Photo of Karen Casey

What I Believe

It seems only fair that I share with you what my spiritual perspective is before asking you to share yours. As a child, I was clueless. My parents didn't adhere to any set of beliefs as far as I could tell. They didn't discourage the idea of religion. It simply wasn't discussed. In college, I shunned every thing that smacked of religion. Native American Spirituality appealed to me when I got into graduate school, but it wasn't until I got into 12 Step recovery that I actually became “a believer.”

One question I am often asked is how do I connect with God. And the answer every time is the same. When I am writing or speaking at a conference or in direct communication with a sponsee or friend at a meeting, or simply paying attention to the people who are crossing my path at the grocery and elsewhere, I know God is present. Something simply moves in and through me when I am being attentive to others in the moment. And I feel transformed. Because of this I am quite certain I will never be done writing or speaking or connecting with each one of you in whatever way I can. So even though we may never meet in person, connecting here is a way we can both feel the presence of God.

Articles

Taking a Stand

This is a piece I wrote for the op ed pages of various newspapers.

My name is Karen Casey and I am an alcoholic. Even though I deeply value the importance of anonymity, in accordance with the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, I have decided to reveal my identity as a woman in recovery from addictions who’s life has been spared because of three decades of continuous attendance at AA and other twelve step meetings. The bashing that treatment and twelve step groups have received of late, as the result of the now infamous book, A Million Little Pieces, does a grave injustice to a way of life that has saved millions of addicted people like myself.

This same twelve step way of life has enhanced the lives of innumerable people who have been touched by each addict too. It has been said that every alcoholic or drug addict significantly affects at least 7 other people. I think the figure could easily be higher. But for our purposes here, let’s consider for a moment the generally accepted statistic that one in ten people in this culture is alcoholic or drug addicted. In a country of approximately 270,000,000 people, that’s 27,000,000 who are suffering from a life-threatening disease. (The American Medical Association classified alcoholism as a disease in the 50’s) Now let’s factor in the “significant others” who are also gravely affected by this disease. 27,000,000 times 7 is 189,000,000 people! A pretty hefty number. Wouldn’t you agree?

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April 8, 2006

Faith is Simple, if We Keep it So ...

My beliefs are simple, today. Be kind and God will be well pleased is one of them. Listen intently to the people who cross my path and I will hear the messages that are meant for my growth, is another one. There are no coincidences. Wherever I am is where I need to be. A gentle response to another’s angry outburst will heal both of us. Every expression any one makes reflects either love or fear. If I remember God’s presence in every moment, my life will be peace-filled. We do impact the world every time we interact with another person. And I believe that each interaction, each conversation, is my opportunity to promote peace, worldwide.

I developed the beliefs that guide my life over a period of nearly 30 years in the rooms of AA and Al-Anon. This has been coupled with a serious and consistent study over the last fourteen years of A Course in Miracles which is a book of spiritual beliefs that complement the Twelve Steps, not by intention but by content and design.

I am delighted to say that I have finally, quit trying to “figure out” God’s plan for my life. I spent my early years in recovery trying to “read the signs” spelling out God’s plan for me. That obsession, which is what it became, kept me spinning, constantly full of fear that at any moment I was missing God’s message, and absolutely lacking in peace.

I am so glad that I have persevered and found what works for me. I believe that God’s plan is to express loving thoughts to every one who is on my path; to believe that every one is there/here by design, and that if I am offering love, regardless of what I may be perceiving or feeling or hearing, I will be following God’s plan or “will” for my life.

It’s no more complicated than this. I would love to hear what your beliefs are.


March 27, 2004

Audio

Recordings

Interview with Catherine Bradford, host of The Wellness Roadshow: Searching for Whole Being

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Recording: Changing Our Lives by Changing Our Minds

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Recording: All We Have Is All We Need

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Recording: Guided Mediation

If It's Love

June 18, 2006