The Twelve Foundations:
A Positive Program of Transformation and Recovery
The Twelve Foundations is a program of positive transformation and recovery that is based upon twelve universal principles or foundations. As you incorporate these principles into your life—through your own efforts and with the support of others—you’ll begin to experience more of your divine qualities and partake in the joy of your own being. For people looking to improve their lives, this program can give them the teachings and support they need. For people struggling with addictions, this program can be used as a template for “positive” recovery and for overcoming life-challenges in a true and positive way.
A fundamental teaching of the Twelve Foundations is that each person is an individualized expression of Infinite Spirit. As such, our own nature contains every quality of Spirit including love, joy, power, aliveness, and beauty. However, most people are not in touch with this truth; and rather than living as joyful, fulfilled human beings their lives are filled with struggle, weakness, and dis-ease. This program is designed to change that. The Twelve Foundations is not about perpetuating your weakness, it’s about accepting and coming into your greatness. It is not about adopting some belief system, it’s about honoring your own experience. It is not about fearfully avoiding the negative aspects of life, or surrendering to some external power, it’s about coming into your own power, both as a human and spiritual being. It’s about finding aliveness and joy, beauty and abundance, both in yourself and in communion with others.
The term ‘Spirit’ is commonly used in the Twelve Foundations to denote the One, Absolute Reality. Any term, however, can be substituted in for Spirit such as Life, The One, God, Big Mind, Supreme Consciousness, etc.
The four major areas of this program are:
1. Active participation in a group of caring, like-minded individuals, all of whom have the intention to improve their lives and support each other.
2. Becoming a true and integral human being by understanding yourself, putting your life in order, having a proper relationship with food and the body, establishing supportive and uplifting relationships, and aligning your actions with the laws of nature.
3. Understanding and developing your creative power.
4. Realizing your true nature through meditation, prayer, self-inquiry, and/or the practice of presence.
“Recovery” is a term that is often applied to people who have overcome or are in the process of overcoming addictions and who seek to recover the “manageability” of their former lives. Such a person might say, “I am in recovery” or “I have been in recovery for five years.” However, this notion of recovery can also have a higher meaning: in the path of “higher recovery” the aim is not so much to recover the human life we once knew—a life that was beset with difficulties and limitations even before it was derailed by addiction—but to recover the wholeness and glory of who we truly are. We want to recover our unity with Spirit; we want to recover the love, joy, and fullness of a well-lived life.
A Positive Program of Transformation and Recovery
The Twelve Foundations is a program of positive transformation and recovery that is based upon twelve universal principles or foundations. As you incorporate these principles into your life—through your own efforts and with the support of others—you’ll begin to experience more of your divine qualities and partake in the joy of your own being. For people looking to improve their lives, this program can give them the teachings and support they need. For people struggling with addictions, this program can be used as a template for “positive” recovery and for overcoming life-challenges in a true and positive way.
A fundamental teaching of the Twelve Foundations is that each person is an individualized expression of Infinite Spirit. As such, our own nature contains every quality of Spirit including love, joy, power, aliveness, and beauty. However, most people are not in touch with this truth; and rather than living as joyful, fulfilled human beings their lives are filled with struggle, weakness, and dis-ease. This program is designed to change that. The Twelve Foundations is not about perpetuating your weakness, it’s about accepting and coming into your greatness. It is not about adopting some belief system, it’s about honoring your own experience. It is not about fearfully avoiding the negative aspects of life, or surrendering to some external power, it’s about coming into your own power, both as a human and spiritual being. It’s about finding aliveness and joy, beauty and abundance, both in yourself and in communion with others.
The term ‘Spirit’ is commonly used in the Twelve Foundations to denote the One, Absolute Reality. Any term, however, can be substituted in for Spirit such as Life, The One, God, Big Mind, Supreme Consciousness, etc.
The four major areas of this program are:
1. Active participation in a group of caring, like-minded individuals, all of whom have the intention to improve their lives and support each other.
2. Becoming a true and integral human being by understanding yourself, putting your life in order, having a proper relationship with food and the body, establishing supportive and uplifting relationships, and aligning your actions with the laws of nature.
3. Understanding and developing your creative power.
4. Realizing your true nature through meditation, prayer, self-inquiry, and/or the practice of presence.
“Recovery” is a term that is often applied to people who have overcome or are in the process of overcoming addictions and who seek to recover the “manageability” of their former lives. Such a person might say, “I am in recovery” or “I have been in recovery for five years.” However, this notion of recovery can also have a higher meaning: in the path of “higher recovery” the aim is not so much to recover the human life we once knew—a life that was beset with difficulties and limitations even before it was derailed by addiction—but to recover the wholeness and glory of who we truly are. We want to recover our unity with Spirit; we want to recover the love, joy, and fullness of a well-lived life.
The Twelve Foundations
One: I am an individual expression of Infinite Spirit, possessing every quality of Spirit such as love, power, abundance, and beauty.
Two: As a creative center of Spirit I have the power to improve the conditions of my life—and it is my sacred duty to do so.
Three: I commit to living a true and noble life, one that’s in alignment with Spirit and the laws of nature.
Four: I will take steps to know myself and to have that knowledge become a living truth in my life.
Five: I accept myself as I am, holding that there’s nothing wrong with me and nothing that needs to be fixed.
Six: I will care for my body, knowing that it is my greatest friend and support in this life.
Seven: I will put my house in order, bringing peace and stability to my life.
Eight: I will seek to have every relationship support my highest good (and not bind me to the past through anger, guilt, blame, or regret).
Nine: I resolve to give and receive support from others, to honor and be honored by others.
Ten: I accept my role as a true co-creator with Spirit—never expecting Spirit to do for me what it can only do through me.
Eleven: I resolve that through meditation, prayer and/or the practice of presence I will deepen my connection with Spirit and my true self.
Twelve: Having realized my unity with Spirit, the preciousness of my human existence, and the joyous sense of being alive I give myself in service to others.
One: I am an individual expression of Infinite Spirit, possessing every quality of Spirit such as love, power, abundance, and beauty.
Two: As a creative center of Spirit I have the power to improve the conditions of my life—and it is my sacred duty to do so.
Three: I commit to living a true and noble life, one that’s in alignment with Spirit and the laws of nature.
Four: I will take steps to know myself and to have that knowledge become a living truth in my life.
Five: I accept myself as I am, holding that there’s nothing wrong with me and nothing that needs to be fixed.
Six: I will care for my body, knowing that it is my greatest friend and support in this life.
Seven: I will put my house in order, bringing peace and stability to my life.
Eight: I will seek to have every relationship support my highest good (and not bind me to the past through anger, guilt, blame, or regret).
Nine: I resolve to give and receive support from others, to honor and be honored by others.
Ten: I accept my role as a true co-creator with Spirit—never expecting Spirit to do for me what it can only do through me.
Eleven: I resolve that through meditation, prayer and/or the practice of presence I will deepen my connection with Spirit and my true self.
Twelve: Having realized my unity with Spirit, the preciousness of my human existence, and the joyous sense of being alive I give myself in service to others.
...