Ten Laws with East Forest

Scott Berman - Are Darkness Retreats Worth It? (#259)

May 16, 2023

Scott Berman, experienced darkness retreat participant, discusses the profound experiences and benefits of darkness retreats. Topics include exploring emotions and realizations in darkness retreats, the importance of working with a practitioner, and the concept of acceptance in relation to depression and negativity.

01:14:47

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Episode guests

Scott Berman

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Darkness retreats create a space for individuals to deeply feel and explore buried emotions, leading to compassion and perspective shifts.

Unlike other spiritual practices, darkness retreats focus on subtracting and accepting rather than seeking transformative experiences, leading to awakenings and insights.

Darkness retreats offer a unique opportunity to disconnect from external stimuli, allowing for deep exploration of inner selves and questioning societal narratives of success.

Deep dives

The Power of Feeling and Accepting Emotions

In the darkness retreat, individuals are stripped of external distractions and have the opportunity to feel and explore their emotions deeply. One participant shared their experience of confronting feelings of guilt and shame that had been buried within them. By sitting with these emotions and tracing them back to their roots, they realized that the guilt and shame stemmed from experiences in their past that were out of their control. This realization brought about compassion for themselves and a shift in their perspective. The darkness retreat creates a space for individuals to feel and accept their emotions without judgment or the need to change or fix them.

Introduction

2min

Upcoming shows, Patreon support, and exploring past podcast episodes

2min

New Song Release, Personal Updates, and Excitement for Future Conversations

1min

Exploring Emotions and Realizations in a Darkness Retreat

28min

Exploring Darkness Retreats and Their Profound Experiences

14min

Exploring Acceptance and Embracing Emotions

3min

Reflections on Darkness Retreats

24min

Scott Berman did his first darkness retreat in 2012 and has spent over 70 days in multiple darkness retreats. Over the last few years, he has supported hundreds of people in their dark retreats and has been trailblazing the darkness therapy movement at his center in Ashland, Oregon.

https://www.skycaveretreats.com/

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