Feeding Your Demons

1. Feeding Your Demons: A Radical Approach to Inner Peace

Feeding our demons rather than fighting them might seem to contradict the conventional Western approach to what assails us, but it turns out to be a remarkably effective path to inner peace and liberation.

A paradigm shift in problem-solving. This approach, rooted in the teachings of 11th-century Tibetan Buddhist teacher Machig Labdrön, offers a revolutionary way to deal with our inner conflicts. Instead of battling against our fears, addictions, and negative emotions, we are encouraged to face them head-on and nurture them.

The power of acceptance and integration. By giving form to our inner demons and feeding them what they truly need, we can transform their destructive energy into a positive force. This process leads to psychological integration and inner peace, breaking the cycle of struggle that often intensifies our problems.

A universal application. While originating from Buddhist practice, this method doesn't require any specific religious beliefs. It can be applied to a wide range of personal and collective issues, from everyday anxieties to deep-seated traumas, offering a new paradigm for conflict resolution in our increasingly polarized world.

2. The Four Types of Demons: Outer, Inner, Elation, and Egocentricity

As long as there is an ego, there are demons. When there is no more ego, There are no more demons either!

Outer demons are reactions to external stimuli, such as fears of specific objects or situations, addictions, or challenging relationships. These are the most obvious and easiest to identify.

Inner demons arise from within the mind without external triggers. They include:

• Chronic emotions like depression or anxiety
• Self-destructive thought patterns
• Persistent negative self-talk

Demons of elation are subtler and often overlooked. They stem from:

• Attachment to worldly success and prestige
• Spiritual pride and inflation from accomplishments on the spiritual path

The demon of egocentricity is the root of all other demons. It manifests as:

• Self-centeredness and the belief that we are separate from others
• The constant struggle to protect and enhance the self
• The source of all other demonic manifestations

3. The Five-Step Process for Feeding Your Demons

The five steps of feeding your demons seek to liberate all these demons and transform the energy caught up in them into positive energy, which we have been calling "the ally."

Step 1: Find the Demon. Locate where you feel the demon in your body, noting its color, texture, and temperature.

Step 2: Personify the Demon. Give it form and ask what it wants, needs, and how it would feel if it got what it needs.

Step 3: Become the Demon. Switch places and answer the questions from the demon's perspective.

Step 4: Feed the Demon and Meet the Ally.

• Dissolve your body into nectar of what the demon needs
• Feed the demon until it's completely satisfied
• Observe any transformation and meet the ally that appears

Step 5: Rest in Awareness. Allow yourself to rest in the state of open awareness that follows.

This process helps to:

• Bring unconscious conflicts into consciousness
• Transform negative energy into positive, supportive forces
• Provide a tangible method for dealing with abstract emotional issues

4. Transforming Demons into Allies: A Path to Integration

Paradoxically, feeding our gods or demons to complete satisfaction does not strengthen them; rather it allows the energy that has been locked up in them to become accessible.

The power of transformation. By fully acknowledging and nurturing our demons, we can transmute their energy into a positive, protective force. This process is not about indulging destructive behaviors, but about addressing the underlying needs that fuel them.

From adversary to ally. Once fed to satisfaction, demons often transform into allies that offer protection and support. This transformation represents the integration of previously disowned parts of ourselves.

Real-world applications. This approach has shown remarkable results in dealing with:

• Chronic emotional issues like anxiety and depression
• Physical ailments and addictions
• Relationship conflicts and family dynamics

By transforming demons into allies, we free up energy that was previously locked in internal struggles, allowing for greater personal growth and well-being.

5. Family Demons: Breaking Intergenerational Patterns

Demons DO not occur in a vacuum; they are often inherited.

Understanding inherited patterns. Family demons are passed down through generations, often manifesting as:

• Tendencies toward addiction or depression
• Patterns of abuse or neglect
• Unspoken family rules and expectations

Mapping family demons. Creating a "demon map" can help visualize:

• Intergenerational patterns of behavior
• Connections between seemingly unrelated issues
• Potential origins of personal demons

Breaking the cycle. By recognizing and feeding these inherited demons, we can:

• Develop compassion for ourselves and our ancestors
• Break destructive family patterns
• Prevent passing these demons on to future generations

This work not only heals individuals but can have a ripple effect throughout the family system, promoting healing across generations.

6. Demons of Addiction, Illness, and Fear: Addressing Root Causes

By feeding these demons and coming to a place of rest and integration in the fifth step, we can treat the insanity of addiction at its root level.

Addiction demons. Rather than fighting addictive behaviors, feeding the underlying demon can reveal:

• The true needs behind the addiction
• Unresolved emotional issues fueling the behavior
• A path to satisfying these needs in healthier ways

Illness demons. Applying this approach to physical ailments can:

• Uncover emotional components of illness
• Provide a complementary approach to traditional medical treatment
• Transform the relationship with the illness itself

Fear demons. Working with fears through this method can:

• Reveal the core needs behind the fear
• Transform paralyzing anxiety into manageable emotions
• Develop allies to support facing future challenges

By addressing the root causes of these issues, rather than just their symptoms, this approach offers a deeper, more lasting resolution to chronic problems.

7. Direct Liberation: The Ultimate Goal of Demon Work

Direct liberation is deceptively simple. It involves becoming aware of a demon and then turning your awareness directly toward it.

The essence of direct liberation. This advanced technique allows practitioners to dissolve demons as they arise, without going through the full five-step process. It involves:

• Recognizing the demon as it forms
• Turning awareness directly toward it
• Allowing it to dissolve in the light of awareness

A shortcut to presence. Direct liberation leads immediately to the state of open awareness that typically comes at the end of the five-step process. This practice can be applied in real-time situations, such as:

• During emotional triggers in daily life
• In the midst of challenging interactions
• When faced with recurring negative thought patterns

The ultimate goal. As practitioners become more skilled, they can:

• Liberate demons more quickly and effortlessly
• Experience longer periods of open awareness
• Move closer to a state of sustained inner peace

Direct liberation represents the culmination of demon work, offering a path to immediate freedom from the grip of our inner conflicts.

Last updated: October 20, 2024