12th Step Podcast
12th Step Podcast
Lost Episode: The Brothel and the Bell: Searching for God in Recovery
Lost Episode: The Brothel and the Bell: Searching for God in Recovery
Lost Episode: The Brothel and the Bell: Searching for God in Recovery
Friday 1st August 2025
Explore the spiritual quest behind addiction recovery with insights from Carl Jung and personal stories from the hosts.
Explicit
36 minutes
hopeful
challenging
informative
reflective
supportive
About this podcast
Author:
12th Step Podcast
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Sexual Health in Recovery
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Financial Health in Recovery
Body & Mind
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Episodes:
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Get the buttons here!Finding God in Recovery: The Brothel and the Bell
Episode Overview
- Addiction as a misguided spiritual quest.
- Carl Jung's perspective on seeking wholeness.
- Steps 2 and 3 focus on spiritual growth.
- Challenges in recovery and spiritual awakening.
- Finding peace through surrender to a higher power.
"The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God."
In this episode of the 12th Step Podcast, hosts Gary, Mike, and Daniel delve into the profound topic of spiritual awakening in addiction recovery. The discussion is sparked by an email from a listener, S, who shares a quote that resonated deeply with him: 'The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God.' This quote, attributed to Carl Jung, highlights the notion that addiction can be seen as a misguided spiritual quest, a search for wholeness and union with God.
S shares his personal journey of recovery, celebrating eight months of sobriety from behaviors including acting out with sex workers. He finds hope and strength in attending SAA and SLAA meetings, listening to recovery podcasts, and working through the 12-step program, particularly Steps 2 and 3, which focus on embracing a higher power and spiritual growth. The hosts reflect on the email, acknowledging how addiction can temporarily fill the void, offering a fleeting sense of completeness.
However, they emphasize that true peace and wholeness come from spiritual growth and the lessons learned in Steps 2 and 3. The discussion expands to explore the concept of God or a higher power, noting that unconditional love and surrender to this higher power can lead to lasting fulfillment beyond worldly distractions.
The hosts also touch upon the challenges faced in recovery, with Gary pointing out that while the journey can be difficult, it is through these trials that one truly appreciates the resilience and strength gained. Mike highlights the importance of doing the necessary work to find peace, and Daniel emphasizes the role of humility in recovery.
This episode is a testament to the transformative power of recovery, advocating for the surrender to a higher power and the pursuit of spiritual growth as pathways to finding meaning and wholeness in life. As the podcast concludes, the hosts express gratitude for listener engagement and encourage continued involvement in recovery communities.