Episode 58

This week Michaela is joined by Scott Berman, founder of Sky Cave Retreats. Scott discusses how his early experiences with meditation, solitude, nature connection and psilocybin influenced his spiritual journey and led him to develop his first darkness retreat in 2012. He speaks on the transformative power of spending extended periods in complete darkness and the opportunity it offers to reconnect with one's essential nature and let go of societal, cultural, and spiritual conditionings. He recounts the profound yet varied experiences of retreat participants and explores the idea that being in total darkness can facilitate feelings of safety, stillness, and deep self-exploration. He further discusses how the unique darkness retreats at Sky Cave Retreats are carried out and their potential impact on individuals seeking spiritual, personal, or emotional growth.

Scott Berman is the founder of Sky Cave Retreats - the first darkness retreat center in the US. Throughout the last decade, he has spent over two years in self-guided solo retreats in remote wilderness. He did his first darkness retreat in 2012 and has spent over 70 days in multiple solo darkness retreats along with a couple with his wife Jill.

Over the last few years, he has supported hundreds of people in their dark retreats and has been pioneering the darkness therapy movement at his center in Southern Oregon.

Episode Highlights

• Exploring the concept of darkness retreats

• Scott's personal journey “into the dark”

• The impact of solitude and darkness on self-exploration

• Challenges and realizations from darkness retreats

• The role of openness and surrender in darkness retreats

• The difference between wilderness solitude and darkness retreats

• The role of safety and vulnerability in darkness retreats

• The structure and experience of a darkness retreat

• Various motivations and benefits of undertaking a darkness retreat

• The experience of timelessness and non-duality in darkness

• Understanding the science behind darkness retreats

• Preparing for a dark retreat

• The role of spirituality in darkness retreats

• Psychedelics in relation with darkness retreats

Scott Berman’s Links 

• Website: www.skycaveretreats.com

• Instagram: @skycaveretreats

• Facebook: Sky Cave Retreats

* * * * *

Special thanks to Jeremy Colbert (Taragápe) for the original podcast theme music.

You can find out more about Jeremey’s work here:
taragape.com and @taragape