Daily Traditions · one month, one Tradition
February
Tradition 2 · 29 readings
Tradition 2
"For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern."
Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.
And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.
And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.
February 1
Never Personal Authority
the threat
February 2
The Voice on the Subway
before the tradition
February 3
Not One Word About Leaders
the threat today
February 4
Who Could Know Better
how a group breaks it
February 5
Places of Service
how it gets captured
February 6
A Servant Only
the threat
February 7
Eighteen in Akron
before the tradition
February 8
Another's Conception
the threat today
February 9
A Brand-New Committee
how a group breaks it
February 10
No Orders
how it gets captured
February 11
Caretakers Only
the threat
February 12
Collective Voice
before the tradition
February 13
Properly Informed
the threat today
February 14
Passed By at Election
how a group breaks it
February 15
Authorized People
how it gets captured
February 16
Danger-Fraught Issues
the threat
February 17
Not a Word Changed
before the tradition
February 18
For Our Group Purpose
the threat today
February 19
Nobody Called a Business Meeting
how a group breaks it
February 20
Serve but Never Govern
how it gets captured
February 21
A College of Cardinals
the threat
February 22
Their Right Size
before the tradition
February 23
Respect, Not a Title
the threat today
February 24
The Close Vote
how a group breaks it
February 25
Nothing Can Compel a Group
how it gets captured
February 26
Righteous Indignation
the threat
February 27
We Ought, Not You Must
before the tradition
February 28
Through the Group
the threat today
February 29
The Sole Authority
how a group breaks it
JanuaryTradition 1 · liveFebruaryTradition 2 · liveMarchTradition 3 · liveAprilTradition 4 · liveMayTradition 5 · liveJuneTradition 6 · liveJulyTradition 7 · liveAugustTradition 8 · liveSeptemberTradition 9 · liveOctoberTradition 10 · liveNovemberTradition 11 · liveDecemberTradition 12 · live
Daily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).