1. What is a retreat?
2. What are the types?
3. Royal Path to Enlightenment: Dark Retreat
4. Individual retreat
5. Group retreat
6. Silent retreat
7. Women’s Retreat
8. How long does a dark retreat last?
9. Where can I do a retreat?
10. How much does a retreat cost?

1. What is a retreat?

According to Wikipedia, a retreat is defined as follows:

Wikipedia

Retreat, English for retreat, refers to a planned spiritual rest or retreat from one’s usual surroundings.

As you can see, a retreat is a spiritual retreat from everyday life. It serves to deal more with his own goals, vocation, as well as the meaning of life. It helps to get more clarity in life and to get out of the hamster wheel. Many people nowadays usually do a job that they do not really enjoy and fun. They do a job that often doesn’t really excite them. Therefore, a retreat can help to become more aware of what is really important in life and that life, as it is led, is really as beautiful and fulfilling as you want it to be.

2. What are the types?

When you look at what types of retreats there are, it is to say that there are very different ones. For example, there are sports retreats such as yoga, qi gong, climbing, golfing, or there are retreats that focus on spiritual development. Here there are dark retreats, single retreats, men’s retreats, women’s retreats and also silent retreats. I will discuss some of these in more detail below. There are certain retreats for almost all areas, in order to simply withdraw from the whole everyday life.

3. Royal Path to Enlightenment: Dark Retreat

In the following I would like to talk about the supreme discipline of retreats. It is the most intensive form of retreat from any external influences. It is the so-called dark retreat.

The dark retreat, is also called dark therapy or dark meditation. This form of retreat has a long spiritual tradition and is a gift to oneself. It is very supportive in seeking out the closeness to one’s inner self. A stay in complete darkness without any distraction by external influences changes the sensory perception, thoughts and ideas. There is an increased clarity of consciousness. The inner knowledge suddenly becomes tangible and all questions about life are answered as if by themselves. You experience deepest peace, higher states of consciousness, insights and lucid dreaming.

4. Individual retreat

Experience the darkness yourself in a very individual way. Many spiritual experiences are possible during the dark retreat. It is often a deepened perception of oneself, introspection, observation of mental processes, experience of the primordial sound and light, encounter with spiritual beings, deceased, …

There are no indications that speak for a dark retreat, nor are there any that speak against it. However, one should be physically and psychically in good condition to be able to process all inner and outer impressions in the best way.

The dark therapy does not treat individual problems, but grasps the person as a unity, so that he feels again completely belonging and connected with the universe.

There is no real method to do a dark retreat. The path through the darkness is all your own; there is no prescribed plan through the night. You realize that the darkness itself is “the technique.” It is your teacher, it guides you to where your healing lies. Being itself is the way.

5. Group retreat

In the group it is easier to build up and hold strong energy. Thus, certain energy processes become possible in the group for which one has to practice for a very long time as an individual. By pooling our power and using special mantras and spiritual practices, we achieve states of high energy.

6. Silent retreat

The practice of silence is used in many traditions as a path to physical, mental and spiritual renewal. The experiences of this dark retreat take place in complete silence.

7. Women’s Retreat

In many cultures, women have always connected in a circle to empower each other. Experience for yourself how we open a sacred space in the women’s group in the dark retreat. In this space, you can casually share among women and feel feminine support for your processes. With selected powerful mantras and energy processes we build together wonderful and strong spiritual energies. Through the power of darkness these are additionally strengthened.

Accepting yourself completely as a woman with all the femininity you bring with you is an important basis for your fulfilled life and that of your family. Recognize that as a woman you belong to the stronger sex. When a woman awakens her full spiritual power within herself, she is also a great healer for this planet. Through years of oppression of women, you too may have forgotten your original spiritual power. Every woman carries an enormous creative power within her and even has an extra chakra which she can use for material as well as spiritual growth. Therefore, women are naturally created to build up to twelve times more energy with spiritual practice than men. Even in India, the knowledge that women are able to build up many times more energy with spiritual practice than men is sometimes kept secret. This makes it all the more important to remind you again of your power and to let you share in the secrets of female spirituality.

We were all born from the womb of a woman. When we let go of thoughts and feelings of competition between women, we automatically stop fighting against ourselves.
Receiving is the feminine principle. It is not always easy to break out of old energies and thought patterns and fully realize our own spiritual potential. In the safe setting of the women’s group, soul healing and awakening processes become easy. Be there in the sacred circle of women, let yourself be nourished and awaken!

8. How long does a dark retreat last?

If you want to answer the question how long a dark retreat can go, no general answer can be given, because it depends very much on yourself and how much experience someone already has. There is the possibility to do a taster retreat which lasts 2.5 days and is the minimum for the start. Many guests book with me for between 5-10 days. Some also stay for 2 weeks. The longest dark retreat I have done so far was 49 days. I do not offer longer dark retreats.

9. Where can I do a retreat?

In my beautiful ashram in Saschbachwalden in the Black Forest, I offer individual retreats, group retreats, silent retreats and women’s retreats. As already mentioned, I offer a taster retreat for people who are not sure whether a dark retreat is something for them, so that they can at least make the first experience.

10. How much does a retreat cost?

The costs for the dark retreats depends on how long the guest will stay. For a duration of up to 30 days, one night costs 109 €. From 31 days the night costs 99 €. In addition, there is a final cleaning fee of 45 €.

Experience has shown that guests often prefer to spend 1 night before and 1 night after the retreat in the light, in order to enjoy the retreat more consciously. For one night in the light we charge 57 €.

For catering, we offer smoothies, which guests receive 3 times a day. For these we charge 22€/ day.

We also offer tea, which we charge 8,50 € / day.

In addition, we offer other extras such as sound couches, massages or PandoraSessions.

Please find attached HERE the link to our current price list with the respective extras.

If you are interested in doing a dark retreat with me, we would be happy if you contact us.

Best regards your Bharati

Watch the videos of us about the PandoraStar directly here

In these extraordinary sessions, strong light signals are used to awaken a series of specific brain activities in your brain. Through the very intense flickering kaleidoscope-like light in different frequencies you can achieve the activation of certain states of consciousness.

As you lie below it with your eyes closed, you are transported into a wonderful virtual reality of colors and shapes. Some programs are accompanied by music that further enhances the effectiveness of light therapy. Users report that light therapy with the PandoraStar is a gateway to true magic. The experience itself was a lot of fun and left a lasting impression.

The device can be set to any frequency between 0.1 Hz and 200 Hz. At a certain level the DMT production is stimulated which activates the pineal gland. The rhythmic and intense light stimulates strong, temporary EEG brain wave patterns that would normally only occur after several years of meditation practice. Even meditation beginners will quickly experience a state of deep relaxation and even true kaleidoscopic color patterns and psychedelic images.

Here is an overview of the different programs with which you can realize conscious expansion and self-healing experiences.

Costs per session:

60€ for a short session up to 30 minutes
Longer sessions can be arranged at any time.

Marek Malůš PhD is currently the assistant professor of the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy in Ostrava, Czech Republic. He is professionally focused on researching the effects of sensory deprivation on the human body, or what he calls Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST), in particular when external stimulation is restricted through a stay in the dark, otherwise known in mainstream circles as Dark or Darkness Therapy.

He received his PhD at Palacký University, Olomouc which was where he first began his studies into REST in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Between 2010-2013, Marek collaborated with Czech Darkness Therapy expert, Dr. Andrew Urbiš at the Beskydské Rehabilitation Center in Celadna, in order to study 37 of their clients whilst they were engaged in a 7 day Darkness Retreat.

According to one source, they used “questionnaires and surveys including the Existence Scale, the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and The Symptom Checklist 90” to collect relevant data. Of particular interest was the affect this had on altered states of consciousness, as well the role of the pineal gland and the hormone ‘melatonin’.

In 2015 he began the next phase of his research, in collaboration with the Darkness Therapy Centre in Kozlovice, which you can read more about HERE, which also then began to look at more psycho-physiological effects of stays in darkness on the body, not just psychological. Marek has completed 3 Darkness Retreats himself, over the course of 3, 7 and 14 days.

Despite the ever increasing popularity of Dark or Darkness Therapy in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, little research seems to have been done outside of these countries, except that carried out in the 1970s in the US. As a result, Marek has been invited to present his findings both in the Czech Republic and abroad, including at the world’s leading conferences focused on methods of limited external stimulation at the Universities of Portland, USA and Vancouver, Canada. Here is a video of Marek’s presentation at the FLOAT Conference in Portland in 2015.

In his presentation, Marek discusses whether ‘Dark Therapy’ is actually in fact a therapy. He says it is difficult to say positively, because the term is not scientifically appropriate. Many people think of it as a treatment or self-treatment, but in Marek’s view it is “A special place and space suitable for therapeutic process, which enables, affects and catalyzes our ability to get more in touch with both our conscious and unconscious part of ourselves.”

However, it has been difficult to find out what the specific findings were of Marek’s earlier studies, due to it being in Czech and as yet, the results and analysis from the research carried out in 2015 remains unpublished. As soon as they are available, we will be sure to let you know.

You can find out more about Marek and how to contact him at:

https://ff.osu.eu/marek-malus/66728/

Initially this research was carried out in cooperation with the Department of Psychology of the University of Olomouc, then later with the Department of Psychology and the Institute of Physiology and Patho-physiology, of the University of Ostrava (both in the Czech Republic). To begin with, research was carried out with students of psychology and related disciplines over a period of 2 and then 3 days. However, since 2015 it has also been carried out with actual Dark Therapy clients, on a voluntary basis, and in 2016 the researchers extended their study to test the effects of up to 4 days in the dark.

The ‘Dark Therapy’ research is led by Marek Malůš PhD, assistant professor of the Department of Psychology Faculty of Philosophy in Ostrava, who completed several darkness retreats himself to inform his study. This is a unique global study, which builds on research that was started in the 1970s in the US, and extends to the areas of both psycho-physiology and physiology.

The research objectives are focused on several areas of human psychology and physiology, in order to measure the changes which take place as a result of the participant’s stay in the dark, based on the results of tests taken before and after the stay.

The psychological studies monitor cognitive function (a total of 12 tests). These include, in addition to memory and concentration, attention, language function, speed of thinking and the ability to understand information.

The executive functions include the ability to assess and problem solving, planning and organization. Further parameters are monitored based on the participant’s personality, as well as motivational and experiential characteristics, including the assessment of the advantages/disadvantages stemming from the participants.

In contrast, the physiological studies are investigating the psycho-physiological effects of processes, basic blood counts and the effect on the human eye (a total of eight tests). Attention is focused on the measurement of ECG, heart rate and its variability, blood pressure, and the detected change in weight. Whilst monitoring the human eye, they measure visual acuity, color vision and the quality of peripheral vision.

The outcomes of this extensive study are currently not yet known because evaluation and analysis of the results are still pending. Preliminary results show however (as you might expect), that the four-day stays are already showing more fundamental changes than shorter stays, including positive shifts occurring in cognitive functions, heartbeat and also improving eyesight.

You can find out more at http://www.terapietmou.net/

However, of particular interest to us is Dr. Urbiš‘ research into Darkness Retreats, which he is very well known for, especially since authoring the book ‘Terapie Tmou’ (translated as ‘Darkness Therapy’), in 2012.

Part of his research involved Dr. Urbiš participating in 3 different Darkness Retreats himself, varying from 10 to 50 days. The reason for such an extended duration for the latter was because in Tibet, where he says Darkness Therapy (they call it yang-ti) is said to have originated from, the ancient monks regularly retreated into dark underground vaults for 49 days, and he wanted to put it to the test himself, and see what benefits it would bring.

Apparently it was Dr. Helmut Kalweit who introduced Darkness Therapy to the Europeans, initially in Germany, but he predominantly focused on the spiritual and sensory processes on the psyche, such as the subconscious and so on. However, despite Dr. Andrew Urbiš being a psychologist himself, much of his own work has also focused on the healing impact of a prolonged stay in darkness on physiological problems of the body, as well as the mind and soul.

He describes the body as being a universal energy system, whose components connect and interact. So in other words, anything affecting the psyche impacts the physical body and vice versa. He says that discord and disharmony in one part of the system causes a mismatch in all other part of the body, which is why you have to look at the whole person, not just one part of the system.

Some of the benefits Dr. Urbiš believes Darkness Therapy/Terapie-tmou has are:

• Production of the anti-oxidant hormone ‘melatonin’ which can help prevent some types of cancer;
• Bringing the body back in harmony with nature;
• Healing skin diseases;
• Space to realise what is most important in life;
• Reducing stress and calming the body, mind and soul, whilst slowing the pace of life.

According to the BRC clinic’s website Darkness Therapy/Terapie-tmou is also effective in:

• The prevention of lifestyle diseases – oncological diseases and metabolic disorders, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, vascular and cerebral incidents, burnout and fatigue syndrome (CFS);
• Regenerating the psyche, through releasing old stored trauma and soothing a disturbed, uncertain mind, helping to treat personal problems;
• Heightening the senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste);
• Allowing for the development of creativity, imagination, and various internal experiences that are under normal circumstances may have been subdued.

Below is a short documentary made by Czech television about Dr. Andrew Urbiš and his work in Darkness Therapy/Terapie-tmou (with English subtitles) if you would like to know more, as well a video diary of a Czech TV reporter and film director called Silvie Dymáková, who spent 7 days at Dr. Urbiš darkness facility at the Beskydské Rehabilitation Center in Celadna, called Vila Mátma (literally means ‘My Darkness’), who was also involved in the making of the follow up documentary. The video diary begins from her 3^rd day, after she slept for the first 2. (She won the Czech Lion Award for the documentary.)

Finally, to find out more about how to work with Dr. Andrew Alois Urbiš go to www.brc.cz/terapie-tmou-1

So in this video I (Bharati), tell you a little bit more about how all of that can work and what is coming. You’ll also get a sneak peek into the renovation work that was carried out earlier in 2016 to create our Temple Room, which is now complete and we are delighted with it. If you have any inquiries about any of this, please have a browse through our website, and then get in touch. We are always happy to hear from you!

In this video Bharati answers many of the common questions that get asked. More information is also provided on our Procedure page, as well as our FAQ section.

However, if you still have additional things to ask, when making a decision whether this is the right place for you to come or what to expect, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to hear from you with any questions or concerns you might have!

Please note: Bharati speaks a lot about Darkness Retreats in India. Although it is still potentially possible to do a retreat with us in India, or anywhere else you choose, our primary base is now at our wonderful new retreat centre ‘Source of Power – Spiritbalance Sadhana Ashram’ in Sasbachwalden, a really beautiful natural part of the Black Forest in Southern Germany.

Bharati also mentioned about bringing your own eye mask. Whilst of course you are always welcome to bring your own if preferred, we do now supply an excellent mask for you to use whilst you are here, which enables you to comfortably have your eyes open or closed when wearing it.