The Sword of My Heart: Reflections on Rituals of Chöd and Feri

By Kim Sequoia

“The practice of chod purifies negative relationships”

~His Eminencec Khentin Tai Situ Rinpoche,

in An Introduction to Chod

The Chöd ritual is an ancient Buddhist practice still highly relevant to modern-day people, passed down through time for the benefit of all. Often referred to as ‘The Cutting Off of Ego,’ Chöd was originated in the 11th century by a most holy woman and Tantric Buddhist teacher, Machig Labdron. It has been greatly revived today by Lama Tsultrim Allione, who has dedicated her life to sharing this with others. Chöd centers around what some consider grisly and frightening attempts to feed the skeletons or ‘demons’ hiding in our collective closets. But at its heart, the act of Chöd is an offering on the altar of Love and Compassion.

As a Feri initiate and practitioner (Feri being a Goddess pagan tradition rooted in mystic shamanism), I have been deeply moved by the Chöd rite for many years and have attempted to learn from the wisdom and transformation it offers. It is not a stretch for me to be drawn to this sacred work – there is a ritual in Feri that is inspired from the Chöd practice of ‘feeding one’s demons’ called Daemon Work. Variations of Daemon Work may be found in different Feri lineages as the practice is often personalized for the practitioner with assistance from one’s teacher.

So while Feri practitioners of Daemon Work are not in any way performing a Chöd ritual, we are in essence working towards a similar goal: one does not seek to banish or annihilate one’s demons, or complexes, (there is a large range of what can fit into this distinction: addictions, attachments, fear, anger, self-loathing, guilt...) rather, one strives to feed them, tame and transform them.

While this is the core way that these two different practices may be similar, the variations from that point on are many. As with most magical rituals from different paths, there is a dance that occurs - delicate, sublime ways that the actions and energies, the intentions touch and reflect one another. Daemon Work emphasizes the aspect of taming the demon while Chöd, as I understand, emphasizes feeding and consoling them. Both work to appease and befriend them. Both work to address the complexes that arise from the Ego mind.

What I see as a key difference between these two practices: classic Feri Daemon Work is used to benefit one’s Self. This process can bring about immense transformation in a person, as they squarely face issues and self-made demons that twist and malign one’s Life Force. It is comparable to what Jung referred to as Shadow Work, it is in essence a person choosing to consciously chase down his or her own Dark Night of the Soul. It is a practice that ultimately can help to orchestrate the state of what we in Feri call Self-Possession, the awareness of living as a Divine Human.

While apparently Chöd can and is used in this personalized way (as shared by Allione in her recent book, Feeding One’s Demons, which is excellent) and seems to be spreading across the West in this form, years ago what I understood as core to this practice was akin to the ritual that I attended recently. These Holy people offer up this ritual in order to benefit all beings.

Rinpoche and his aides, these kind and compassionate persons, petitioned for purification and healing on my behalf and I am most grateful. I am able and willing to do the work to purify and heal myself, as are many of us who strive to live in Right Relationship. But it is a very Western mindset and one filled with hubris that feeds the rise in Narcissism in our culture today, that relies on one’s self constantly. There is a profound beauty and strength when we not only are willing to help others, but when we are willing to surrender and allow ourselves to be helped. As Divine Beings, we must never lose sight that we are ultimately connected. This connection is illuminated and strengthened when we are willing and able to trust our hearts - riddled with love and pain, joy and shame - into another’s hands, to weave compassion into the delicate fabric of Right Relationship.

Why on earth would a person wish to do this, you may ask? Why would someone be willing to spend hours drumming, singing, lifting the horn and bellowing to the demons that I carry, to ring the bell - to match a cosmic resonance - over and over in order to orchestrate the healing of complexes that I have created in my life? And what a gift that some are willing for those who may not be able! Because we have chosen to manifest here and now in this life - in community together as beings of all forms - it cannot be without reason. If you see a person stumble and fall on a crack before you, wouldn’t you offer an arm to help them right themselves? This is no more or less: because it is together that we actively create community.

As a stoic child from a family of neglect and emotional terrorism, I blindly tried for many years to ‘go it alone,’ to be a community of one. It is futile, often harrowing and masochistic to say the least. It is unnatural. One is constantly in danger of feeding only the Ego, which serves to provide an integral aspect of survival - but on very base levels -when fed only with “Me-ness.” To restrict one’s self to rigid individuality is to constantly divide one’s Love from the magic of life again and again, and therefore constantly create the experience of “Othering.” In this duality that we create with our Othering, our demons are starved and left wanting, hungry. This hunger empowers and emboldens them. They expand in energy and become heavy cloth that covers our eyes, leaving us unable to see, to Awaken to our Divine nature, instead of feeding the blossom of Divinity, of union and compassion, which is to uproot the walls that enforce duality. When we feed those demons, when we honor their needs and love them, they are satiated. The cloth disintegrates into threads of silken awareness and the veil that creates duality is removed.

This is so because Love is the very thing that these beings need most. Love is at the core of what we each need most. Pain and anger, hate and violence are not transformed by your feeding of them with disgust and banishment, but by Love.

We are all transformed by this act of compassion, and the world truly becomes a better place.

Machig Labdron said it best, over eight centuries ago:

With a loving mind, cherish more than a child

The hostile gods and demons of apparent existence,

And tenderly surround yourself with them.

Nourish them always with warm flesh and blood.

With the hook of love and compassion,

Befriend them and never dismiss them.

If, with pure noble thought and enlightened resolve,

You connect them to the sacred Dharma

And they are freed and established in happiness,

Then you, child, whoever you are,

Will be my inseparable friend.

~ Machig Labdron (trans. Sarah Harding, 207.)

Many blessings to all on your path, and heartfelt gratitude to Dungse Rigdzin Dorje Rinpoche and all of those who assist him. For more information about Chöd, the Feri Tradition, or Dungse Rigdzin Dorje Rinpoche’s monastery, please go to www.redhandferi.blogspot.com You may also request a Chöd healing from afar from those at the monastery, please see their website: www.zangdokpalri.org/chod_afar.html

Kim Sequoia is a Soulwyfe, professional herbalist and initiate of the Feri Tradition. She has over 20 years experience in alternative healing and altered states, holds a BA with honors from John F Kennedy University, a pioneer in consciousness studies and holistic health; and is a graduate of the Northwest School of Botanical Studies/ Professional Herbalist Program. She is available for private sessions and is currently offering apprenticeship training in the Feri Tradition. Email her at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , mailto: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or call 707-499-6797.

Join Kim and friends for a class & magical meditation