The camel is a symbol for sobriety because a camel can go 24 hours without a drink. Perhaps you remember the small stick pins with the number 24 on them which were quite popular in A.A. for a number of years. I’m not sure if the camel cigarettes placed them out of favor, but there are many wonderful things about camels you might like to know.
They have firm, flat feet to keep them steady in the sand. This is a great metaphor for the strong foundation necessary to remain sober.
They love to herd. This falls in line with the value of community in the 12 Step fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous and all the other 12 step programs.
They are often referred to as the ‘Ship of the Desert’. This is because of the way they rock back and forth as they walk just like a boat on the sea. Since most ships need a rudder, I believe the rudder can stand for the God of our understanding, which keeps us grounded in the spirituality required to maintain sobriety.
Besides using the camel on my cover, I made my Step 12 story about a camel named Sahara. He is a symbol of stamina, endurance and dignity; all key ingredients for the on-going journey of recovery.
