Metaphysics of Demons

Demons have been classically aligned with the supernatural. They are hellspawn from another plane, attempting to possess us and control our actions in the real world. But what has gone for too long unrealized is that they are actually a metaphor. They're not really supernatural multi-planar beings, but rather elements of the real that inhabit our personalities. They are the elements of us that we hate the most because they have a tendency to rise up against us in our moments of weakness.

Demons can pervade our lives in many forms. Anger, greed, addiction, etc. They are personal aspects of self that can take the reigns of our lives whenever we let them. This is why so often, in twelve step programs, we are required to give our power up to a higher being than our self. Because demons can control us, but if we are forced to appeal to a higher power then perhaps that power can grant us strength against them.

I'm a smoker. It's a terrible habit and has been since I started it. It's disgusting and I'm personally repulsed by it. But in my moments of intoxicated weakness, I find myself desiring to light up. There's no stopping that want. It will always be there. The desire is a biological ramification of addiction to the drug nicotine. Experts say that addiction rewires the brain, forcing it to rely on that chemical to achieve satisfaction.

So if there is nothing that I can personally do to overcome that addictive force, then how can I banish it, so to speak? An appeal to a higher power is required. But to accept a supernatural higher power to counter a non-supernatural force seems whimsical to me. As though I'm but playing pretend to conquer something very real.

A good friend of mine is involved in a twelve step program and has maintained her position as an atheist. My friend's higher power is peace. My friend appeals to peace, not only on a global level but on a personal level to achieve power over the demons that plague.

My point is not so much the methodologies of a twelve step program, but rather the nature of demons. They aren't horned beasts from other dimensions hellbent on destroying our existence. Rather, demons are aspects of the real, parts of our lives, that have the ability to possess us and control us. They whisper in our ear when we are weak and define the logic by which we must abide.

It is by this understanding of demonology that we come to terms with the idea of the devil. If the devil is the source of all evil and the spawn of all demons then he too is an aspect of the self, within us all and capable of terrible things. It is up to us to master those elements of ourselves whether they are greed, sadism, lust, or wrath.

It is up to us to find the peace of self that leads us not into the reigns of our demons, but lets us work towards a greater sense of well-being with the world.