Pagans in recovery is a phrase which is frequently used to describe the collective efforts of Neopagans to achieve abstinence or the remission of compulsive/addictive behaviors through twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Al-Anon/Alateen, etc. These efforts generally focus on modifying or adapting the twelve steps to accommodate the Pagan world-view as well as creating Pagan-friendly twelve step meetings either as part of a preexisting twelve-step program or as independent entities. History and development The term 'Pagans in recovery' appears to have first been used in a Neopagan newsletter from Ohio prior to 1989. Isaac Bonewits also used the term in an essay he wrote in 1996. Various forms of Pagan-oriented Recovery groups have existed over the course of the last 50 years. In late April of 2014, a Pagans in Recovery meeting was started on Wednesday evening in Atlanta, GA, before moving to an online Zoom meeting format during 2020-2021 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, a community of pagans from across the globe came together to create online Zoom meetings, sometimes having up to 3 meetings available per day. The Wednesday Atlanta meeting resumed meeting in person in 2021, and there are currently two in-person Pagans in Recovery meetings in Atlanta, GA (with plans for more in development), one in-person meeting in Nashville, TN, and numerous starting across the United States in addition to the daily online meetings. The meetings vary in format. Some are oriented towards specific Fellowships and have a focus on AA/Al-anon/SLAA/NA/etc. literature from a pagan perspective (Disclaimer: Pagans in Recovery is not affiliated with any other 12-Step Fellowships) and some allow for the Chairperson to choose from any inspirational text that is applicable in a 12-step Recovery context. The majority are open to people from all 12-step fellowships (both chemical and process addictions) to attend. There is no singular text that is used by people attending Pagans in Recovery meetings, but The Pagan In Recovery: The Twelve Steps From A Pagan Perspective by Deirdre A. Hebert is a recommended text sometimes used in conjunction with more targeted 12-Step Fellowship Literature and Meetings (AA/NA/Al-anon/ACA/SLAA/OA/etc.) Up to date in person and online meeting schedule can be found at pagansinrecovery.org. Differentiation from other 12-step programs Traditional twelve-step meetings include Christian prayers and the assumption of a masculine higher power, leading to difficulty in finding supportive sponsors by pagans