Alcoholism and "Lost"

Among the multitude of resonant themes being presented on LOST is the overarching recognition that we have reached a period of crisis in relationship to our addictions. Each episode subtly, or not so subtly, suggests the depth to which our souls have been affected by our addictions and, to an equal extent, our ISM'S.

As I have mentioned in prior blogs, the nature of the invisible beasts on the Island, the hallucinations, the miracles, our collective Id, is filtered through the crisis of Western humanities dependence on substances and fearful thinking. Psychology's mass acceptance, at least at the "pop" level, has allowed us to "broadcast", as it were, our secrets. Each episode of LOST hearkens to our collective need to hear each others stories, huddled around a fire, insecure in our human ego's need to control and our unconcious's need to be in mystery. Surrender is at the very heart of the show and the quintessence of our one-ness is made public. This process can only come from one place at this time in our history: the Twelve Steps. Recovery, and the language of it, is our new religion. Who would have guessed that in 1939, the same year as the ascendence of Adolf Hitler and the beginning of the final solution, that a drunk stock speculator from Akron, Ohio would have been given divine guidance to write a book to save drunks? And that this book would eventually find it's way into the heart and minds of the twenty first century affecting the lives of millions and millions of people, addicted and not, opening up a new paradigm and a new level of conciousness which may be the ONLY thing that can save us. I use the word religion very loosely. Spirituality is the new religion. LOST quantifies these insights, presents them to us in tele-novella form (the MOST popular form of drama in the world) and hearkens us to sit around the fire every week with these people IN REAL TIME. This is unheard of in this day and age of DVR cable, video-and DVD recording devices and our inability to bond and be present with our families, or what is left of it. It's not that we want to find out what's going on next week, which we do. It's that we are compelled to BE TOGETHER for one night each week, to cathect each other and experience a change.

Bill Wilson would be amazed indeed.