The work of The Sober Shaman and The Alchemist Recovery Program begins with The Premise: stop searching, instead start trusting.

When you do this, everything changes. Here’s why…

Addiction wants you to keep searching because this allows it to perpetuate itself and keep the status quo rolling along.

Here’s what happens when you’re stay searching:

1. The answer is out-there-somewhere

2. It keeps you focused on what you don’t have

3. It keeps the Machinery of Need running at full speed

4. Keeps addiction’s illusion of never enough alive and reinforces The Spell of Not Enough

5. Feeds the Hungry Ghost - the vacuum is running on high suction

6. Energetically it is a Yin/ - negative charge in nature, which pulls in from the Universe.

Addiction doesn’t want you to stop searching because when you do and you start trusting, everything changes. Here’s how:

1. The answers are within you

2. Brings your focus upon what you already have

3. Brings the Machinery of Need to a halt

4. Breaks the Spell and shatters the Illusion of Never-Enough

5. Stops feeding the Hungry Ghost - turns off the vacuum

6. Energetically it is a Yang/+ positive charge in nature, which in this case is about giving out to the Universe

Specifically…

• If I have the answers, then I have something to give

• I have something worthwhile to share

• I can bring meaning, passion and purpose to life

• And not just to my life, but to life

• So, we are not just talking about initial sobriety, but also an ongoing practice for as long as we want.

The Premise of stop searching and instead start trusting is a great way to begin the conversation about the deeper spiritual aspects of recovery.

And again, this work is YOUR work - so how you discover, understand and nourish your relationship with spirit, is all about what..

• Speaks to your heart

• Touches your soul and is

• Known as truth within your bones

The Alchemist Recovery Program is here to provide the guidance to help you do exactly this.

…any pattern, habit, or addiction…

One way to break out of it is to change our thinking - because…

“You can’t solve a problem using the same kind of thinking that created it” - Einstein

One way to do this is to pull a 180 on our Western, logical, A + B = C thinking by way of a paradox.

In addiction, I use this one:

Addiction is predictable

You are unique

What this means is that:

You will have to do recovery like everyone else. There is no way around it. Period. It’s totally predictable. Laws of the Universe kind of thing.

And….

You will not do your recovery like anyone else.

Both are true at the same time.

That’s a paradox.

It’s not, “So, which one is right? They are opposites, so it has to be either the first or the second.” That’s the thinking that perpetuates a cycle.

Instead, consider, embrace, and investigate, “Hmmm. How can both be right?”

This causes a crack in the cement of thinking that sealed the pattern into place. The light of truth shines in - and in a way we couldn’t have even thought of before.

That’s where we can begin. And then pry that crack wider & wider until the cycle falls apart.

This works for any place of stuckness, on any subject or situation, whether or not we call it “addiction.”

Give it a try. I’d love to know your thoughts ; )

IT’S SIMPLE: FOLLOW THESE 3 PRINCIPLES

PRINCIPLE #1: Addiction affects the whole person: mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical

Right from the start, we determine which part of the whole person works best for you. We speak the same language to eliminate confusion, honor your beliefs and deliver the specific brand of medicine that’s right for you.

PRINCIPLE #2: Addiction is a cycle

Many approaches talk about this but few, if any, have a 2,500-year-old proven way to chart the entire Cycle step-by-step. Applying this, we find where your addiction is at its weakest and break it there, once and for all.

PRINCIPLE #3: Addiction impacts every close relationship.

Addiction devastates your closest relationships. The Yin-Yang Theory provides us with a simple, unique and powerful method of repairing them - including your personal relationships to Spirit, Nature and the Universe.

When we apply these 3 Principles, we break the Cycle of Addiction.

Join us in The Program to see exactly how!

I look forward to being your guide,

Randal

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a: a spoken word or form of words held to have magic power

b: a state of enchantment

I’ve been professionally helping others in recovery for almost as long as I’ve been clean and sober—no coincidence. From the start, I realized that for treatment to have any chance of success, I need to take what works from my esoteric Chinese medicine and core-shamanic approaches and explain addiction’s origins and mechanisms in a way people can understand.

On the other end, I’ve had to translate what I do for treatment centers, insurance companies, and licensing and accreditation boards, as well as to my medical and mental health colleagues—speaking in the “medical-ese” that checks diagnosis codes and reimbursement boxes.

Fun, right?

Now, I aim to strip away language that complicates an already complex issue. With that in mind, I propose…

Addiction is a Spell
This Spell is a Lie
This Lie is a Belief

Let me explain.

Check out our exploration along this path to the core of an addiction. Hit the play button on the podcast audio at the top of the page, or check out the video embedded here:

And as always, please hit the little like button and send along any comments or questions you may have.

With blessings,

Randal

Those of you who know me and have participated in one of my groups, know I’d rather facilitate (sometimes referee) an engaging discussion instead of delivering a preplanned monologue about “the way things are” in recovery.

And the question above is one of my surefire ways to get a good back-and-forth going.

Everyone involved falls into either the belief or reality side, with each side putting forth convincing arguments. Each side has examples from their own lives and experiences that prove their points. Each side can dig their heels in pretty good.

So who wins?

Well, that depends…

In this Lesson, we explore how these beliefs versus the reality of things help to form one’s personal perspectives, which then go on to perpetuate their Cycle.

Let’s begin…

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It is a popular one and comes from America’s First Nations people, The timeless wisdom conveyed in the tale provides another view of the Cycle of Addiction and coalesces all of our work into one simple choice:

Who do you feed?

Let’s begin…

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In doing this, we provide you with the insights necessary to see where the Cycle is at its weakest, where you’re at your strongest and exactly what it’s going to take to break it - once and for all.

Let’s begin…

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There’s a singular moment when the addiction actually works.

This occurs sometime after all of the mental planning, after all of the acquisition of the goods, and then after arranging all of the logistics of people, place and circumstance, when everything is laid out in front of me and I’m about to dive in…

Boom!

In the words of Charlie Sheen, “Hey, I’m winning!”

I’ve come to call this, The Magic Moment.

Oh, it’s “magic” all right - but it’s also quite the illusion ; ) and…it does not last.

In this Lesson, I’ll share with you not only exactly when this Moment occurs but also why it works. And if you’d like, you can share your own experience of what this was like for you.

Let’s begin…

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Knowing this, it’s becomes our choice, at each and every turn in that path, to either repeat the patterns of our addiction or to break free and manifest something different.

The choice is ours.

In this Lesson, we take a look at exactly what these decisions are and how we can make the right ones when presented on the next go ‘round of the Cycles of Manifestation.

Let’s begin…

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Pretty much everyone can agree on this statement, but not too many have a map of exactly how this Cycle works.

We do.

It’s simple, easy to understand and follows the flow of Nature.

In this Lesson, we lay out this map to deepen our understanding of how an addiction works, where it comes from and then with our participation, how it perpetuates itself into existence again and again.

Let’s begin…

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What happens in your mind? Spirit? To your emotions? And in your body?

And what happens when you keep telling yourself this lie over and over again over a long period of time?

It can’t be good, right?

So, let’s fix it. This Lesson contains one of my favorite science experiments. The Medicine Journey will provide you with an experience of both a truth and a lie and then will prove to you that the one you’ve been telling yourself in addiction - that one we identified at the core - is just that: a lie.

Let’s begin…

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We’re going to dig into the roots of your firmly entrenched belief systems and reveal the phrases of power that are reinforced by, and simultaneously perpetuate, your addiction.

We’re going to identify the Voice of TAHL; these are your Limiting Core Beliefs.

Let’s begin…

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In this Lesson, we investigate them and how they’ve appeared in our lives. These Four Steps are:

1. The Meteor of TAHL hits

2. Makes the Crater

3. Forms the Wound

4. The Pull of the Wound

We’ll explore your preferences for the energetic language of The Void or the more personalized concepts of The Wound.

Either way, the fundamental laws apply and we use them to our advantage to once again craft the language and utilize the medicine that honors your perspectives and works with your beliefs.

Let’s begin…

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Acces…

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When we investigate the reasons why we struggle with addiction, the question arises: “How did I get this way?”

The answer lies in your experience of—and response to—trauma, abuse, heartbreak, and loss (TAHL).

We’ve all had these meteors of pain crash into and shatter the innocence of our lives. But how did you respond? The answer is everything. It affects our beliefs, the people we connect with, and our outlook on the world.

In this Lesson, we dive deep into that question and expose outdated beliefs that aren’t serving us. This is an opportunity to view self and world from new perspectives—ones that transform our experience and our Broken Heart.

Let’s begin…

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My answer is simple, “Because that’s where the Wound is.”

And the Wound we’re talking about is the one that lies at the core of your addiction. It contains the memory of exactly what went down to change your perception about life and safety, as well as who and what to trust moving forward.

They are deeply ingrained - but - do they really still apply to your current life now?

Let’s begin…

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When we finally get those immediate issues resolved and things start to feel stable, it may be time to get back to work and enter the Investigation Stage, so we can understand how things landed that way.

Then, when we see how and why it played out the way it did, let’s put all that knowledge to good use as we enter the Practice Stage. We “chop wood, carry water,” so that we create the environment, circumstances and relationships that we’re proud of.

And even as we achieve these successes in recovery, the cycles of the Renewal Stage await. Will we be ready when they inevitably arrive?

In this Lesson, we identify exactly what Stage you’re in right now, so we can identify exactly what needs to be done next.

Let’s begin…

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That simple insight continues to force me to grow - because both are true at the same time.

So, while there are universal laws that apply to everyone regardless of culture, sex, finances, identity, drug-of-choice, etc., there is also the fact that you will have a unique relationship to those laws that directly relates to your personal beliefs and individual situation.

Again, both universal and personal are true at the same time.

This makes things interesting when we look at the simple question:

What is success in sobriety?

It’s not just about stopping - if it was, then “Just say no” would have worked for me back in the ‘80’s ; )

Rather, we’ll need to forge your individual path ahead that honors your beliefs while also respecting and working with the universal principles.

This is how we achieve long-lasting, sustained success for you in sobriety.

Let’s begin…

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Principle 1 - Addiction affects every aspect of the whole person: mental-spiritual-emotional-physical

Which of the four aspects of the whole person is your favorite?

Which one do you want nothing to do with?

Which of them hold no charge either way?

Here in Lesson 4, we continue to define and refine what “medicine” is for you. This will clarify what’s immediately necessary, eliminate what isn’t applicable, as well as answer…

What’s the Medicine for my addiction?

Let’s begin…

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For example, if you believe that the source of your addiction is one of these:

• A “God-sized hole”

• Obsessive thinking

• Back pain

• The feelings from anxiety

…you’ll have four completely different takes on your addiction, which requires we present explanations in four completely different languages, which requires we use four completely different medicines.

Right from the start, let’s get on the same page and find the best way forward.

Let’s begin…

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When I was searching for help to get clean and sober, I needed things to be simple. In those early days, I could not wrap my head around the technical jargon that works better for checking boxes of diagnostic criteria and filling out medical forms for insurance reimbursement

I needed a clear and simple answer to, “An addiction is…” and delivered to me in a way that gave me a foundation.

From there, I was happy to explore everything - science, spirits, Chinese Medicine, my family of origin issues, and so on.

But first, give me some footing.

This is exactly what we’re doing here in Lesson 2.

From this plain-English definition, we explore your thoughts and honor your beliefs, line-by-line, and craft the right language to move forward.

Let’s begin…

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