DEmons was written many years ago when I still drank/ Demons was only a metaphor for wanting a drink. I never took the demons seriously but I thank you for your serious responce but I'm cool with God and believe in a mixture of Buddhist and Christian dogma.
I did a lot of participation in the world’s mystical traditions. I was involved for the first 20 years of my adult life in a mystery school that gave long, intense meditation training using techniques from all the religious and mystical traditions, except Christianity. The first was 40 days full time-nothing but eat, sleep, and meditate. The next was an even more intense full time training that lasted 3 weeks. These first two involved mostly group meditations with some individual work. The next 3 were done over 3 to 6 months and were part time with mostly individual work with some group work. Every training was more intense than the previous one.
I was raised in western Christianity and found the mysticism there shallow, including Roman Catholic and Anglican.
33 years ago, I became a member of the eastern Orthodox Church. I have been intensely involved in the spiritual practices of the Church, including writing my own prayers and praying them. 6 years ago, I experienced Theosis, a state of being, a state of communion with God where I was completely complete, wanting nothing and needing nothing. I still live in Theosis from time to time everyday.
I invite you to explore Orthodox Christian spirituality. I inite you to pray the prayers I post on Substack almost every day.
Wait till you read my elliott poems of psyche visits talk about talking to yourself
This is so good, so relatable! I'm glad you shared it here
Thank you that part was written semi-sober
WHAT ARE THE DEMONS DOING NOW?
BY GEORGE ENGELHARD
What are the demons doing now?
Do you even know that they’re around?
Are they darkening your mind with forgetfulness and worry?
Have they occupied your time with busyness and hurry?
Through idle thoughts, distractions, they make you lose your place
Did they take you out of here and now and take away God’s grace?
And with your mind all muddled up You don’t even care
How fallen you and the world are
How sinful you and the world are
And with your soul all cluttered up Your completely unaware
That God is ever(ywhere) present and filling all things
That this moment now is heaven set and all creation sings
CHORUS
And all that conversation
No matter what is said
And all of that temptation
No matter what it is
Is only going on inside your head
None of it is real none of it is true
None of it has anything to do with God and you
Set it all aside let it pass you by
Let it go away and pray, pray, pray
Stay with God in your heart and pray, pray, pray
How are the demons controlling you?
Why do you do what they want you to do?
They know how you can be tempted they know your every weakness
They shame you for you sin and praise you for your meekness
They know what really turns you on, your hatreds and desires
What you like to think about, with what your mind is occupied
And knowing this about you they feed your inclinations
Your longings, wishings, wantings and all your worldly aspirations
They’re instigating fantasies of your greatest fears and dreams
Worries and visions of what will never be
Unreal hallucinations of everything you dread
Or your living in a pleasure that hasn’t happened yet
CHORUS
And all that conversation
No matter what is said
And all of that temptation
No matter what it is
Is only going on inside your head
None of it is real none of it is true
None of it has anything to do with God and you
Set it all aside let it pass you by
Let it go away and pray, pray, pray
Stay with God in your heart and pray, pray, pray
How are the demons comforting you?
Heaven on earth is waiting for you
They help you find your place in the world
A place away from God’s grace
A comfortable home a distinguished career
A place to live out all your days
No need to strive for heaven
You’ll get there anyway
They help you find that perfect place
Where fame and fortune abound
On the universal stage or right in your home town
CHORUS
And all that conversation
No matter what is said
And all of that temptation
No matter what it is
Is only going on inside your head
None of it is real none of it is true
None of it has anything to do with God and you
Set it all aside let it pass you by
Let it go away and pray, pray, pray
Stay with God in your heart and pray, pray, pray
How are the demons torturing you?
What in hell’s name are they putting you through?
They shame you for an evil thought they ran right through your head
And you think that evil thought is yours ‘cause they used your voice when it was said
Or they used another’s voice instead when they’re speaking in your head
Someone that you love someone you revere
Someone that you hate someone that you fear
To blame you and to shame you to glorify and praise you
To take away humility, stillness, and tranquility
CHORUS
And all that conversation
No matter what is said
And all of that temptation
No matter what it is
Is only going on inside your head
None of it is real none of it is true
None of it has anything to do with God and you
Set it all aside let it pass you by
Let it go away and pray, pray, pray
Stay with God in your heart and pray, pray, pray
What are the demons saying to you?
What are they saying about you?
Why do you say all these prayers every day?
How many more times must you say them anyway?
They gain you no merit no holiness abounds in you
You’ll never get to heaven no matter what you do
And then when you are praying
You’re not even paying
Attention to the words that you are saying
CHORUS
And all that conversation
No matter what is said
And all of that temptation
No matter what it is
Is only going on inside your head
None of it is real none of it is true
None of it has anything to do with God and you
Set it all aside let it pass you by
Let it go away and pray, pray, pray
Stay with God in your heart and pray, pray, pray
bridge
You should have a better life
You should have a lot less strife
You should have a better job
Always coming out on top
You should have a better house
You should have a better spouse
You should have a better car
Rock out like a movie star
CHORUS
And all that conversation
No matter what is said
And all of that temptation
No matter what it is
Is only going on inside your head
None of it is real none of it is true
None of it has anything to do with God and you
Set it all aside let it pass you by
Let it go away and pray, pray, pray
Stay with God in your heart and pray, pray, pray
DEmons was written many years ago when I still drank/ Demons was only a metaphor for wanting a drink. I never took the demons seriously but I thank you for your serious responce but I'm cool with God and believe in a mixture of Buddhist and Christian dogma.
I did a lot of participation in the world’s mystical traditions. I was involved for the first 20 years of my adult life in a mystery school that gave long, intense meditation training using techniques from all the religious and mystical traditions, except Christianity. The first was 40 days full time-nothing but eat, sleep, and meditate. The next was an even more intense full time training that lasted 3 weeks. These first two involved mostly group meditations with some individual work. The next 3 were done over 3 to 6 months and were part time with mostly individual work with some group work. Every training was more intense than the previous one.
I was raised in western Christianity and found the mysticism there shallow, including Roman Catholic and Anglican.
33 years ago, I became a member of the eastern Orthodox Church. I have been intensely involved in the spiritual practices of the Church, including writing my own prayers and praying them. 6 years ago, I experienced Theosis, a state of being, a state of communion with God where I was completely complete, wanting nothing and needing nothing. I still live in Theosis from time to time everyday.
I invite you to explore Orthodox Christian spirituality. I inite you to pray the prayers I post on Substack almost every day.
I'm loving this! A very interesting conversation with yourself.