Category: Participants’ experiences

Four years on maternity leave and then, at last, time just for herself. This time we bring you the experience of a mum who had always wanted to go into the dark and in the end received a dark retreat from her husband as a Christmas present. Afterwards she didn’t want to leave the dark at all. What did she see in the dark, why did she suddenly become aware of every muscle while exercising, and how did she arrive at the feeling that she is nothing but love?

I didn’t want to leave the dark at all

I feel great, rested, and I have to admit I didn’t want to leave the dark at all. I felt terribly comfortable in there and I felt safe.

I have the feeling that over the last two years or so I’ve slowed down a lot. Before that I lived very fast, but now I’m trying to work on myself, so lately I’ve been slowing down.

A dark retreat as a Christmas present

I’d always wanted to go into the dark, and in the end I got it as a Christmas present, from my husband that is. I wanted to try it. But mainly I kept telling myself that I have no time for myself at all, and here I would.

At home I often want to meditate or have a moment to myself, but there are so many things I have to do. I keep thinking, there’s a dirty pot over there and so on. Here I really did have that time for myself and could devote myself to me, which was absolutely great.

I’ll take a piece of the dark home with me

I’ll definitely be giving myself more time for me. I told myself I’d take a piece of the dark home with me. That what I’m experiencing here, I can experience at home too. It doesn’t have to stay only here. What I’ve learned or tried out here, I can practise at home afterwards.

Boredom? I saw the northern lights

Was I bored? Not at all. I have to admit, though, that I slept through the first day, maybe even longer. It was probably the deficit I’d been carrying from four years of motherhood. I slept a lot, but after that it was terribly pleasant.

Maybe my brain was projecting things for me, because it wasn’t just darkness all the time. I had the feeling I was seeing the northern lights, or parts of the universe. I definitely wasn’t bored in there.

While exercising I felt every muscle

I exercised, because my back is wrecked, and it was great. When I exercise at home, I’m always thinking about other things. Here, while exercising, I was able to be aware of my body, of every muscle I was working at that moment. That was terribly pleasant.

At home I probably can’t concentrate on it as much. In the dark there’s nothing else left for me, so I relaxed more and concentrated more on myself.

The shower, the food and running four hours ahead

The practical things were completely fine. I was advised to try everything out while it was still light. Once I’d tried it in the light, I’d got the feel of everything and after that it was totally relaxed. I always knew which way to go.

I think I always had some rough sense of what time it was, I just seemed to be living about four hours ahead. I kept thinking you must be bringing my food soon, it must be about eight in the evening by now, when it was perhaps only four or three o’clock. I certainly slept during the day too, but I had a rough idea of when it was night and when it was day. If I’d been here for a week, it would probably have been different.

I wouldn’t have minded losing track of time completely. I think, on the contrary, it’s kind of liberating. It was pleasant that time just sort of flowed and I didn’t know exactly what time it was.

Darkness therapy: you won’t go mad, you’ll find yourself

To those who are afraid of the dark, I’d say definitely don’t be afraid of it. So many people I know told me they’d go mad in there within the first two hours, and that just seems like nonsense to me. You’ll certainly get a proper sleep, which these days is quite a plus in itself. And then you’re there alone with yourself and you sort of discover yourself. I don’t see anything wrong with that. On the contrary, you find yourself. I found more things in there.

First I was the darkness, then nothing but love

One more slightly crazy thing. Once, when I’d had a proper sleep and had time to think, I suddenly had the feeling that I was the darkness. That I was part of the darkness and I was nothing, only that darkness. It wasn’t unpleasant, but I wasn’t content with it.

And then it was as if I’d shed some kind of ballast and I had the feeling that I was nothing but love. That I am the love I feel and experience, that all around me is love and I am part of it. That’s the feeling I took away from it, and it was terribly pleasant.

We’ve put together the most frequently asked questions that clients ask themselves before deciding on darkness therapy.

Follow our YouTube channel too, where you’ll find videos about the retreats and people’s experiences with darkness therapy. 🔔

People often come back to the dark. This time we bring you the experience of a woman who came for a dark retreat for the second time, four years after her first week-long stay. What brought her back? Relief from the demands that bombard us from all sides every day, and the feeling that everything is just as it should be.

I was looking forward to inner calm

It’s lovely. I was so looking forward to resting again and getting back to my inner calm. I simply adore it. Holding on to it in everyday life is much harder, because there you’ve got all the demands of the people and world around you.

My second time in the dark, and the feeling is the same

It wasn’t my first time in the dark, it was my second. The first time I was here for a week, this time for a shorter stay. But the feeling is exactly the same. First the thoughts that keep bombarding you from everywhere fly away. Then that whole “I ought to” flies away. And then comes the feeling that everything is fine, everything is as it should be, and you can simply exist like this. It’s brilliant.

My biggest challenge is to keep hold of it in everyday life, at work and at home. I know calm from there too, but here it’s amplified. When you feel a deep calm, here you reach even deeper – if depth can be deepened at all.

Here I really don’t have to do anything

The huge benefit is that this environment makes no demands at all, and you really don’t have to do anything here. As long as you let yourself accept that, which is hard these days. The moment we’re working, there’s an automatic demand to finish some task. I go shopping – that’s a demand. I look after the children – that’s a demand. There are plenty of demands. Here I only do the basics: I wash, I brush my teeth, I eat. Apart from that, I don’t have to deal with anything around me at all.

I love my life, and after the dark I experience it more deeply

I’m not running away from the world by coming here. I love my life and the world around me, I love people, the things I do, my work and my four cats, and I enjoy looking after all of it. What matters to me is that underlying feeling that carries me. Becoming aware of it at such depth is wonderful, and then comparing how it looks in everyday life.

I notice one more benefit. Because my senses aren’t so overloaded here, afterwards I’m better able to perceive my cats and the people around me. I open up more when I talk to people and we go deeper. I can’t imagine reaching that depth through ordinary life alone.

How can someone like me just be?

Before my first stay I was a bit scared. In everyday life I’m performance-driven, I’m always doing something and switching between things. I wondered how someone like me could just be. I try to do it in ordinary activities too, for example when I swim, I just breathe and focus on my body. But it’s different. Here I realised how valuable it is when you can really just be. Without rushing, and without thinking about what comes next.

After my first stay I knew I’d come again

I was first here four years ago, and ever since then I knew I’d come again. It was just a question of the right timing. I’d happily come a third time too. But it takes time to sort out in everyday life what you’ve taken in here, and to try to use it to deepen your ordinary activities.

There are no bogeymen here

To those who are afraid of the dark, I’d say that getting to know yourself and moving forward a little isn’t anything to be afraid of. The circumstances here aren’t any scarier than outside. Not being able to see certain things means I don’t even have to think about them, and it’s calmer. There really is nothing to be afraid of here. There are no ghosts, no bogeymen. There are just people who support you and take care of you. That’s all. It’s a lovely experience.

We’ve put together the most frequently asked questions that people ask before a dark retreat.

Follow our YouTube channel too, where you’ll find videos about dark retreats and experiences with darkness therapy. 🔔

Each of our participants brings their own story into the darkness, along with their expectations and the courage to go beyond everyday limits. Today we share the genuine experience of someone who decided to try something out of the ordinary and give himself a deep pause in today’s fast-paced world.

Looking for unusual challenges and deciding fast

I like things that are out of the ordinary. I enjoy seeking out unusual challenges. For example, a month before this experience I ran a marathon without ever having done anything like it before. In August I’ve got another race on Ještěd, the special Red Bull 400, where you run up a ski jump. I thought about that event for about two days and then decided straight away. It was just as quick with this experience. The very same day I looked into it, I signed up and I was ready. Life today feels incredibly fast to me, so I needed to stop for a bit. Darkness therapy struck me as a great idea and a way to do a dopamine detox.

Getting past boredom and thinking in complete stillness

There was boredom, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. That’s exactly what I expected – that there would be boredom. It was just a matter of getting past it. I assumed that with darkness for such a long time I’d be rather tired, or that I’d spend the other part of the time thinking. That’s how it turned out. A few times I thought I felt a bit dizzy, but it was more likely the heat. I switched on the air conditioning three times a day, because it’s warmer now and it was needed. It wasn’t that I wanted to leave. The dark retreat gave me exactly the space to calm down that I’d been looking for.

Great food and the joy of a knock on the door

The food was excellent. I’m not exactly a vegetarian, but this was really good, and the soups were excellent too. Since I didn’t know what time the meals were brought, I did start to wonder whether you’d forgotten about me. But in the end I heard a knock and I was happy. For me these three days were quite enough, but I’d happily try a week as well. I think a week would be fine too.

The bogeymen aren’t under the bed but in your head

Who is this experience suitable for? It depends on what people are afraid of. If they’re afraid of some kind of bogeymen, I think this is the right opportunity. Bogeymen or monsters aren’t under the bed, they’re in your head. If people want to face them, this is the ideal thing. If it’s purely about the darkness, a few days of preparation is enough and it’ll be a good challenge for them. There’s nothing to be afraid of. For anyone who wants to try it, it’s ideal. Even someone who doesn’t yet know they want it might benefit.

We have put together the most frequently asked questions that people ask before a dark retreat.

You can also follow our YouTube channel, where you will find videos about dark retreats and people’s experiences of darkness therapy. 🔔

Some people go into the dark for deep experiences, others mainly need a proper rest. This time we bring you the experience of a man who decided on a dark retreat in a single evening, spent three nights in the dark and slept sixteen hours on the very first day.

I came to rest and slept for 16 hours

I feel good. I came mainly to rest and find a bit of peace, and that worked out. On the first day I slept for about sixteen hours, from seven in the evening until they brought me food. With a few short breaks, but it really was a lot of sleep. That’s exactly what I came for and exactly what I got.

Three nights instead of a marathon

I was here for three nights. Not everyone is built for a marathon, and I think that’s a pretty good comparison. I believe I could have lasted seven days too, but for me it probably wouldn’t have been so pleasant any more. This way the three days went by nicely, I got some rest and I’m happy. Will I go for a longer stay next time? We’ll see. It depends on what situation I find myself in. This time it felt like three days.

I decided in one evening

I’m fairly impulsive, so I didn’t really make a decision at all. One evening I told myself I’d give it a go, bought the retreat straight away, and I think I did the right thing. As for comfort and facilities, everything was as I expected. It’s clean, comfortable and in a quiet spot. I was a bit worried it would be tucked away somewhere in the woods, completely isolated, where I wouldn’t feel safe. Here it’s just right.

Food as a pleasant change

I always looked forward to the food, because I like food. And it’s nice to at least exchange a few words when it’s brought. It didn’t disturb me at all. It’s a minute or two, and out of the whole twenty-four hours it’s a pleasant change.

A gradual return to the light

At dawn at the end of the retreat I did get up, but then I went back to sleep for a bit. I lasted half an hour, it was nice, but then tiredness caught up with me. It’s definitely good that you don’t go straight into harsh light. It was only just getting light outside, so it was neither dark nor light. That’s better than a bright light suddenly coming on.

The darkness gives everyone what they come for

To anyone who’s hesitating, I’d say: don’t be afraid of it. Lots of people told me I wouldn’t manage it, because I’m a bit impulsive. And I’m really happy. I think the darkness gives everyone what they want. I mainly wanted rest, and I got it. If someone comes for a deeper experience, I believe they’ll get that too. I definitely wouldn’t be afraid of it.

We have put together the frequently asked questions that people ask before a dark retreat.

Also follow our YouTube channel, where you will find videos about the retreats and people’s experiences of darkness therapy. 🔔

Every experience our participants tell us about after returning to the light brings a completely new perspective on how darkness can be perceived. This time we bring you the personal story of an expectant mother who decided to stop time for three nights and deepen her connection with the baby she is expecting.

An unexpected decision and a path to myself

I saw an interview somewhere and the topic caught my interest. I wanted to experience it first-hand. I didn’t think about the whole thing very deeply, it just spoke to me. Then a few months ago I decided the right time had come. I definitely wanted to have this experience before giving birth. It seemed like a good opportunity to be with the baby more on a mental level. I have three other children at home and I usually focus more on the older ones. Darkness therapy offered me a way to get even closer to the baby in my tummy and to prepare better for everything.

Challenges in the dark and exploring tastes

The darkness itself didn’t bother me at all. The only problem was the food. I knew I would be getting vegetarian meals, which was a good option for me. But in that deep darkness I didn’t know exactly what was in front of me. I had to coax myself a little before putting food in my mouth. In the end I took the whole difficulty as something interesting to explore. I tried to work out what I was eating and what flavours I could taste. I could have asked when the food was handed over, but I chose this path of discovery.

Safety and preparation during pregnancy

Every woman has to consider how her pregnancy is going as well as her previous births. I asked about everything in advance and looked into people’s practical experience. If I’d had a difficult pregnancy and was facing a premature birth, I wouldn’t have done it. But because I feel well, the dark retreat didn’t bother me at all. Only moving around called for more care. When I go somewhere, I’m slower, I hold my hands out in front of me and I’m careful not to fall or bump into anything. Knowing that I wasn’t completely alone here also gave me a great sense of security.

A deeper connection with the baby

It depends on each mum how she approaches the whole thing. More mindful mums focus more on the baby and make time for it. During a dark retreat all outside influences fall away, and the whole process of sensing becomes much easier. In the light I’m usually dealing with lots of other things, but in the dark I feel the baby more intensely. Three nights may be a short time, and after seven days it would be even stronger, but for deep awareness it works brilliantly. Right now I feel completely at ease – subdued and slowed down, but really good.

Would you like to find out more about the darkness guides?

You can also follow our YouTube channel, where you will find videos about dark retreats and people’s experiences of darkness therapy. 🔔

When our visitors tell us about their personal experiences, we are always delighted by how original each story is. Darkness therapy gives every person a completely different experience, because everyone brings their own life story into it. Today we bring you an interview with a man who came to us without great expectations and left with unforgettable experiences.

I expected nothing and took it as a cleanse

From the start I saw the dark retreat as a way of cleansing. I told myself I’d clear out all the pipes here. I really came in with a clean slate and didn’t expect anything. The only thing that crossed my mind beforehand was whether some kind of hell would come up in the dark and whether I’d end up fighting tooth and nail in there. But I had zero expectations. I had seen a roughly three-minute video of someone who had been here for three days and talked about it knowledgeably, but I thought, that’s his thing. Everyone experiences it in their own way and it can’t be passed on, because everyone brings their own individual stories into it. I’m glad I came, thank you for the opportunity, it’s really lovely here and it was good for me.

A Christmas present that came at the right time

I first heard that something like this existed about three or four years ago. Then a few interviews with interesting people came my way, and it turned out it had been an important milestone in their lives. I thought, these are smart people, and what they’re saying makes sense. So when my family gave me part of the money for this experience for Christmas, I didn’t hesitate or think twice. It was a combination of two things: I knew about it, I was starting to be drawn to it, and the present came at the right time. But for someone who isn’t ready for it or knows nothing about it, it could also be a problem, so I’d be very careful about giving it as a present.

Magical visual illusions took me by surprise

I didn’t notice at all that I wasn’t eating, the water was good and I’m not complaining. The only thing that surprised me was the hallucinations. When it felt like floodlights were shining full into my eyes, I couldn’t sleep. I was darting around the room, stumbling about, with no idea where I was. I had visual hallucinations or illusions. It wasn’t like being on a trip, but it was magical. Halfway through the retreat a Japanese gravel path appeared in front of me with a little strip of grass beside it. I walked along it and crashed into the wall. Little lights would appear, or the light of the Dutch masters – that kind of yellow fading into darkness. I deliberately put my hand in front of it. I couldn’t see my hand, but I could see the light. I wondered how the brain puts these images together. I really didn’t expect visual hallucinations, and they were very strong.

We have put together the most frequently asked questions that people ask before a dark retreat.

You can also follow our YouTube channel, where you will find videos about dark retreats and people’s experiences of darkness therapy. 🔔

We always love seeing people leave our retreat center with a bright, beaming smile and a deep sense of calm. Today, we want to share an inspiring story from someone who traveled all the way from France to experience transformative darkness therapy with us. If you are considering your own journey, this personal reflection shows exactly what happens when you step past hesitation and embrace the stillness.

My journey from France to Prague for a longer stay

My very first dark retreat lasted four days back in France. I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of that first experience, so I immediately knew I wanted to go back for a longer time. Because the French venue was closing soon and fully booked, I searched online using ChatGPT. I really wanted to visit Prague as well, so finding this place with wonderful reviews felt like the perfect match. This time, I chose a full week stay, from Saturday to Saturday. I walked out with a massive smile, feeling exceptionally relaxed, happy, and deeply rested.

Surrendering control and finding true inner relaxation

During my initial four-day experience, I relaxed almost immediately because I knew the duration was short from the get-go. With the seven-day retreat, however, my mind tried hard to recreate that exact same state at the very beginning. Expecting and hoping for a specific result actually kept me back for a moment. The magic truly started only when I finally surrendered. I stopped trying to manage anything, lay down, and simply allowed myself to rest. Once I let go of control, an amazing feeling took over. It felt like reuniting with my inner child and rediscovering pure wonder in everyday moments of life.

Beyond fear lies freedom in Svoboda

Before booking my first retreat, I felt a little scared myself. I spent hours listening to podcasts and interviews to prepare. Over time, I realized that when you feel a strong inner call, your higher self is guiding you forward. Fear simply comes from your little ego. During my stay, I stayed in the room named Svoboda, which means freedom. I remembered a quote that says: “Beyond fear lies freedom.” Moving past your fear brings the most rewarding personal progress.

Why you have nothing to fear in the dark

If you feel afraid of a dark retreat, you are actually just afraid of spending time alone in your own company. You will spend your whole life with yourself, but the wonderful news is that meeting yourself fully in the dark heals that fear. When you sit in complete darkness, do nothing, and totally surrender, peace naturally washes over you. There is really nothing to fear. Embracing darkness therapy allows you to release every burden, reconnect with your inner light, and experience life with renewed joy.

Want to learn more about our darkness retreat guides?

Follow our YouTube channel to watch videos about darkness stays and experiences with darkness therapy. 🔔

We love sharing authentic stories and personal experiences of people who decided to slow down and give some time to themselves. Today we bring you an interview with a woman for whom darkness therapy became a path to deep regeneration, calm and a new outlook on life.

From a merry-go-round of duties to my inner self

I didn’t have any big expectations, I just felt drawn here. I told myself I’d listen to that and go. Inside I felt that I needed to be in the dark. Two years ago my daughter was born, and since then I’ve been living in a constant merry-go-round of duties and someone else’s needs. But my own needs had started calling me to turn towards my inner self. I’m so incredibly happy that I listened to those feelings.

Rest and deep relaxation of body and mind

Over three days I had a wonderful rest and caught up on all the sleepless nights. I could really feel the stress and tension I live with every day draining out of my body. The muscles all over my body let go and my head cleared. Suddenly I noticed I was just lying there not thinking about anything, which is incredibly rare for me, because normally I’m doing one thing and thinking about three others. A beautiful emptiness opened up there. I came into emotional balance, I feel warmth in my chest and somehow I feel light.

When frightening darkness becomes a kind embrace

The darkness was a wonderful participant in the whole experience. I was a little worried I’d be scared, the way children are in childhood or some people are as adults. But suddenly I felt so safe. As if the darkness had hugged me and told me I could stay here, I didn’t have to take care of anything, I had no tasks and didn’t have to do anything at all, just be. It was a magical moment and a surrender to nothing, something I’ve probably never experienced in my life. The frightening darkness became a kind darkness, and my relationship with it changed.

The way back to yourself in a fast-paced world

For the last two years I’ve been deeply immersed in caring for my family, and in that state it’s hard to find time for yourself. I don’t think it’s only mums who have this, but all working managers or students these days. We have little time to be with ourselves, and when we are alone, we scroll like maniacs, trying to switch off, but again we’re running away from ourselves. A dark retreat is a rare and simple way to get inside yourself and spend time with your thoughts and feelings.

Space for inspiration and movement, without boredom

In the whole three days there wasn’t a single moment when I was bored or didn’t know what to do. I found time to exercise, to dance, to have a good cry and to reflect. I listened to music and to spoken word. It actually felt terribly short to me. If I hadn’t been rushing home to my little daughter, I’d happily have welcomed another day or two. Inspiring thoughts started coming to me, ideas and solutions to things I hadn’t been able to crack before. It definitely wasn’t my last dark retreat, and next time the only thing I’ll be deciding is how long to go for.

An experience that opens your eyes and your heart

You don’t need to force anything in yourself, but you should be open, because you gain far more than you lose. It’s a quick way to heal, refresh yourself, rest and retune in a fast-paced world. The people it speaks to will be drawn to it and will listen to that inner voice. On my way here, something strange happened to me as well. At the main station I helped a man with a white cane who was trying to get onto an escalator. Later, when I was trying to get somewhere in the dark with the kettle, I remembered that similar feeling, when neither of us could see. It was a lovely synchronicity and an interesting way to put myself in the shoes of someone who can’t see and has to manage differently.

Want to find out more about our dark retreat guides?

You can also follow our YouTube channel, where you will find videos about dark retreats and experiences of darkness therapy. 🔔

Follow our YouTube channel too, where you’ll find videos about dark retreats and people’s experiences of darkness therapy. 🔔

Want to find out more about the guides through the dark?

Follow our YouTube channel too, where you’ll find videos about the retreats and people’s experiences with darkness therapy. 🔔