An Invitation Into the Unknown

Darkness retreats provide a rare and potent opportunity to step away from external stimulation and turn inward — toward stillness, presence, and profound inner knowing. Rooted in Tibetan, Taoist, and yogic traditions, this ancient practice invites deep rest for the nervous system and creates a quiet, sacred space where the unseen within you can be met with gentleness and curiosity.

This is not a retreat from life — but an invitation to drop beneath the surface and discover what is quietly waiting to be felt, heard, and known.

Is This for You?

This experience is for those who feel called to meet themselves in a deeper way — to move beyond mental narratives and open to the subtle wisdom that lives within the body, the breath, and the mystery of darkness itself.

You don’t need prior meditation or retreat experience. What matters most is a genuine willingness to be present with yourself, even when that presence is unfamiliar.

If you feel the quiet pull to enter the dark, we welcome you.

Deeper Current Darkness Retreat

A Retreat into Deep Stillness

April 10- 23, 2026

Held in the remote mountains of Crestone, Colorado at Chamma Ling Retreat Center, this guided darkness retreat offers a carefully held space for rest, revelation, and transformation. Each participant stays in their own private cabin and receives personalized support throughout the experience.

Retreat Flow

  • Day of Arrival: Check-in is at 3:00 PM. You'll settle into your cabin, receive a preparatory bodywork or acupuncture session with Gina, and have a final check-in with James. That evening, your darkness journey begins.

  • Your time in the Dark: You’ll be immersed in uninterrupted darkness, supported by a daily check-in with James. Two nourishing meals will be delivered quietly to your cabin each day.

  • Unmasking (Final Evening): On your final evening, you will have the opportunity to exit the darkness and begin reorienting to light and movement. This is often described as one of the most profound moments of the retreat. At the end of your retreat you're invited to spend time walking the land, journaling, and gently beginning the integration process.

  • Departure Day: You’ll have one final night to weave in and out of the dark as you choose and check out is at 11:00 AM the following day.

Meet your guides

“I’ve spent many years exploring the depths of myself through solo wilderness retreats, vision fasts, rites of passage, meditation intensives, plant medicine ceremonies, and long periods alone in nature. Each one offered something valuable. But my first darkness retreat was by far the most profound and life-changing retreat experience of my life.

What made it so powerful was the absence of any method. No substance, no teacher, no practice to follow — just me and the dark. Because of that, the insights and revelations I received felt undeniably my own. They came from the deepest, truest part of me. And I could trust them.

Since then, I’ve done a few more darkness retreats, including one alongside my wife, Gina (in separate cabins), where she also had a transformative experience. I've had the honor of facilitating this work for others and witnessing how the darkness meets each person in their own way — often exactly where and how they need to be met.

Gina and I are grateful to walk alongside others as they step into the dark and discover what’s waiting within.”
— James Farmer

Snow-capped mountains behind green rolling hills and desert vegetation with shrubs and trees under a partly cloudy sky.
Collage of four images: inside a room with a small red decorated table, outside a small adobe style house with a red door, inside a bedroom with wooden doors and a black bed, and outside a modern wooden house on a hillside with trees and mountains.

What’s Included

  • Darkness Preparatory call with James ~2 weeks prior to your retreat

  • Private lodging in a standard or premium cabin at Chamma Ling

  • Two nourishing meals per day (congee breakfast + warm dinner)

  • A preparatory bodywork or acupuncture session with Gina upon arrival

  • Daily check-in with James during your retreat

Optional additional bodywork or massage (available at added cost)

Payment & Reservation Policy

  • A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot.

  • The remaining 50% is due 30 days before your scheduled arrival.

Cost:

  • 4 Day Retreat is $1400

Booking Process

We offer a very limited number of spaces each season. If you feel the call to enter the dark, we invite you to begin here:

  1. Fill out the interest form below.

  2. We’ll follow up with a short intake process and confirmation of dates and availability.

  3. Once confirmed, you’ll receive a payment link to reserve your cabin.

Dark Retreat Resources

Podcast – Reginald A. Ray on Dark Retreat

Ready to Begin?
If this experience resonates with you, we invite you to fill out the form below to start the process. Once we receive your request, we’ll follow up to schedule a brief call and help you choose the retreat length that fits your needs.