A Woman's Guide to Dispelling Demons

Reading the accounts of the desert fathers and mothers, they talk a lot about demons, which is a problem for us. The ancients had never heard of Freud or Jung, psychology as we know it did not exist yet. So, when they spoke about mental states, they described them as external states. Temptations and destructive desires were understood to be demons who imposed themselves on us. In the ascetics’ stories, they talk about seeing demons who want the hermits to give up, give in, do what’s easy. Abandon this quest for intimacy with God. 

The hermits tried many forms of self-discipline, including fasting and praying so long that they lost sleep. They hoped this would burn away their temptations. But the more seasoned hermits knew that it wasn’t this easy. Here’s what Amma Theodora had to say about how to defeat the demons:

“She also said that neither asceticism, nor vigils nor any kind of suffering are able to save, only true humility can do that. There was an anchorite ( a religious recluse) who was able to banish the demons; she asked them,

“What makes you go away? Is it fasting ?”

The demons replied, “We do not eat or drink.” 

“Is it ( all-night) vigils?” 

They replied, “We do not sleep.” 

“Is it separation from the world?”

“We live in the deserts.” 

“What Power sends you away then?” 

They said, “Nothing can overcome us, but only humility.” 

The desert mothers and fathers discovered that even if one can fast for days on end, or go without sleep, the power of pride remained. People could become proud and boastful of how disciplined they were, seeing others as less accomplished. So, even in the isolation of the desert, the demons could sneak in and divert one from the spirit of gentleness that marks a true servant of God. Only humility can drive the demons away. For if the demons ( or your voices)  say ”You are a loser!”, the humble person does not get defensive. They shrug, and say, “you may be right,” and get back to whatever they are doing, neither offended nor scared. For this, demons have no defense, and they wander off.

In our times, a better comeback to the demons who show up in our inner doubts might be: “True, I’m no big deal, but God loves me anyway.” Humility is a super power – just don’t brag about it…..

-              Rev. Stephen Milton, Lawrence Park Community Church, Toronto

Quotation from: Laura Swan, The Forgotten Desert Mothers, ( New York, 2001), p.67.

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