What we typically refer to as a demon, is something that grows exponentially, what seems like out of our control. It starts out small and gains momentum over time. That’s why you hear the typical coinage, “battling our demons.” For me, these are just mere thoughts that we continue to make agreements with that no longer serve us in a healthy manner. I’ve often written about them as the thought parasite which can even be a healthy thought, and then a shift in reality causes us to still cling to this thought even though it no longer applies.
That is when the thought becomes rogue and starts wreaking havok on our structure. (which also is very conventional. Holding on to belief structures can become manifest as demons too.) Anything that holds us back from the love that we are can be considered a demon.
In the spirit of currently reading Ray Bradburys Zen in the Art of Writing, I have come up with a short story about the demons weakness.
The Demon:
The demon has a weakness.
A way to destroy its very core inside you.
It takes courage on your part.
To sit with stillness in the demons presence.
To make eye contact and just be still.
To be courageous is to be un-flinching in its tantrums.
A demon cannot bare a watchful presence on it.
Funny how the thing the demon is usually viewed as its strength, is its weakness.
It gets uncomfortable at your stillness and willingness to be un-moved.
It will do anything to try and get you to look away.
To go back to your old ways.
That place where it can live being un-detected.
So keep watching with compassion for yourself.
Let that be your fire.
The demons core will be shaken and crumble back into ash.
The unspoken, silent victory over the demon.
What this all means
So this typically comes in the form of subtle addiction, whether it’s procrastination, manipulation, dishonesty, pornography, etc. But to see those desires and to look deep inside to see how they are not serving you. The important part is to watch and see, take note and to catch yourself in the act and to be mindful of how it sucks your energy. The more you watch something with persistence and silence, the more your momentum to walk a different path will become apparent.
It may not be easy and it may take discipline at first, but after a while it will be like any other learned habit. Just like you got into the addictive habit, you have to let yourself get into the addictive habit of NOT wanting that habit.
And finally, see how you do not actually lack whatever it is that you’re trying to fill that habit with.
Middle Image Credit: Jailem
Atomic Potential 