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Artists Recovering
through the Twelve
Steps |
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Give us Five, see
A.R.T.S. Thrive!
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Worldwide.
Five minutes to
read so A.R.T.S.
Thrives!
March 2024 edition |
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Do you have something to
contribute? We love to
include A.R.T.S.
Anonymous-related personal
stories of experience,
strength and hope, poetry,
photos, audio files,
writing, and art. Email the
editors at: newsletter@artsanonymous.org
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In this Issue:
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Announcements
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For 2024: Writings on
the Steps
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Step Three - A Personal
Response
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A Creative Fire Burns in
Me Now!
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Step Workshops!
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An Important Correction
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Welcome Dasha, to the
A.R.T.S. Board of
Trustees!
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The Conference is
Organizing Itself
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A Note about the A.R.T.S.
Website
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Announcements
NEW: Step Study Writing
Workshops:
A series of A.R.T.S.
Workshops began on March 15
and 16. Each workshop
focuses on one Step, one at
a time, each month. The same
workshop will be held twice
on the third Friday and
Saturday of the month to
accommodate different time
zones. Watch your A.R.T.S
email and the “News” page of
the website for
announcements of upcoming
Step Workshops.
Save the Date! The Sharathon
is coming again:
The next Sharathon is
scheduled for April 27,
2024. Watch for notices and
the
website “Sharathon” page
for planning meetings (your
participation is welcome!)
and further details.
Contact: sharathon@artsanonymous.org
Free Workshop Script!
Writing Personal Stories in
A.R.T.S.:
The script for meetings or
groups or any members who
wish to get together and
write personal recovery
stories in A.R.T.S. is
available for download on
the website. It
is laid out as a workshop.
Please make liberal use of
this valuable resource in
support of A.R.T.S.
recovery. Members may submit
what they write for use in a
new A.R.T.S. book.
Free Download of the A.R.T.S.
Basic Pamphlet:
A reminder that the Basic
Pamphlet, containing A.R.T.S.
Steps, Traditions, Traits,
Talents and Tools is
available as a
free download on the A.R.T.S.
website. Please
pass this on to the
newcomer. A.R.T.S. pamphlets
are available for purchase
in electronic format on the
Literature page
of the website.
Treasurer’s Report:
Click to see the
Treasurer’s Report for
February 2024,
and the
Financial Management Report
for all of 2023. |
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For 2024: Writings on the
Steps
While the Twelve Traditions
guide us in the primary
purpose of A.R.T.S.
Anonymous, the Twelve Steps
guide us to recover our
inspiration and joy in
expressing our creativity.
What better way to celebrate
2024 than with a focus on
the Steps that corresponds
with each of the twelve
months. Below in this March
newsletter is one member’s
contribution on Step Three.
April’s Newsletter welcomes
your response to
Step 4: Came to believe that
a Power greater than
ourselves could restore us
to sanity.
The following series of
questions are suggested as a
guide when writing a
response.
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What does Step 4 mean to
you?
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How do you feel about
Step 4?
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How might Step 4
free your creative
expression?
It will be wonderful to
receive your thoughts,
feelings, and application of
Step 4. Please send your
response to the editors at
newsletter@artsanonymous.org
for possible publication.
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Step Three – A Personal
Response
Step Three: Made a decision
to turn our will and our
lives over to the care of
God
as we understood Him.
The first time I looked at
the Steps in a 12-Step room
of recovery, I remember
thinking to myself, “Oh,
this isn’t so bad. I can do
this, no problem.” How
little I really knew myself
then. How much better I know
myself now, under the grace
of a Higher Power (who I
often call God, for the sake
of convenience. Language is
limited and how does one
word encompass everything
that a Higher Power is). In
truth, I found that I was
NOT willing to turn my will
and my life over, and so a
sponsor suggested I “pray
for the willingness to be
willing.” That became a
little crack through which I
could try to squeeze myself
in.
This Step is entirely
necessary when it comes to
my life. My will is a strong
and vital force, and a long
road, full of both trouble
and joy, taught me that
where my self-will is
involved...
Click here for the
complete essay
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A Creative Fire Burns in Me
Now!
Below is an account written
by a member of A.R.T.S. of
the experience of her first
opening.
All went swimmingly at the
opening reception last
night! My cousin, Joan, and
my husband, Luciano, came to
support me. I’m so grateful!
Joan’s an artist too but we
have very different
styles.
It was lovely. Visual Arts
Mississauga is a beautiful
new building: Frank Lloyd
Wright-ish, and although it
was a cold night, I was
warm. A creative fire burns
in me now! And just walking
from the parking lot,
surrounded by trees and
their shadows; the
experience began for me. I
could see people milling
around inside, lit up
through the glass as it was
dark, and they were looking
at the work in the
galleries. I was also aware
of the tall dry grasses
swishing in the wind, and
flanking the stone path…
whispering too, as grasses
do, if one’s ears are open,
and one respects sacred
ground.
So, I stepped in through
sliding doors...
Click here for the complete story |
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