"If you are exhausted and yearn to rest, like nearly everyone I know, you may be interested in what's arguably the most radical wellness trend of 2026 - an ancient practice called "dark retreat." This powerful experience, touted by celebrities as the latest way to achieve self-realisation and peace, involves no drugs (unlike, say, ayahuasca), no intense physical work, and no strict diet - just staying in absolute darkness in a comfortable room for 24 hours a day, for several days."
"Seen as an antidote to our over-lit, fast-paced lives, extended time in darkness can calm overwrought nervous systems, heal trauma, trigger creativity, bring wholeness - but, being a relatively juvenile concept in its latest commercial phase, it must be practised carefully. My first dark retreat brought all the above. To understand the pros and cons, I delve below into what actually happens on a dark retreat. We'll hear from experts, including spiritual teachers, dark retreat centre directors worldwide, and the field's first scientific researchers."
Dark retreats require spending consecutive days in complete darkness, usually in a comfortable room, with no drugs, intense exercise or strict diet. The practice has ancient roots across cultures including Greek, Egyptian, indigenous traditions, Taoism and Tibetan Buddhism, where it served for initiation and wisdom. Extended darkness can soothe overactive nervous systems, aid trauma healing, stimulate creativity and foster a sense of wholeness. The contemporary commercial version is resurging and needs careful practice and guidance. Gentler 'grey retreats' provide a calibrated entry point for those who feel apprehensive.
Read at CN Traveller
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