“There is a demon, known as the deluder, who visits the brethren especially at dawn, and leads the intellect (nous) about from…house to house…pretending that no passions are aroused through such visits; but then the intellect goes on to meet and talk with old acquaintances at greater length, and so allows its own state to be corrupted by those it encounters. Little by little it falls away from the knowledge of God and holiness, and forgets its calling. Therefore the solitary must watch this demon, noting where he comes from and where he ends up…because he wishes to corrupt the state of the solitary, so that…over-excited by all this wandering, and intoxicated by its many meetings, the intellect may immediately fall prey to the demons of unchastity, anger or dejection…” (Evagrios the Solitary)
In other words, every distraction of the nous from God is an assault by a demon, and falling prey to one opens the way for falling prey to the next, until one is caught up in the affairs of the world, undermining his or her practice of prayer and the remembrance of God.
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