On Ethics, Responsibility & Peak Experiences

Hi everyone,

This is Dave. I’d like to take some time and speak to how I’m thinking about the ethics of this event and the responsibility I assume as the host and facilitator of this experience. I’ll also share about what this event is, what it’s not and how you can best prepare yourself and allocate the necessary self-care after the event is complete.

The first, and most important thing for you to know is that this retreat is not designed to heal past trauma, transform your life or create any sort of lasting change to your behavior, mood or consciousness. While “peak experiences” like this can certainly be part of a transformational journey, and while many people have received profound insights from being in the dark, true life transformation requires many months of integration, community support and commitment to practicing to a new way of being. This five-day retreat is simply not set up for that.

One of the reasons it’s important for me to make this distinction, is that the journey of this retreat will likely trigger many feelings that are associated with modifications in mood, behavior and feelings due to a combination of stress and relief. The retreat begins with a 36-hour water fast that is completely silent and inward. For some people this is a delightful break from a busy life, but for many it can be stressful and disorienting. Navigating an unknown space in the complete dark, being without linear time and going without any electronic devices can be challenging. After a few days of inward experience, the group will come back together and life gets a little easier. Then, on the last morning we remove the darkness and exist in the light again.

As one might expect, when the lights come back on your system may react with a type of euphoria and/or sense of relief. It also may not, which can also be confusing to be around others that are experiencing something radically different. The combination of this stress and euphoria often leads to an elevated state, similar to the high of being on drugs or a strong cup of coffee, sometimes lasting several days. For some people, leaving the darkness and entering back into the “real” world can also have an opposite effect, and some may experience a mild depression or sadness, having found many benefits to being in the dark.

All this is to say that extra care is needed and should be planned for as you integrate back in to your life after the retreat is over. While I’m available for support via phone or in person, once the retreat is over you will be the one ensuring that you get the kind of aftercare you need. I’ll host a group video call a few weeks after the retreat is over for anyone who is interested.

Responsibility and Refunds

As the host of this event, I recognize that the journey I’m guiding the participants on may be uncomfortable, stressful and challenging. To reduce potential harm and account for this I’ve done a few things.

If participants feel overwhelmed and need a break, they can (with the help of the host) spend some time outside in the light. The point of this retreat isn’t to cause panic, and if taking a break from the dark is the right thing for you, that is possible.

There will be navigational aids in the house (sound and touch), and the first afternoon will comprise of a mobility workshop to help everyone navigate the house.

I offer a refund policy that allows participants to ask for a refund up to 6-months after the event, if for whatever reason they feel dissatisfied with their experience. This is a policy I’ve been using for multi-day peak experiences since 2024. Since there are no specific outcomes to measure the success or failure of the event, any refund requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

I recognize that the journey I am taking people on, and the combination of stress and relief, can be very significant for some participants, especially if they are new to this kind of retreat. I am committed to holding participants in a way that both honors their sovereignty and acknowledges the fact that they may be in an altered state, due to the intense nature of this experience. I believe these types of group experiences should be held with the kind of care similar to a medicine journey.

Thanks for reading, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at davebooda@gmail.com.

~ Dave