Skip to main content

What is an AA Sponsor? The 1939 Blueprint Definition

Part of the 1939 Blueprint Series

What is an AA Sponsor? The 1939 Blueprint Definition

Quick Summary

According to the original 1939 Blueprint, an AA sponsor is a recovered alcoholic who has undergone a psychic change and acts as a mechanical guide to the Twelve Steps. Their role is strictly instructional, serving as the bridge between the newcomer and the Program of Action defined in the first edition Big Book.

The Mechanic vs. The Life Coach

In 1939, sponsorship was not about social companionship or psychological counseling. It was about transferring a specific technology of recovery. A 1939-style sponsor excels in three specific areas:

  • Mechanical Precision: They don't give opinions; they point to instructions.
  • Singleness of Purpose: They focus on the spiritual malady, leaving medical and financial advice to the professionals.
  • Speed of Action: They understand that for the suffering alcoholic, delay is deadly.

Why This Matters for the Desperate Sufferer

If you are in a state of a desperate plea, you do not need a new friend—you need a way out. The 1939 Blueprint treats alcoholism as a mechanical problem requiring a mechanical solution. By following a guide who knows the original "Program of Action," you move from theory into the psychic change necessary for permanent recovery.

"Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little." — The 1939 Standard.

Continue the Program of Action:

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 1939 Blueprint: Unpacking the Mechanics of the 12 Steps

The 12 Steps are often viewed as a list of suggestions, but the 1939 Blueprint presents them as a rigorous mechanical process. They are designed to treat a three-fold illness: the physical allergy, the mental obsession, and the spiritual malady. If you are new to recovery , understanding this structure is the first step toward a lasting reprieve. The Three Phases of the Blueprint The steps are not meant to be taken in isolation. They follow a logical progression of surrender, housecleaning, and maintenance. Steps 1-3: The Foundation. Admitting powerlessness and deciding to change the "manager" of our lives. Steps 4-9: The Housecleaning. A vigorous moral inventory and making amends to clear the past. Steps 10-12: The Maintenance. Daily disciplines to ensure a spiritual awakening continues to grow. "The 12 Steps are a set of principles, spiritual in their nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink....
Post a Comment
Read more

Recovery & Community Support: Uniting for Lasting Sobriety

Recovery is never a solo mission. In the 1939 Blueprint , we learn that the "Common Solution" is found through shared experience and harmonious action. When we stop trying to manage the shipwreck on our own, we find the strength of a community that refuses to leave a man behind. The Power of the Group: Breaking the Isolation Isolation is the fuel for the Mental Blank Spot . By uniting for recovery, we create a defensive wall against the old instincts that lead us back to the bottle. This peer support isn't just about feeling better; it is a technical requirement for surviving the Long Slide of active addiction. "We are like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from shipwreck... the tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution." Why Unity Matters: It provides a mirror to see our own Character Instincts clearly. It offers the "High Power" needed to move through the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jack Alexander’s 1941 Article: A Turning Point in Recovery History

In 1941, the Saturday Evening Post published an article by Jack Alexander that acted as a massive lighthouse for those trapped in the "Lonely Business" of addiction. At Unity for Recovery™ , we see this as the moment the 1939 Blueprint proved its worth on a national stage, showing that a Common Solution was finally available to the masses. Breaking the Skepticism Jack Alexander was a hardened journalist who initially believed the recovery movement was a "racket." However, after observing the results, he realized that these individuals had found a way to bypass the Mental Blank Spot that kills so many. He saw that the "Design for Living" worked where willpower had failed. The Birth of Attraction (Tradition 11): Authenticity: Alexander didn't see a sales pitch; he saw a Physical Allergy being arrested by spiritual action. Unity: The article highlighted the Three Legacies in action long before t...
Post a Comment
Read more