'Darkness Retreats' Sound Scary, But Could They Be Transformative For Mental Health?

"Darkness retreats," also known as "darkness therapy," is just as literal as it sounds. Participants are placed in complete darkness for an extended period of time. Food and water are provided, but since the environment promotes detoxing, one can assume that even meals are light. Though a new concept to most, darkness retreats have been popular for centuries within religions such as Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, a branch of traditional Buddhism. When used to strengthen one's spirituality, the belief is that participants will face ancient deities. In the modernized version of dark retreats, experts say complete darkness promotes lucid dreams and hallucinations. Dr. Eric A. Zillmer, a licensed clinical psychologist at Drexel University in Philadelphia and director of the Global Sport Leadership Solutions Lab, describes the experience as "dreamlike sleep but awake." In other words, it's quite possible that someone who claims to see spirits or any kind of visions is speaking the truth.

Hayley Saraswati, the founder of the Forest Path, spent her dark retreat inside The Hermitage in San Pablo la Laguna, Guatemala. Saraswati described seeing flashing lights in the dark for several hours on the third day. This resulted from sensory withdrawal, which occurs in the absence of light and outside distractions. In the end, Saraswati says she discovered her "inner light" through the process.