a new direction for Here's Tom with the Weather...leave comments here or email me at Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk.We will be discussing issues as they relate to AA and 12 step fellowships...the last 2 years (2020-22) has seen a revolution via zoom...what's next? Lets hear your thoughts!See you every Monday on Zoom at 8pm UK, 3pm EST, 12pm PST at zoom number 882 1549 8348 passcode Tom

We're back!This week, we interview  Dr Allen Berger. Also Joe and David read an excerpt from BILL W article about Emotional Sobriety.Dr. Berger is an internationally recognized expert in family and couples therapy, and in the science of addiction and recovery. He is best known for his work on integrating modern psychotherapy with the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and for his insights into emotional sobriety. He is also recognized for his outstanding work as a psychotherapist and trainer.He is the author of several journal articles as well as two books: Love Secrets - Revealed (HCI Books, 2006) and the Best Seller, 12 Stupid Things that Mess up Recovery (Hazelden, 2008)). His pamphlet How to Get the Most out of Group Therapy (Hazelden, 2007) helps new admissions understand the process of group therapy and how to use the group to optimize their experience in treatment.His office is located in Southern California where he divides his time amongst private practice, teaching, writing and playing tennis.Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Monday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/882154983488pm UK/3pm EST/12pm PSTZoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ

Jay Stinnett is a researcher and historian, a co-founder of AA History Symposium, the author of Loving Sober and is currently writing a book about Bill W from 1950 until his death in 1971. Jay reflects: “What I think AA needs today, is not more parrots, but more philosophers. I've read hundreds and hundreds of letters written by Bill to fellow AA members. Never once did he say, ‘Your problem is X and your answer is in Chapter so-and-so, read page blah, blah, blah, in Alcoholics Anonymous; that's where you'll find your answer.' What Bill - who wrote the book we quote - did, was to draw upon on his own personal struggles, and relate to the other member's problem. He never sent his fellow sufferer to the book for answers; he related to them with his own personal experience. through storytelling”Since finding sobriety in 1979, Jay continues to thirst for the opportunity to explore and share the transformative experience of 12-Step recovery. He shares with us on Here's Tom both his remarkable sudden and spectacular spiritual experience and some of the adventures of his continuing educational variety of AA experience.  More Jay Stinnett https://lovingsober.com/ Confronted with the one-book-until-the-end-of-time dilemma Jay Stinnett offers up a book that was the recommended reading material of AA co-founder Bill W, The Imprisoned Splendour by Raynor C. Johnson orFingerprints of God: What Science Is Learning About the Brain and Spiritual Experience by Barbara Bradley Hagerty More Here's Tom With the Weather https://htwtw.com/ Complaint's, concerns, grievances, blame Canada: contact our guest-host Joe C Rebellion Dogs RadioContribute to Here's Tom With the Weather podcast: PayPal Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk Participate in our live Zoom Here's Tom recording: every Friday Noon Pacific, 4 PM East, 8 PM IE/UK, 7 AM Saturday AEDT

While The Headless Way is described as a means of finding one's “true nature” with childlike simplicity. Richard Lang says, “What I don't like about the term ‘true' nature is that is assumes our ‘human' nature is false; I quite like my ‘human' nature.” Richard continues, “I prefer looking at this process as finding both our ‘peripheral' and our ‘central' nature. Why disparages our human nature?” The Headless Way is as established as the 12-Step movement. Richard directs us to The Hierarchy of Heaven and Earth, the greatest book on philosophy penned in 1943 by Douglas Harding, and the origins of the Headless Way. CE Lewis in reviewing the manuscript and said, “I have never been so drunk on a book in all my life. This is the highest genius, and it must be published.” CE Lewis would write the Foreword to the condensed version in 1952. On a somber note, David G's memorializes Paul Muff, his co-founder of Here's Tom With the Weather podcast, who died suddenly and unexpectedly last week. Show Notes: Get to know Richard better: https://headless.org Reach guest-host Joe C of Rebellion Dogs Radio @ https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/ Visit our show for a live taping of Here's Tom With The Weather any Friday at Noon Pacific, 3 PM East, 8 PM Ireland/UK, 7 AM (Saturday) AEDT on Zoom:Meeting ID: 882 1549 8348, passcode TomHere's Tom With the Weather Podcast Page: https://www.buzzsprout.com/901954/9621451 Or visit, https://htwtw.org  

Did you hear the one about the atheist and the theologian talking about the wording of AA's Twelve Step? Here's Tom With the Weather podcast, November 19th, 2021, features theologian, bereavement counselor, former Director of Spiritual Care at Hazelden Betty Ford, poet, musician, and Californian in long-term recovery, John McAndrew talking shop with Here's Tom guest-host Joe C of Rebellion Dogs Radio, holding court with the Here's Tom With The Weather Zoom audience.This episode covers grief, grieving and the viability of AA's 12-Step language in the third decade of the 21st century. Enjoy this live Zoom podcast.  More Here's Tom With the Weather: https://www.HTWTW.com Join us live  every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password TomMore John McAndrew: http://www.sensiblespirituality.org Rent-a-host, Joe C: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/ 

Where's David? Author of Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and Rebellion Dogs Radio host is our alternative-host as David was in Boston, at the time of recording, as part of several-week-long journey. All will be explained on the show.But the big news is we have Helen Hamilton, "I was always searching for something in my life and for many years I did not know what it was. I always felt very different even as a child and could see energy and auras unlike people around me. I desperately tried to fit in and find peace but it never came." But that was seven books ago. In the gentlest language and the most inviting way, we are introduced to Helen's approach to Satsang, for, "those committed to Self-discovery and who feel a deep urge to find lasting peace and freedom."For more Helen (and why not): https://helenhamilton.org Here's Tom With the Weather is Live on Zoom every Friday Noon Pacific, 3 PM East, 8 PM Ireland/UK, 7 AM Saturday Australia.ZOOM ID: 882 1549 8348Passcode: Tomhttp://htwtw.com/  

Today we are speaking with ….Noah Levine. NOAH LEVINE is the author of Dharma Punx, Against The Stream, The Heart of the Revolution and Refuge Recovery, is a Buddhist teacher, author and counselor. He has created a Buddhist approach to addiction recovery called Refuge Recovery. He is also the founding teacher of Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, with a meditation center in Venice beach CA. He teaches meditation classes, workshops and retreats internationally. Noah holds a Masters degree in counseling psychology and lives in Los Angeles.https://www.againstthestream.com/ Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348  Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ 

Today we are speaking with Preacher Jon Ruby.After almost losing his life in 2005 on the streets of Ottawa Jon Ruby had finally hit rock bottom. The drugs he was using stopped working and he was unable to take his own life. He sought refuge in a homeless shelter and enrolled in their addiction treatment center and thus began his recovery journey. After treatment, his family was reunited. Back home with his wife and 2 children he began his journey on staying sober. To stay sober he realized that recovery was a full time gig and service to others was a big part of that. In 2006 he started working with men that suffered from mental illness and later within that organization transitioned to lead and develop the addiction treatment center that continues to serve addicts from all over Ontario today. In 2015 he went out on his own to start Union City Church and develop initiatives to build a healthy community that nourishes others on their recovery journey. He is the founder and educator at LifeLab and Ashes to Rubies and in 2018 launched their social enterprise called Carlington booch a kombucha company who's mission is to ‘booch the gap'Jon and his wife Vikki continue to stay sober by helping others and passing on the message that was so freely given to them. https://carlingtonbooch.com/https://godzspeed.com/works/ashes-to-rubies/Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348  Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ

Today we have a special episode where we look at the history of spirituality in AA…presented by Jim W… ….Jim was was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, moved to Ft. Worth Texas in the 70s and has now lived in Cancun, Mexico for the last 34 years. He is a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and has been a student of its history for about the last 10 years.jimincancun@gmail.comHelp us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ

Today we're talking … to Peter Russell.Peter Russell is a leading thinker on consciousness and contemporary spirituality. He is the author of a dozen books, including The Global Brain, Waking Up in Time and From Science to God. His new book, Letting Go of Nothing, was published this August. As a side note I read this book over the past week and I have to say it's a gem. There's so much treasure It…in bite size chunks, ideal for people with short attention spans like myself.Peter studied theoretical physics, experimental psychology, and computer science at the University of Cambridge, and meditation and Eastern Philosophy in India. And pioneered the introduction of personal growth programs to corporations in the 1980s. He's also famous for predicting the coming of something called the Internet way back in the 80s in the aforementioned book Global Brain.He's a renowned teacher of meditation, and he's kindly agreed to lead a short meditation for us during the podcast.His mission is to distill the essential wisdom on human consciousness found in the world's various spiritual traditions, and to disseminate their teachings on self-liberation in contemporary and compelling ways. https://www.peterrussell.com/LGN/book/index.php

Today we're talking … to Jessica Todd. Jessica has been Sober since 2017 which she describes as the biggest accomplishment of her life thus far.The first three years of her recovery were spent away from the program because she gave up working the steps because she couldn't let go of the very Christian aspects of the NA program. She says she stayed away because she couldn't relate to all the people who had found God as their higher power. Then she came across Satanic Recovery in July 2020. At that moment, her recovery received the revamp that it needed and since then, she has worked with a sponsor and successfully completed the steps. She works closely with others, and has started a Satanic Recovery in person meeting in San Diego. For the past 14 years, divination has always been an important aspect of her life. In 2014 she went to rehab, where they confiscated her tarot cards and would not let her have them until after she left the program. She says that right from the start of her recovery journey, tarot was frowned upon. but Through Satanic Recovery she discovered that there is no one way to work a program. On Saturday nights she holds hold a tarot zoom meeting which incorporates tarot into recovery. The point of this meeting is to help everyone understand that divination can be used by anyone working a program.Jessica's Recovery Support Saturday Tarot group: Every Saturday 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern/2am UK/11am Sunday AEST Australia zoom ID 837 2213 4679 passcode PrinciplesSHOW LESS

Today we're talking … to Fred Davis.FRED DAVIS is a spiritual unteacher. He studied and practiced Eastern wisdom for twenty-five years prior to 2006 when seeking ended, and his true awakening commenced. He is the creator and editor of AwakeningClarityNow.com, which launched in 2011. Fred is a long-time sober and is the author of six books including ‘Beyond Recovery: Non-Duality & the 12 steps' This book has been described as a "bridge book" that introduces Nonduality to people in recovery, and recovery to people who are already involved in nondual spirituality. Very often in recovery, participants will hit a "plateau" in whatever system they're using to clean up and clear up. They feel like they've outgrown the rigid dogma sometimes found in some recovery programs, but they still have a pull toward the relative safety of their group or tradition.Beyond Recovery: Nonduality and the Twelve Steps offers a way to satisfy both calls. Beyond Recovery is being used as a basic text for discussion groups in the US and Australia.Fred is very happily married, is deeply devoted to this teaching, his beautiful wife, and his extraordinary canine companions, Willy and Jack. He lives quietly as a chiefly ignored, urban hermit in Columbia, South Carolina.His website https://awakeningclaritynow.com/Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password TomOur website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654

Today we're talking … about Islam as it applies to the 12 Steps - with Andrea Travers. Andrea Travers was born in New York, where she was also ordained in 2003. Aside from her doctor's degree in ministry, which she acquired in 2010, she also has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in mass communication from the University of Oregon and University of Portland respectively. Married with three children, she now lives in the city of Wilsonville in Oregon with her family.Andrea's study of Islam was conducted as part of her doctoral work that studied the eight faith traditions as well as two years at an interfaith seminary in New York City where she was ordained. She is an author of several books including theTwelve Wisdom Steps: Unifying Principles of the 12 Steps of A.A. Found in the Wisdom Traditions,is described as thus:Beneath the well-known twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) are the universal principles of spiritual practice as they are expressed in traditional religions and wisdom traditions; including Buddhism, Christianity, Cosmology, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Native American Spirituality, and Taoism. This wisdom expressed itself in the 20th century movement known as A.A. The purpose of her book is to ensure that seekers from all faith traditions have an opportunity to realize and appreciate the universality of transformative spiritual practices.https://www.12wisdomsteps.com/Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password TomOur website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ

Today we're talking …to Scott KilobyScott Kiloby is a noted international speaker, well-respected enlightenment (nonduality) teacher who has helped thousands of people all over the world, an entrepreneur, creative spirit, and a prolific author of seven books that simplify and demystify authentic spiritual awakening as it is taught in the East.  Scott has broken new ground in a number of areas, including being the co-founder and owner of the first two treatment centers in the U.S. to focus primarily on mindfulness and nondual awareness as the central path to freedom in recovery, the Kiloby Center for Recovery (day treatment) and the Natural Rest House (24-hour care facility).  Scott is an innovator in the addiction field and developed the New Model of Recovery which contains a zero-tolerance for shaming, judging, or punishing people whether they are using or not.  Instead, Scott focuses on showing people unconditional love and using the Kiloby Inquiries to heal their pain that drives the addiction in the first place. This has been the central key to the success of Scott's work.  https://kiloby.com/ Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ 

Start your day with this short meditation every day!I recently caught up for a chat with Shaman Woody Gruber, who kindly allowed me to share his 'Safety Protocol' or 'Power-Stacking Prayer'...its a few minutes long, but designed to 'Raise your frequency' to attune with higher spirits.Enjoy!

Sebastián Blaksley is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, born into a large traditional Catholic family in 1968.He attended the Colegio del Salvador, a Jesuit school of which the headmaster was Jorge Bergoglio, the current Pope Francis. Sebastian enjoyed sport in his youth, particularly Rugby football.At the age of six, Sebastián was involved in a near-fatal accident during which he heard a voice, which later identified itself as Jesus.More recently Sebastian receives, transcribes, and shares what the voice of Christ—the voice of love—mystically dictates to him.  Most recently he has “received” an astonishing, and most beautiful and uplifting series of messages from Heaven resulting in the Choose Only Love series of seven books, the first of which was published in October, 2019. To the present date, five of the seven books have been published with the final two books due for release throughout 2021. To some he is described as “a pencil in the hand of God.”   https://www.chooseonlylove.org https://www.fundacionamorvivo.org/https://www.chooseonlylove.org/about-the-books/books/ https://www.chooseonlylove.org/about-sebastian/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Choose-Only-Love-Echoes-Holiness/dp/1584696680  Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348  Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Our website is at www.HTWTW.comJoin our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ 

Neale Donald Walsch has written 39 books on contemporary spirituality and its practical application in everyday life. With an early interest in religion and a deeply felt connection to spirituality, Neale spent the majority of his early adult years thriving professionally, yet searching for greater meaning in life. He has said that this yearning let to a series of deeply personal spiritual encounters which he experienced as direct exchanges with the Divine. A series of books titled Conversations with God emerged from those moments, and has been translated into 37 languages. Seven books in the series reached the New York Times bestseller list, Conversations with God-Book 1 remaining there for over two-and-a-half years.  His latest book is The God Solution, published in December, 2020, which invites humanity to embrace a new global ethic based on a refined and clarified definition of God. The book proposes that there is a single statement of spiritual truth upon which all the world's religions could agree, and which would birth a shift of spiritual paradigms around the globe of such magnitude that it would produce peace and happiness on our planet at last. Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Join our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ

Today it's a special episode as we host a great debate between 2 wise old Buddhists - on the merits of AA and alternative recovery programmes, what works? What doesn't? Whats hokum?  Where does Buddhism and the 12 steps fit in with all this? Let's find out…Our guests: Vince C and Kevin G….In the blue corner:Vince C Having drunk alcoholically from the age of 14 until 39, Vince Cullen sat in his kitchen and poured a glass of lager. He made a promise to himself that this would be his last drink… ever. That was 24-years ago. Since then, he has been associated with Wat Tham-kra-bok, the famous detox monastery in Thailand and Buddhist-oriented drug and alcohol recovery. Vince founded and has facilitated Fifth Precept Sangha meditation-for-awakening Sit-and-Share meetings in England, Scotland, Ireland, India, Nepal, Thailand and the USA as part of his ongoing teaching of Hungry Ghost Retreats. He is a charter member of the Buddhist Recovery Network and keynote speaker at Buddhist Recovery Summits.Now in the red corner - Kevin!Kevin Griffin is a Buddhist teacher and author of several books, including One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps, and his latest Buddhism & the Twelve Steps DAILY REFLECTIONS. A longtime Buddhist practitioner and 12 Step participant, he is a leader in the mindful recovery movement and one of the founders of the Buddhist Recovery Network. Kevin is a husband, father and musician. His album “Laughing Buddha” is a collection of rock and world beat tunes with Buddhist themes. Kevin website www.kevingriffn.netVince website https://5th-precept.org/

Today on Here's Tom with the Weather podcast we're going to speak to...Jeffrey CoskerHaving had revelatory and mystical experiences as a result of total devotion to a 12 step program and then to A Course in Miracles, Jeffrey's faith is grounded deep. His experiences in life, lightheartedness, and total commitment to Awakening allow people from all different backgrounds to experience a safety to open up with him. With a deep passion for mind training, strong focus, and determination to see things differently, Jeffrey demonstrates the transformation that happens when you turn your life over to a higher purpose. After spending four years in a devoted spiritual community, Jeffrey heard the guidance to start a prison ministry. He has recently started a non-profit in the state of Nevada with a purpose focused on the denial of guilt in all forms. He continues to share the message of forgiveness with prisoners all throughout the United States.He has been practicing the 12 steps for 7 years. Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Join our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ

Today we speak to...Marya HornbacherMarya Hornbacher is an award-winning essayist, journalist, novelist, poet, and the New York Times bestselling author of five books. She is the recipient of the Annie Dillard Award for Nonfiction, a Logan Nonfiction Fellowship, the White Award for Magazine Journalism, the ASCAP Award for Music Journalism, the Fountain House Humanitarian Award, and other distinctions. Her writing has appeared in publications including the New York Times, Boston Globe, Smithsonian Magazine, Crazyhorse, AGNI, Gulf Coast, The Normal School, Fourth Genre, DIAGRAM, Arts & Letters, and many others. She's currently at work on her sixth and seventh books, a work of long-form journalism and a collection of essays. She teaches nonfiction, fiction, and poetry in the Master of Fine Arts in Writing program at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She has been sober for 21 years.Special mention of Marya's first book, Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia written in 1998, when she was twenty-three. What started as a crazy idea suggested by a writer friend became the classic book that has been published in sixteen languages and is taught in universities all over the world. Quote about her book Waiting: In Waiting, Hornbacher uses the story of her own journey beginning with her recovery from alcoholism to offer a fresh approach to cultivating a spiritual life. Relinquishing the concept of a universal “Spirit” that exists outside of us, Hornbacher gives us the framework to explore the human spirit in each of us—the very thing that sends us searching, that connects us with one another, the thing that “comes knocking at the door of our emotionally and intellectually closed lives and asks to be let in.”When we let it in and only when we do, she says, we begin to be integrated people. And we begin to walk a spiritual path. And there are many points along the way where we stop, or we fumble, or we get tangled up or turned around. Those are the places where we wait.Waiting, you'll discover, can become a kind of spiritual practice in itself, requiring patience, acceptance, and stillness. Sometimes we do it because we know we need to, though we may not know why. In short, we do it on faith.=  Marya's website : http://www.maryahornbacher.com/ Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom Join our Facebook Page ‘Here's Tom with the weather' at https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654 To see past episodes, join the ‘Here's Tom with the Weather' Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdW7K07ZZUPZZ-t0s7XmURQ  

Today we speak to...Jack Grisham Jack Grisham (born July 22, 1961). He is the vocalist for the punk rock band T.S.O.L. (True Sounds of Liberty), which emerged from the late 1970s Los Angeles hardcore punk rock scene, Which is described as being Punk hardcore. punk anarcho-punk deathrock and horror punk.We're not talking about Abba!An agnostic libertarian, Grisham challenges some of the "cult" like practices in today's groups and encourages you to think for yourself, live without fear, and tap the resource of power that resides within us all. Jack an author, a front-man, an actor, and a "two-bit" carny hypnotist. As a vocalist for T.S.O.L., and the Joykiller, he's released close to twenty full-length records and toured all over the world. Jack has been blamed for enlightening, and corrupting the moldable minds of our youth for years—he has also been credited for influencing many of the top bands of today. As an author he's released three books, all to mostly favorable reviews—no one says Jack is a horrible writer, it's just that he brings the horrible to life with such skill that at times you practically need to be sedated to read his prose. 'An American Demon', 'Untamed' and 'Code Blue a Love Story' have all burned their ways into the scary netherworld of the human psyche. As an actor, Jack plays himself, a lovable con-man that you can't help to root for—'Suburbia', 'Let It Rock', 'Punks Not Dead', 'American Hardcore', 'Rage', 'Urban Struggle' and 'The Other F-Word' have all been graced with his almost-as-large-as-life screen presence. Grisham has been clean and semi-serene since 1989. He gives motivational talks all over the USAYou can be sure that whatever Jack is involved in it is sure to challenge the senses and inflame the boundaries of what is decent and tame.  Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom 

Rabbi Rami Shapiro is an award–winning author of over thirty-six books on religion and spirituality. He received ordination from the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and holds a PH.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. A rabbinic chaplain with the USAF for 3 years, a congregational rabbi for 20, and a professor of religious studies for 10, Rabbi Rami currently co-directs the One River Foundation (www.oneriverfoundation.org). Rami is also a Contributing Editor at Spirituality and Health magazine where he writes the Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler He also hosts the magazine's bi-weekly podcast, Essential Conversations with Rabbi Rami (www.spiritualityhealth.com). He has been in  12 step recovery for 15 years and his two books on 12 step recovery are ‘Recovery, the sacred art' – and ‘Surrendered, Shattering the Illusion of Control and Falling into Grace with Twelve-Step Spirituality!'Help us Keep Tom going – please donate a few bucks/quid/sheckels here at Paypal: Gilwriter@hotmail.co.uk See us every Friday at zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348 Zoom ID 882 1549 348 password Tom 

A musical extravaganza, celebrating a year anniversary of the Shivering Denizens Group, started during lockdown 2020.

Today we're going to speak to...Donal O'c. Donal O Connell was born in 1941 …and he describes his birth as thus: “I was born behind a veil,  I slid into this world as the sun rose while a black cat walked by the bed as my mother held tightly on to a relic of St Teresa".She described Donal's birth as being a painless one, but he soon made up for that in the years thereafter.He attended Trinity College but student nurses, slow horses, Guiness and late-night boogies led him away to trips around the world seeking highs and lows, and spiritual fulfilment across the world.He is sober 30 years, is a published author of poetry and supporter of Munster Rugby Club.He himself played in the position of Hooker. We investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery.

Today we're going to speak to...Steve Ford. Steve Ford has been sober 25 years, and works as a therapist. After three and a half years working the 12 step programme he had a complete awakening. Since then Steve gives talks on the non-dual nature of consciousness and reality. He also explores the deeper meaning, and understanding of continual 12 step work. He is the author of the best-selling book Walking awake.Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of 'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ...  

Doc D is a clean and sober, gay, polyamorous man who will celebrate 33 years of continuous sobriety on 20 May, 2021, HP willing. He works with sponsees, a sponsor, and is of service in and out of meetings. He knows that program and he treasures his recovery.He is a practitioner of Body Suspension to enhance his Spiritual life.Body suspension entails "hanging the human body from (or partially from) hooks pierced through the flesh in various places around the body." It is one form of  body modification , which includes tattooing, piercing, scarification, gauging (expanding holes in the earlobes to acommodate increasingly larger rings), subdermal implantation (insertion of objects under the skin such as beads, crosses and horns), nipple and tongue splitting, body branding, ear-shaping...breast implantation, hair replacement and bodybuilding.With regard to body suspension, those at suspension.org offer a variety of explanations for its appeal. They note, "There are many different reasons to suspend, from pure adrenaline or endorphin rush, to conquering ones fears, to trying to reach a new level of spiritual consciousness and everything in between. In general, people suspend to attain some sort of "experience. Some people are seeking the opportunity to discover a deeper sense of themself and to challenge pre-determined belief systems which may not be true. Some are seeking a right of passage or a spiritual encounter to let go of the fear of not being whole or complete inside their body. Others are looking for control over their body, or seek to prove to themselves that they are more than their bodies, or are not their bodies at all. Others simply seek to explore the unknown.Join the Here's Tom with the Weather Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/groups/314088509589654

This week's guest: Father Bill Wigmore - an Episcopal priest in recovery from addiction since 1972. Still active in several 12-Step Fellowships,. Along with a small but growing group of Christians and spiritual seekers in recovery, he's focused on helping women and men discover the AA Pioneer's lost practice of Two Way Prayer. Which he says has brought many of us into a new, and often more intimate, relationship with God.https://www.twowayprayer.org/

The REAL STORY BEHIND THE WRITING OF THE BIG BOOK…Today's Guest:William Schaberg - a scholar and rare book dealer based in Fairfield, Connecticut. His interest in the history of ideas led him to amass a large collection of first edition philosophy texts and inspired his first scholarly work, The Nietzsche Canon: A Publication History and Bibliography (University of Chicago Press, 1995). Schaberg has delivered lectures on Nietzsche, William James, and other philosophers with his mentor King Dykeman at his alma mater Fairfield University. He has served in the United States Air Force, and ran a family printing business for over thirty years before retiring to commit more energy to his bookselling business, Athena Rare Books (www.athenararebooks.com). Schaberg's scholarly investigation into the authorship of Alcoholics Anonymous was an eleven-year project that, like his Nietzsche book, began with bibliographical confusion over the text's prepublication history and culminated in an unprecedented chronology of the “Big Book” origin.He has been sober for 39 years.Here's another zoom meeting and podcast of 'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus, people not necessarily in recovery, and sometimes we look behind the official story of AA…which is what we're going to do today…

What a life!Special interview with Sailor Bob from Melbourne Australia.Sober in AA since 1960, in 1975 Bob went to India to live in the Ashram. In 1976/77 he spent 12 months with Nisargadatta Maharaj in Bombay. Since this time thousands of seekers from all over the world have come to his home in Melbourne, Australia for individual sessions and to join regular (3 times weekly) group meetings. Bob is also talks to individuals over the phone and through Skype. Due to state restrictions meetings are currently held via zoom and FB live.By following Bob's pointers seekers either settle for less suffering or earnestly continue the search untill all questions are extinguished and questioner ‘dissolves' into nothing.Through Bob's devotion and enthusiasm many have woken from the nightmare of belief in being separate individuals.Having awoken some write books, provide their own pointers to the truth or some just quietly serve ‘themselves in others' wherever Life places them.The potential to recognize this simplicity of presence awareness is here now, it lays right in front of us, under the veil of ever changing, passing thoughts. These thoughts are simply another way the One Essence appears and expresses itself.

Ade Richardson is a producer/director and podcaster. Growing up on the border of Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights in Brooklyn, New York, Ade benefited from the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of the area. The people in his neighborhood inspired many characters that he would create for his films. Ade's talent for film directing was developed at Brooklyn College, where he studied under professor Robert Tutak. Ade uses his passion for writing and directing to find greater truth about himself and the world around him. In 2010 he started his film production company Satari films. Ade's intention is to make films that inspire people to reach their highest potential. In March of 2020 he created a Facebook page called Guided Meditations and More, where he offered daily live guided meditations to help those that were having a difficult time with the COVID-19 pandemic. In June of 2020, Ade created the Guided Meditations and More podcast where he interviews various types of people on a variety of topics. Today Ade spends much of his time working on his puppet comedy show. Blue News is a news parody comedy show where Ade interviews stuffed animals.At  'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... 

She survived The Moonies!An interview with Virginia P: AKA Hippy cat lover.She is a survivor and fighter.Virginia was born in San Francisco and is a genuine bona-fide hippie who was at the heart of the whole counter culture revolution in the 1960s – she was and is the epitome of the earth mother – she is flower power personified.As a spiritual seeker, she has lived in communes and Tipis… read all the books and followed the gurus.Then…in 1976, searching for meaning and spiritual enlightenment, and unafraid to try anything, she was introduced to the Cult of the Moonies - that is, she fell under the spell of the infamous Reverend Moon and his teachings. She spent 2 years in the cult before escaping and undergoing deprogramming, and then spent the following 10 years travelling around the world helping to deprogram other cult members.Since then, she got sober in 1987 and was a psychiatric nurse, before becoming n multi-award winning school teacher in California…it's also worth mentioning that she is a survivor of the deadly Paradise Fires in 2018.She is also a talented painter.here at Here's Tom with the Weather, we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery.

John 'The Camera' Coglan interview. Born in Ireland and reporter from Belfast, he's an award-winning war reporter who has covered the worst war-zones, been shot, bombed, kidnapped and almost executed.Sober since 1978 he's also a peacetime politician, leader of charities and man of humour and wisdom. Recorded in March 29 2021.

A 12 step investigation of the Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime LES BECKETT Born in Walgett NSW in 1948. His mum was of the Murri Wari tribe which were from Dinnawin (meaning Emu) in the region of Goodooga. They were eventually moved to an Aboriginal reserve, Wellmoringle between Burke and Kunamulla. His Dad was an unpredictable drunk and as a kid Les knew what it was like to hide under the bed. His spiritual life was a mix of both the Christian leanings of his father and his mother's traditional indigenous teachings...his father read from the Bible, particularly the practical Book of James (faith without works is dead) and the Book of Job...faith in and through adversity. On the other side was his mother's teaching him about the stars at night being the “campfires” of his ancestors and where he would eventually go to join them, and the smoking sessions (a burning of a special sandlewood, zulla bush).He is an accomplished musician and artist and has performed with many popular entertainers.Les got sober in 1987. He believes he had a spiritual experience where the drink was “taken from him”.During his sobriety, Les has accomplished much – including being part of a push for Aboriginal Soldiers to be recognised here in Australia's Anzac Day commemorations.His artwork has been shown in Sydney. He is regarded as an Aboriginal Elder and is known as Uncle Les.He says his main aim is always to ‘build bridges between his people and non-aboriginals'. His favourite food is Porcupine (Echidna) tastes like yellowbelly and catfish. Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of 'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ...

12 step investigation of an ALCOHOLIC CATHOLIC PRIEST Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of 'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... And today we're going to speak to...Stephen Donnelly After six years of arduous study, Stephen was ordained a Roman Catholic priest at age 42 and spent two decades as a spiritual leader and beloved priest. In his memoir, A Saint and a Sinner, Stephen shares his brutally honest account of his journey of sinfulness and descent into a world of cocaine and alcohol addiction—until he got sober in 2002… Stephen was named Man of the Year in Religion, hosted the Fallen on Long Island drug forum, was named Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day Parade and won The Fisher of Men Award for his work in the recovery world. He is eighteen years sober and is active in Alcoholics Anonymous' Twelve Step Program inspiring others to live a sober life. 

Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of 'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery –where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY and the red Road...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live.Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ...  And today we're going to speak to...Woody Gruber. Born on the Nebraska prairies and visited by empowering visions as a child, Woody found his healing path in shamanism in the 1990's and has trained with diverse and numerous world heritage teachers. He is a graduate of programs with Sandra Ingerman, Betsy Bergstrom,  Foundation for Shamanic Studies, as well as training in California with Sundoor and Peggy Dylan.  Woody holds a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from university, and has worked with indigenous native American medicine people for many years. He is the chief of the Fire at the world's largest Lakota Sundance on the reservation in South Dakota, US.  Woody travels around the US to teach and perform healing ceremonies with a loving heart and warm sense of humor. His work has had a profound impact on hundreds of lives and many communities wherever he goes.  His sessions are engaging, fulfilling and empowering for all!

Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of 'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live.Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... And today we're going to speak to...Wayne Snelgrove Wayne William Snellgrove, Saulteaux Tribe, Fishing Lake First Nation.  Indigenous Author, Canadian genocide 60s scoop survivor, 2 x USA Swimming National Champion and USA Swimming National Team member 95'. The only full blood Native American to accomplish this feat. Wayne William Snellgrove was stolen at birth from his tribe and culture and given to the Canadian foster care system. 32 years later he reunited with his mom. Wayne has walked the Indigenous spiritual path called the Redroad for over 30 years with his elder Tony StoneHawk. He is sober for several years and attends 12 step meetings.He is the author of “Daily Medicine” an Indigenous-based meditation book. He is generally known in Swimming circles as the greatest Native American Swimmer ever. With numerous national records to his credit. 

Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of 'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live.Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... And today we're going to speak to...Todd Deviney! Todd is a regression therapist and intuitive empathwho was born the youngest of three in Miami Florida.His working career began directly after high school as a mechanic in the United States Navy. After an honorable discharge he continued his education and obtained a federal license to operate commercial nuclear reactors. This led to the creation of a consulting firm that contracted with nuclear plants around the United States.Successful yet unsatisfied with walking the well trodden path of an accepted life, he began searching for inner fulfillment.After a few false starts and some painful lessons, his inner work culminated in a desire to help others. However, before the ability to help others can manifest you must first help yourself. That help came on 11/11 at 11 AM during a regression session where Todd experienced an energetic upgrade, or what is often referred to as a Kundalini Awakening.This has left him with the ability of ‘second sight' and a connection to a higher awareness.Due to the profound changes that have occurred in his life since that session, he became a certified regression therapist to provide the experience to others. Todd currently lives with his wife and daughter in North Carolina with two dogs, four chickens, and six fish. He has a regression therapy practice, posts articles on the internet, and lectures when time permits as he attempts to share what he has received with others.

Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of 'Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...it's our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be. Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... And today we're going to speak to...Joe Baily, Practionioner, Early Pioneer, and advocate of what he's called "The 3-Principles of Psychology." Something that he claims removes the barriers to a spiritual awakening. He is the author of the 'The Serenity Principle: Finding Inner Peace in Recovery' as well as others, including his upcoming 'Thriving in the Eye of the Hurricane, Finding Your Innate Resilience in our Challenging Times' (see links added below) in his own words. "the 3-Principles of Psychology serve as an essential guide to a RESILIENT LIFE that includes: Happiness, Connection, The ability to prevent Stress & Burnout, A Sense of Purpose, Freedom from Addiction, Depression, and Anxiety.Joseph's work in the health-care field has included cultural change consultation to hospitals and health-care systems in Michigan (East Lansing) and North Memorial Hospital (Golden Valley, MN), where he taught the principles of resiliency to health-care providers at all levels. In 2002 he helped start the Inner Life of Healers Program at the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. In this pioneering program, he led seminars and retreats for doctors, nurses, and other health-care professionals on self-care, resilience, burnout prevention and vocational renewal.Joseph has been an in-demand speaker in the United States and many other countries of the world including the UK, France, Switzerland, Spain, South Africa, India and speaks on podcasts and webinars internationally. His books are in 26 languages.

Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of ‘Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery - where alcoholics riff out on step 3 and step 11... as prescribed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous who encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us...We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, Sufis, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned... it's our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. It's all about Live and Let Live.Please remember that this is not an AA meeting...it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus, and to people not necessarily in recovery ... and today we're going to speak to...YISRAEL C –Yisrael C is a sober member of AA.Sober since Feb 14th, 1980. 25 years ago he converted to Judaism. First in the Reform community, then in the Conservative community, and finally after moving to Israel over 20 years ago a third and final time in the Orthodox community. As he has grown in religious observance he has remained an active member of AA. He works as a comedian and a guide at Yad V'Shem, (yard Vashem) the National Holocaust Museum of Israel.He lives in Jerusalem and has 4 children.

Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of ‘Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery  - particularly where the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us... We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, and those into NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned... it's our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. Its all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be. Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus, and to people not necessarily in recovery ... and today we're going to step out and look at the co-founder of AA himself…Bill Wilson…what was his higher power?… what lengths did he go to find a higher power…how it progressed…and what was the outcome....and maybe to see him not as the legendary, saintly figure that many try to portray him as, but as an alcoholic: a flawed human being just like the rest of us, but one who changed the course of human history for the better   - who saved the lives of millions – who started this wonderful program of Alcoholics Anonymous  - Yes, he had drive, he had determination but he also had defects of character.And finally, Before I introduce our guest please be aware that there will QUITE POSSIBLY be subject matter mentioned in this podcast that will challenge many people in recovery, and could upset some, - so to be clear – particularly to anyone new to sobriety, the subject matter you will hear  – is not an excuse to go off and try easier softer ways to sobriety and spiritual enlightenment. We always promote that the attendance of meetings, working the 12 steps, sponsorship and service as the route to long-term sobriety.Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox...today's guest is Don Lattin.Don Lattin is a sober, award-winning journalist and the author of six books.His journalistic work has appeared in dozens of U.S. magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the San Francisco Chronicle, where Don worked as a staff writer for nearly two decades.He has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California at Berkeley, where he holds a degree in sociology. He is a contributing writer for the Encyclopedia of Love in World Religions and the Encyclopedia of Religion in America.And the subject matter of tonight's discussion – largely revolves around his Peer-reviewed book -  DISTILLED SPIRITS -- Getting High, then Sober, with a Famous Writer, a Forgotten Philosopher, and a Hopeless Drunk. It's a memoir/group biography that looks at how Bill W , Aldous Huxley, and philosopher Gerald Heard, opened new doors in Western religious thought.Distilled Spirits won several awards including the “Religion Book of the Year" and the California Book Award.

Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of ‘Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of Recovery  - particularly where the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us....for example in  3rd Step of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 STEP program where it states‘MADE A DECISION TO TURN OUR WILL AND OUR LIVES OVER TO THE CARE OF GOD, AS WE UNDERSTOOD HIM' and also to the 11th Step where it states‘sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out'We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, and those into NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. .its all about Live and Let Live.Please remember that this is not an AA meeting...its just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... and today its my honour to introduce you to Paul Hedderman:He's been described as :“A man of no pretense, Paul Hedderman's enlivening teachings blend his experience in recovery since 1988 with the perennial wisdom of Buddhist and Vedic philosophy peppered with gems from A Course in Miracles. Paul is the author of The Escape To Everywhere “Under A_rest and other titles. Here's a quote about Paul: Paul invites us to notice how the mind's irritability, restlessness, and discomfort arise from the false notion of what's not happening; a notion that creates the sense of a false self. His clear pointers are a simple and profound invitation that once considered can instantly break this addiction and enable one to travel lighter through life.”Paul cites Zen Master Huang Po as an important influence on his philosophy….so here's a few Huang Po quotes to get us startedHuángbò's teaching centered on the concept of “mind” - He taught that mind cannot be sought by the mind. One of his most important sayings was “mind is the Buddha”.He also said:“All the Buddhas and all sentient beings are nothing but the One Mind, beside which nothing exists. The One Mind alone is the Buddha, and there is no distinction between the Buddha and sentient beings”.He also said:“To awaken suddenly to the fact that your own Mind is the Buddha, that there is nothing to be attained or a single action to be performed - this is the Supreme Way”.“Suppose a warrior, forgetting that he was already wearing his pearl on his forehead, were to seek for it elsewhere, he could travel the whole world without finding it.”“Learn only how to avoid seeking for and attaching yourselves to anything.”“There is only the one reality, neither to be realized nor attained.”“Words used to attract the dull of wit are not to be relied on.”

A 12 step investigation of David Godman & Ramana MaharshiWelcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of ‘Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of 12 step Recovery  - particularly where the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us....for example in  the 11th Step where it states ‘sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out'We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Hermetics, Paganists, and those into NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own - to stay sober and carry the message.We promote tolerance and empathy for folks who have different spiritual practices than us. .its all about Live and Let Live. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting...its just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be. Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... and today its my honour to introduce you to David GodmanHere's Tom with the Weather meets David GodmanDavid was born in 1953 in England. During his second year at Oxford University, while reading Ramana Maharshi's writings for the first time, he fell into a state of silence which transformed the way he viewed himself and the world. Finding it impossible to study for exams, he dropped out in his final year and rented a house in rural Ireland where he read Sri Ramana's books and practiced self-inquiry.The following year, in 1976, he went to India. Despite his intention to stay for only six weeks, he has been there almost continuously ever since, residing mainly in Tiruv-anna-malai where Ramana Maharshi's ashram is located. From 1978 to 1985 he was the ashram's librarian.It's also worth noting that he sat in satsang on several occasions with legendary sage Nisargadatta Maharaj.Starting in 1993 he spent four years with none other than Papaji (H.W.L. Poonja) in Lucknow where he wrote the bookNOTHING EVER HAPPENED.David is married to Miri a philosophy lecturer who teaches in Perth, Australia. He is based in India, but nowadays spends part of the year with her in Australia.David is the author or editor of 16 books includingBe As You Are (1985)No Mind — I Am The Self (1986)Papaji: Interviews (1993)Livng By the Words of Bhagavan (1994)Nothing Ever Happened (three volumes) (1998)Sri Ramana Darsanam (2013)Sorupa Saram (2013)

– Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of ‘Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of Recovery  - particularly where the founders of AA encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us....for example in  3rd Step of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 STEP program where it states ‘MADE A DECISION TO TURN OUR WILL AND OUR LIVES OVER TO THE CARE OF GOD, AS WE UNDERSTOOD HIM' and also to the 11th Step where it states ‘sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out' We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Paganists, AND...those who subscribe to NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own to stay sober and carry the message. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting...its just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be. Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... and today its my honour to introduce you to Tyce S Watts(Ntyce Orphic Wizdom)anthropologist, student of life, alternative health guru, and adept in esoteric things!Age 33Birthday Jan 16th, 1987Electrician, Esoteric librarian, hermeticist,  alchemist, historian,Born and raised in  a small southwest Iowa. Nothing better to do than cause trouble and do drugs untill one day I was sent to church and was told some crazy things that sparked my passion and I got my first taste of what it means to find God spent the rest of my life scouring the bowels of old libraries and book stores and yard/garage sales for books on religion magic and physics...I then got on a old hacker chat room and asked for a mentor I found a egyptian woman who guided me thru what books to start with.I eventually realized after years of digging ores of gold from piles of crap that we are all one and magic is just misunderstood physics cymatics and alchemy. Then I connected even more dots and I'm here to expose what I've found to all of you so u can use it to empower yourself to be the best you that you can be.Tyce's YouTube Channelhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88215498348Check out the Hermetic Library Group on FaceBook - the tabs are full of great info!https://www.facebook.com/groups/382226792152213/

Welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of ‘Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of Recovery  - particularly where the founders of AA encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us....for example in  3rd Step of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 STEP programme where it states ‘MADE A DECISION TO TURN OUR WILL AND OUR LIVES OVER TO THE CARE OF GOD, AS WE UNDERSTOOD HIM'We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, sufis, agnostics, Christians, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Paganists, AND...those who subscribe to NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned...its our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own to stay sober and carry the message.Please remember that this is not an AA meeting...its just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus and to people not necessarily in recovery ... and today its my honour to introduce you to Trishna Horkan"Trishna has been A student of Healing for 23 years, she has studied with spiritual teachers in India & the USA including, AMRIT-ananda-mayi Ma "Amma", Chief Wanbli Sapa, Tibetan Buddhist Lamas, Dr. Stanley Haleakala Hew Len, Indigenous Medicine Men & her Shastriji in India. Her approach is humorous, healing and empowering."Trishna has an intriguing concept of a higher power or Higher PowerS!She have been studying the Divine Mother academically and spiritually since 1988 (when I was 2 years stark raving sober)In 1998, her Shastriji in Rajasthan, unbeknownst to her initiated me as a clairvoyant.The Lakota have her the name "looks in the future woman"She is also interested in Bill Wilson's psychic journey and beliefs from the AS conference approved biography PASS IT ON the story of Bill Wilson and how the AA message reached the world.

Joe C wrote the first secular daily reflection book for people in recovery from addiction – Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life. A journalist, researcher, and music geek, Joe writes and broadcasts about art, finance, addiction/recovery, history, billiards, and demographic shifts. He hosts and produces IndieCan Radio and Rebellion Dogs Radio. Clean and sober since disco, Joe has shared his primary research on AA, the broader recovery community, and addiction/recovery study with substance use treatment professionals and 12-step history enthusiasts. Sometimes Joe C is a guest on radio and podcast shows like this one, here.

Good afternoon, good evening, and good morning to you, wherever you are in the world – welcome to another zoom meeting and podcast of ‘Here's Tom with the Weather'...where we investigate the plethora of Higher powers that populate the vast universe of Recovery  - we delve deep into those steps where the founders of AA encourage us to find some kind of higher power – as long as it's not us....for example in  3rd Step of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 STEP program where it states‘MADE A DECISION TO TURN OUR WILL AND OUR LIVES OVER TO THE CARE OF GOD, AS WE UNDERSTOOD HIM' and also to the 11th Step where it states ‘sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out'We speak to people with all manner of higher powers - from those who are atheists, Sufis, agnostics, Christians, Buddhists, Followers of Islam, Paganists, AND...those who subscribe to NON-DUALITY...we leave no stone unturned... it's our aim to promote understanding and open-mindedness so that alcoholics and addicts can find a higher power of their own to stay sober and carry the message. Please remember that this is not an AA meeting... it's just some people's version of the truth – whatever that may be.Sometimes we talk to seekers, to gurus, and to people not necessarily in recovery ... and today it's my honor to introduce you to Wayne Liquorman...                                Wayne Liquorman has been sober for 35 years and describes himself as a family man with a successful export business. He met his first and final guru, Ramesh Balsekar, in September 1987.His first book, No Way: A Guide For the Spiritually ‘Advanced' was published in 1990 under the pen name Ram Tzu because he “didn't want a bunch of miserable seekers cluttering up his living room.”In fact, Wayne did not speak publicly until Ramesh asked him to do so during a visit to India in 1996. When he returned home, word had spread, and he started receiving requests to speak across the country, and then around the world.He is also the author of Never Mind… A journey into Non-duality, and the editor of Consciousness Speaks and several other books by Ramesh Balsekar, who referred to Wayne as his “spiritual son.” Since then he has written Enlightenment Is Not What You Think, and The Way of Powerlessness: Advaita and The 12 Step of Recovery. His most recent book, Hello My Loves: 10 years of writings to seekers of Truth, was published in 2015.You are welcome to attend any of Wayne's TalksHe describes his teachings as pure Advaita (non-duality), uniquely presented in an uncompromising, sometimes humorous way, without religious dogma or new age veneer.And Today I want to discuss his book: The Way of Powerlessness: Advaita and The 12 Steps of Recovery...