From your questions and from information on the internet, we have noticed that ending a dark retreat with a candle or matches is becoming more and more common.
Ways to end darkness therapy
Every participant can end their dark retreat in their own way, however seems best to them. We just want to tell you that we like everything to be done gently 🙂
Once your eyes have adjusted to the dark, the process in which visual pigment is converted by a chemical reaction into electrical impulses – which our brain can process, and so perceive light – essentially switches off.
Ending a dark retreat during the day, especially in summer, brings an unusual experience with an abrupt transition from darkness to light, because the chemical reaction of the visual pigment is suddenly massive, which can even cause pain.
When ending during the day, it is a good idea to keep your eyes closed for a few minutes and get used to the light gradually; sunglasses also come in handy.
The same abrupt reaction happens even if you are not in direct light but only see a small intense light, for example from the candle or matches mentioned above. Although the image is picked up by only part of the retina, the discomfort of suddenly taking in light is described as just as unpleasant as stepping out into daylight.
Ending a dark retreat at night is gentler on the retina, especially if you leave the dark retreat cabin just before dawn, when the stars are only shining faintly and the sky is gradually filling with light, so your eyes can slowly begin to make out the silhouettes of trees and slowly get used to the colours that are coming.
Whether you end your dark retreat during the day, at night or with a candle, your eyes will adjust within a few minutes; ending at dawn is simply calmer and free of side effects such as pain or stinging.
The dark retreat and motor skills
During a dark retreat, your body gets used to keeping its balance with the help of your muscles rather than your sight. You can try an interesting test. Stand on one leg, and with a bit of practice you’ll find you can stand like that for a very long time, even for hours. Then close your eyes and within a few seconds you’ll fall over 🙂
It takes the body a few minutes to switch from muscle-based balance to balance using sight. Almost all participants say that for a few minutes the world sways as if after a party.
It is only a transitional period and fades within a few minutes, although some people may find it unpleasant, feeling for the rest of the day as if they had been on a boat that morning.
This switch in balance happens not only when leaving the dark retreat cabin, but also when you are sitting or lying down and switch on the light, or even just a candle.
Tips for ending darkness therapy
- Above all, enjoy the end of your dark retreat calmly and with joy
- Plan the end of your retreat so that you have at least 2 hours to get your bearings
- Leave the dark retreat space just before dawn, with no need for dark glasses
- If your head is spinning, sit on the ground and wait a few minutes until it passes
- If your head is still swaying a little, hold on to a tree, for example
We keep our fingers crossed for all participants and wish you beautiful moments as you end your dark retreat.
