To everyone else, a dark retreat looks like your holiday. For you, though, it won’t be quite that simple — so it pays to prepare properly, in the spirit of: “Fortune favours the prepared!”
Tell them at work about your dark retreat
You don’t have to tell them, of course, that you’re off on a dark retreat and want to connect with your higher self; they might not even understand. What you do need to stress is that you will be out of contact for the whole time you’re away. There will be no way to email you, call you or come and find you.
So it makes sense to organise your work duties so that you can spend your dark retreat undisturbed.
Tell them at home about your dark retreat
It’s up to you whether you tell them at home that you’re going straight into the dark. If you decide to fib and say you’re off on a business trip so you don’t have to fend off nosy questions, that is entirely your call. If you decide to say at home that you’re going into the dark and will be out of contact the whole time, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for you. But do stress that the dark retreat is your personal activity and you want to see it through — so messages like “the door handle has fallen off” are really not something you’ll be dealing with.
Preparing for darkness therapy step by step
- Book your date well in advance (a month, two, or even more)
- Arrange time off work
- Prepare your family for your absence
- Stress to everyone that you will be out of contact
- Record a voicemail message saying you’re away and asking callers to email you
- Set up an auto-reply on your email saying you’re away until XX
- We recommend writing a general power of attorney for your partner or someone close to you
- Bring your own sweets, other treats and anything for a special diet
- Apart from a good mood, all you need is comfortable clothing.
You’ll find directions on how to get to us in the guide.