1938 Original Manuscript for 1939 1st Edition BigBook Searchable 1976 3rd Edition BigBook On-Line
The Prescription
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Dr. Carl Jung's Letter To Bill Wilson, Jan 30, 1961


Dr. Carl Jung

From Dr. Carl Gustav Jung (July 26, 1875 - June 6, 1961)

Spiritum contra spiritus
Higher Power opposes alcoholism

I found a similar phrase about 15 years ago in the latin writings of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 A.D.) -- a great general, philosopher, and Caesar of Rome (161-180 A.D.) -- Espiritum vinci espiritus -- Higher Power overcomes alcoholism. It has been a long known fact ... and something we each now know, as we witness our Higher Power that we have found "deep down within" working in our lives as Sober Alcoholics. -- Page 55, Bigbook..

It was this message, Higher Power Overcomes Alcoholism, that Rowland Hazard, who had been Jung's patient in 1930, gave to Ebby Thatcher, who carried it to Bill Wilson in November, 1934, about the 26th. That was the start of Alcoholics Anonymous. Bill's last drunk started November 11th and his last drinks were four beers, December 11th, 1934, on the way to Town's Hospital for the fourth time that year. Ebby again visited Bill in the hospital the evening of December 13th, again explaining the Oxford Group Principles, Bill's spiritual experience occurred the evening of the 14th. Ebby again visited Bill and brought him William James' book, Varieties Of Religious Experience. Bill read James' book the next day. He was discharged from Towns Hospital at 2:30PM, December 18th for the last time, never to drink again. Bill was 39 when this sequence of events occurred as noted in the Big Book on pages 9 through 14.

Bill, on January 23, 1961, sent a letter of appreciation to Dr. Jung and the above letter was Dr. Jung's immediate reply. Both are of great significance in the History of Alcoholics Anonymous.


It Is No Secret What God Can Do

Index of AA History Pages on Barefoot's Domain


As in so many things, especially with we alcoholics, our History is our Greatest Asset!.. We each arrived at the doors of AA with an intensive and lengthy "History of Things That Do Not Work" .. Today, In AA and In Recovery, Our History has added an intensive and lengthy "History of Things That DO Work!!" and We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it!!

ABC Page 60 from the Big Book

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