noun: shadow; plural noun: shadows
verb: shadow; 3rd person present: shadows; past tense: shadowed; past participle: shadowed; gerund or present participle: shadowing
In my own life I have felt blocked and stagnant due to ill health, difficult relationships, exhaustion, anxious and depressive thought cycles, grief and life's general challenges. It sometimes felt as if these patterns were an inescapable lense which distorted everything I experienced. Even when I believed I was free from them they would sneak up and take over again when the causes and conditions were right. While I have found immense benefit in somatic practices such as yoga, practices directly addressing the mind including shamanic and meditation practices, and constructive reflection and challenge through coaching, group work and journaling, some patterns are hard to uproot. Sometimes they have felt so much part of who I am that I have had difficulty separating them from what I consider to be 'me'. I have also tried to evade, suppress and ignore what I do not wish to feel or accept particularly if it is uncomfortable. However, I discovered a different and rapid way to bring light into these shadows. When I could separate myself, even for a few moments in my imagination, from deep-seated patterns, triggers and neuroses I could begin to find out what this part of me wanted and needed, and transform the blocked energy to live more fully and enjoyably. Instead of fighting the 'demons' in my shadow, I learned to feed them.
- a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
- used in reference to proximity, ominous oppressiveness, or sadness and gloom.
verb: shadow; 3rd person present: shadows; past tense: shadowed; past participle: shadowed; gerund or present participle: shadowing
In my own life I have felt blocked and stagnant due to ill health, difficult relationships, exhaustion, anxious and depressive thought cycles, grief and life's general challenges. It sometimes felt as if these patterns were an inescapable lense which distorted everything I experienced. Even when I believed I was free from them they would sneak up and take over again when the causes and conditions were right. While I have found immense benefit in somatic practices such as yoga, practices directly addressing the mind including shamanic and meditation practices, and constructive reflection and challenge through coaching, group work and journaling, some patterns are hard to uproot. Sometimes they have felt so much part of who I am that I have had difficulty separating them from what I consider to be 'me'. I have also tried to evade, suppress and ignore what I do not wish to feel or accept particularly if it is uncomfortable. However, I discovered a different and rapid way to bring light into these shadows. When I could separate myself, even for a few moments in my imagination, from deep-seated patterns, triggers and neuroses I could begin to find out what this part of me wanted and needed, and transform the blocked energy to live more fully and enjoyably. Instead of fighting the 'demons' in my shadow, I learned to feed them.
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Feeding Your Demons® is an accessible and effective approach for dealing with negative emotions, fears, illnesses, and self-defeating patterns. It was distilled by Lama Tsultrim Allione from the teachings and practice of the 11th-century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön. The work transcends spiritual constructs, serving as a meaningful tool for anyone, regardless of religious affiliation or personal philosophy. I found this process profoundly helpful and trained for 2 years to become a Certified Feeding Your Demons® facilitator. I can now offer this as a standalone approach or integrate into a series of coaching and/or mentoring sessions. I particularly enjoy introducing the practice to those who wish to work with it over a period of time, and once you have learned to do it without my guidance I provide a structured and safe space for reflecting on what is emerging from the work. |
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“The approach of feeding rather than fighting our demons provides a way to pay attention to the demons within us, avoiding the dangers of repressing what we fear inside ourselves. [...] In this way we bridge the schism between 'good' and 'evil' and the potential enemy is transformed into an ally. This means that the energy that has been tied up in struggle becomes a positive and potentially protective force...”
― Tsultrim Allione, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict
― Tsultrim Allione, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict