The document summarizes a presentation about the Greek myth of Prometheus stealing fire from Mount Olympus and giving it to humanity. It uses the myth as a metaphor for addiction recovery. Some key points: - Prometheus defied Zeus by stealing fire and giving it to humans, knowing Zeus would punish him, and was chained to a rock as punishment where an eagle ate his liver daily. - The story illustrates free will and how we must accept the consequences of our choices, whether from societal laws or natural laws. - To recover from addiction, one must admit weaknesses to oneself and another person, accept help from others like Prometheus needed help to be freed, and surrender to a higher power.

1. Stealing Fire A men’s recovery metaphor "Quiet, where need is; and talking to the point." Aulus Gellius, in Noctes Atticae circa A.D. 125 by Tom Rue, M.A., LMHC, CASAC

6. Light Fire

12. The original trouble-maker . . . Prometheus was a bright guy. Sometimes called the wisest of the Titans, his name means “Forethought” because he could foretell the future. Half man, half god, he was the son of Iapetus (the son of Uranus [Heaven, or Air ] and Gaia [the Earth ]) and an ocean nymph named Clymene [ Water ]. Prometheus liked humans. He always tried to help humans out, but somehow humans always ended up getting less out of Prometheus' efforts than if Prometheus had not done anything at all. For example… There was the time Prometheus persuaded humanity to sacrifice the useless parts of some animals to the gods (the bones), and keep the good meat for themselves, tricking the gods into eating bare bones instead of good meat. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but…

13. The original angry father… When Zeus found out that he and the other gods on Mount Olympus had been tricked, or cheated, by the phony sacrifice mankind had made, he got really angry! Zeus initially directed his rage at the humans, not Prometheus. ssqq.com

15. Prometheus thought… But he accepted responsibility. Since Prometheus knew it was his idea, and no one else’s, to trick the gods with the phony sacrifice, he felt bad. Without Zeus’s permission, and doubtless knowing there was no way Zeus would allow it, he decided to undo humanity’s punishment. Stealing “a spark” from Mount Olympus, Prometheus passed the flame back to men. Thanks to Prometheus, as men began to share this gift, Fire was restored to the world.

17. Consequences for choices… Because of what he did, Zeus (the chief god) chained Prometheus to a rock where his liver would be eaten every day by an eagle. His liver would then reconstitute, only to be eaten again by the eagle the next day. Prometheus experienced constant pain and isolation , chained to a rock, alone in the mountains. Or so the story goes… Prometheus would not die under angry Zeus’s ruling, but would suffer in this way day after day for "thrice ten thousand years." Pablo Picasso (1937). Guernica.

18. What was Prometheus’ gift to humans? Fire is a tool and a “Life Force” separating humans from animals. Fire symbolizes Consciousness. Fire enlightens the vast expansion of the dark Void. Fire is Light. “ Fire in the belly” represents passion, energy, determination. Fire allows us all to heal… recover… feel well… to live…

21. How does drug and alcohol use affect your inner Fire? What is the word for the condition when Fire is extinguished? In relation to the previous question, how do you know? What good does it do you to know all of this? Death IN STILL OTHER WORDS: Honestly ADMIT who you are inside your self, and be that genuine person; IDENTIFY with other humans, accept their support, offer service in return; and LET GO to principles higher than your own ego and accept what follows. POP QUIZ How can you use it?

36. Spiritual Character = Behavior + Meaning RC Ward ATC offers the following definition of spirituality. “ Spirit has to do with wholes rather than parts, and integration rather than individuation. If in common sense terms you understand what the term ‘team spirit’ means, and can describe what a particular team’s spirit is (as most sports fans certainly can) then you understand spirituality. It is the Character of a thing, visible as ‘its’ Behavior … “ But Spirit doesn’t stop there. Not only is it a thing’s character, it is the process of acquiring character itself, of integrating experience into meaningful wholes, establishing and maintaining connections . This is the second principle. Spirituality is Integrative and Inclusive.” * * Erwin Michel (2002). Promising Practices: "An Integrative Behavioral/Spiritual Model Of Addiction Treatment, NYS Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services," Richard C. Ward Addiction Treatment Center.

38. Where does this stuff come from? Many of the ideas in this outline are consistent with writings of the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl G. Jung , particularly on the subject of archetypes , which, very simply, are: Another famous Light-bearer , a co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson (“ Bill W. ”), said Jung’s writings influenced the ideas that led to the AA fellowship… A type of symbol, usually an image (such as a Light-bearer, like Prometheus), which recurs often enough in literature to be recognizable as an element of one's literary experience as a whole. “ Very many thoughtful AAs are students of your writings. Because of your conviction that man is something more than intellect, emotion, and two dollars worth of chemicals, you have especially endeared yourself to us.”

43. Till hope creates… ” To suffer woes which Hope thinks infinite; To forgive wrongs darker than death or night; To defy Power, which seems omnipotent; To love, and bear; to hope till Hope creates From its own wreck the thing it contemplates… - Shelley, in Prometheus Unbound “

45. Related references . . . D.P. Sulmasy (2006) “ Promethean medicine: spirituality, stem cells, and cloning .” Southern Medical Journal 99, no. 12 (Dec 2006): 1419-1423. Abstract:: Every ethos implies a mythos. That is, every ethical system depends upon some fundamental story disclosing its assumptions about human nature, freedom, good and evil, and the workings of the universe. A romanticized version of the myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods and was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver plucked out by vultures, seems to under-gird much of contemporary healthcare. Christianity offers a different view--one in which the universe is not a zero sum game and human beings do not need to steal fire because God has already freely given them all the fire they need in Christ and in his spirit. A critical virtue for physicians, taught by Christianity, is sagacious engagement--the ability to engage the world practically, discerning what can and should be changed and what should be accepted as unchangeable and given. The illusory quest for immortality through the practice of regenerative medicine using stem cells is a gross violation of that virtue. [John J. Conley Department of Ethics, St. Vincent's Hospital, Manhattan, NY 10011; daniel_sulmasy@nymc.edu] Miranda Aldhouse-Green (2004). Chaining and shaming: images of defeat, from Llyn Cerrig Bach to Sarmitzegetusa, Oxford Journal of Archaeology 23 (3), 319–340. Abstract: Summary. This paper seeks to address issues relating to physical restraint, disempowerment and the symbolisms of humiliation, particularly within the contexts of warfare and conquest in Iron Age and Roman Britain and Europe, although the enormous topic of ancient slavery per se is beyond the scope of the present study. The enquiry is based upon evidence from iconography, human remains, the physical paraphernalia of restraint and, for the latest Iron Age onwards, the testimony of such ancient authors as Tacitus. The subject is approached from the perspective not only of empirical material but also from that of social and symbolic theory. Furthermore, in seeking to interpret the relevant material culture, I have deemed it useful to draw broad analogies with other. Miranda Aldhouse-Green11University of Wales, Newport, Caerleon Campus. © 2007 . Permission is granted to steal, copy, distribute and/or modify the content of this slide-show (except where otherwise noted) under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation. A copy of the license is available at http://gnu.org/licenses/fdl.html