Feeding Your Demons® (FYD) is an accessible and powerful method for recognizing and transforming the deep-seated patterns, triggers, and neuroses that so often undermine the quality and enjoyment of our lives. Lama Tsultrim Allione developed this profoundly effective 5-step process, which she outlines in her bestselling book Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict (Little Brown Co. 2008). FYD guides practitioners to transform their negative emotions, fears, illnesses, and self-defeating patterns.
A recent study of the effects of FYD was conducted on adults in recovery from alcohol and/or drug abuse and who had elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study found that FYD was associated with significant decreases in stress, depression, and intolerance for uncertainty, combined with significant increases in self-compassion and satisfaction with life. Click here to see a full summary of the study.
FYD has practitioners on five continents, and Lama Tsultrim’s book has been published in sixteen languages. This practice transcends spiritual constructs, serving as a meaningful tool for anybody, regardless of religious affiliation or personal philosophy.
Through our FYD courses and retreats, you’ll not only learn this transformative method for your personal growth, but can also pursue certification to guide others in converting their fears into strengths—creating profound change in your own life and in the world, transforming ignorance, greed and hatred into compassion and wisdom.
For the purpose of this practice, a ‘demon’ refers to the disruptive aspects of our own psyche, such as anxiety, depression, anger, addiction, or disease. Demons are often relegated to the dark recesses of our minds and fester there as we either repress or ‘fight’ against them. This adversarial relationship with our demons is the very thing that polarizes our psyche. In our attempts to overcome our ‘shadow’, we become more enmeshed with it and our demons gain strength.
“Our demons are what we fear,” writes Lama Tsultrim Allione in Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict (Little Brown Co. 2008).
She explains how when we fight our demons they grow stronger. If we feed and nurture them, however, we can free ourselves from the battle. Through the clearly articulated practice outlined in Feeding Your Demons® (FYD), we can learn to overcome any obstacle and achieve freedom and inner peace. “…In feeding our demons we are not only rendering them harmless; by addressing them instead of running away from them, we are also nurturing the shadow parts of ourselves so that the energy caught in the struggle transforms into a positive protective force.”
The FYD method employs principles of the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Chöd (pronounced chö), as originally articulated by the eleventh-century female Tibetan meditation teacher, Machig Labdrön. Lama Tsultrim Allione distills the teachings and practice of Machig Labdrön for the Western practitioner in her book, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict. However, while the FYD method was inspired by the teachings of Machig Labdrön who taught chöd, it is itself not a chöd practice.
– “Lama Tsultrim Allione has brought some of the most important teachings from Tibet to the West for enhancing well being, through her book ‘Feeding Your Demons’ and FYD trainings.
In the practice of Feeding Your Demons® (FYD) she developed and refined a fundamental method of working with negative emotions and patterns in an easy to follow 5-step process that can be effective and even transformative in the short term. Rather than remaining esoteric knowledge, she has made Feeding Your Demons® secular and accessible to the public.
I believe this practice holds tremendous potential to help reduce suffering.” –
Author, of “The Telomere Effect” and “The Stress Prescription”
The Feeding Your Demon® Program provides you with an exceptionally skillful methodology to bring benefit and lasting transformation to yourself and others. Participants engage in a journey of increasing levels of personal transformation and an ever-deepening understanding of the power of the FYD process. And for successful certification candidates, the training results in becoming authorized to use the method to help others on their path. For individuals who wish to utilize the FYD process exclusively with themselves and their friends, a non-certification (or ‘à la carte’) option is also available (see below).
The FYD Program consists of three progressive levels: Level I, Level II, and Certification Level. This comprehensive training provides thorough instruction in the core FYD methodology and practices.
Offered every six months. Available in both Secular and Buddhist Tracks:
Click here to watch a short video of FYD Institute Director Lopön Pieter Oosthuizen explaining the difference between the two tracks
Full Certification Option:
A la carté Option:
In-person FYD Trainings are offered on occasion at Tara Mandala Retreat Center and other international venues. Retreat dates are posted on the Tara Mandala Retreat Calendar when available.
Please note:
The Feeding Your Demons® training consists of three levels for initial certification, followed by two advanced training options for certified facilitators:
Click here for more details about FYD Level I, Level II and Certification Level Course Content
After completing these three levels, certified FYD Facilitators have opportunities for continued growth through two additional training options:
Please Note: The online and onsite FYD programs are identical in content and fully interchangeable, except for the Buddhist and Secular Track distinctions. Participants may thus complete their foundational training (Level I & II) through online courses, in-person retreats, or any combination of the two formats, provided they complete all required assignments and prerequisites for each level. The Secular and Buddhist Tracks of both formats equally qualify students to progress to FYD Certification, and the Buddhist Track of both formats equally qualify students to progress on the Kapala Training path Levels III-VI (see below), as well as Magyu Path (see below).
The Buddhist Track of FYD Levels I and II, taken either online or onsite, also serves as the foundation for both the Kapala and the larger Magyu Training Paths at Tara Mandala.
Kapala Training is part of Lama Tsultrim Allione’s larger Magyu Path of Tibetan Buddhist study (see Magyu Path link below), and includes the training in FYD (Level I & II Buddhist Track) and continues on through Levels III – VI, with progressively deeper Buddhist teachings and meditation practices. “Kapala” refers to the traditional skull-cup associated with the Chöd practice, the ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice that inspired Feeding Your Demons®.
Please note the FYD Certification Level, which focuses on the professional application of FYD and can be taken after completion of FYD Level II, is not required to continue with Kapala Training Level III and beyond.
Click Here to Learn More About The Kapala Training Path
Kapala Training (as described above) is also an integral part of Lama Tsultrim Allione’s larger path of study in Tibetan Buddhism, known as The Magyu Path, or The Mother Lineage Path,
Please note: Only the FYD Buddhist Track qualifies for Kapala and Magyu Path requirements. The Secular Track does not fulfill Kapala or Magyu Path requirements.
– “Feeding your Demons is a gift of wisdom and heart from Lama Tsultrim Allione’s deep practice and knowledge of the human condition. Learning this practice was a powerful personal and collective experience to immerse ourselves, in the power of acceptance and transformation, of this now research-backed effective mind training practice. Thank you, Lama Tsultrim, for this gift that keeps on giving!” –
Bestselling author of “Becoming Aware, Mindsight, Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human”
