Breathing Under Water Companion Journal - Spirituality and the Twelve Steps

Designed to be used alongside Richard Rohr’s Breathing Under Water, this companion journal offers a practical, prayerful way to engage the Twelve Steps as a path of spiritual transformation.

“Brother Rohr may just take you to places you’ve both avoided and longed for—to truth, union, joy, laughter, and, greatest of all, to your own precious self, here on earth with us, child of God.”—Anne Lamott, from the foreword to Breathing Under Water

Organized chapter by chapter to mirror the original book, this companion journal invites readers to move slowly and honestly through each of the Twelve Steps, grounding Rohr’s insights in personal reflection, writing, and embodied practice.

Each chapter includes selected passages from Scripture, core teachings from Breathing Under Water, and carefully crafted questions that encourage self-examination without judgment. Reflective exercises—called “Breathing Lessons”—help integrate the work into daily life, guiding readers toward greater freedom and conscious contact with God.

Rather than offering quick fixes or abstract theology, this journal creates space for sustained inner work that is rooted in vulnerability, compassion, and shared human experience. Written in Rohr’s pastoral voice, the Breathing Under Water Companion Journal is perfect for individuals or groups looking to move beyond theory into lived transformation.