Heart of the darkness
Life begins in the darkness
Great Hatun Inti, the dark sun, stands vast beyond all the suns.
Offering limitless possibility
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In modernity, we illuminate our rooms, roads, and neighborhoods
We go to work, and school all the same.
Producing things while nature draws it’s vitality inward
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What is missed until we pause and remember
To embrace the darkness.
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To remember before the illusion.
To allow the darkness to peel back our minds, sharpen our senses,
leading us to the power within,
disguised in the luminous day by things outside ourself
Rest in the quiet, and kinship that brings us close
Feel the fertility of the mystery ….
And re-imagine what we are…. and the truthful choice to bring this forth.
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Join us for this introductory call where we gather and begin this journey with an invitation.
Monday, November 30th 7 pm.
THE 4 DAY PROGRAM: The Heart of the Darkness
Twin Pond Sanctuary in Brookfield, VT
Begins: Thursday, January 7, 2027: 6 pm Concludes: Monday, January 11, 2026: 12 pm
Each morning we will begin in the darkness at 6:30 am, break for breakfast, and continue with programing until noon. We will have lunch privately, and enjoy quiet, solo, self honoring time until 4pm. There will be a variety of solo activities available. We will gather in community again at 4 pm. Share a provided community meal in early evening, followed by an evening activity and conclude by 9 pm.
This is an advanced program designed to enhance your personal tool box
PAYMENT INFORMATION
$650 - $1150 sliding scale
$150 due at registration to secure spot and reserve bed (non-refundable). $300 due 12/15/26, and balance paid at check-in for the program.
Meals partially provided: Breakfast supplies provided for you to make your own breakfast. Please bring your own food to enjoy for lunch. Nourishing community meal provided Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening. A time for you to relax and enjoy each other’s company. You will be asked to clean up your own space, and we will all tend to cleaning up after the community meal. Thank you
Lodging: Varying arrangements can be made at Twin Ponds. Private, semi-private, to bunk style, ranging in price from $75/night, $45/night, to $25/night. Register early to receive your best choice.
Heart of Darkness:
A retreat of re-imagination
Meet the darkness:
Navigate the unknown: Amidst great unknown, and plan uncertainty, our feeling senses and instinct wisen and the next step appears from within
Consciousness expands. Embodied wisdom awakens inner resources which reveal outdated assumptions. Old beliefs become obsolete as personal and collective experience anchor clear knowing of our pathway forward. (interdependence, and the predominance of win-win.)
Emerge on a new path of trust with deeper alignment with your whole being.
Experience the deep taproot of humanity, and courageously create what we “know” is possible.
New freedom: Drop resistance to life’s cycles, dominance of small aspects of self, and align with the effortlessness of your nature.
January 7-11, 2027
Twin Pond Sanctuary in Brookfield, VT
This is an advanced retreat designed to enhance tools and practices you already know and love.
In this collaboration, Cynthia Bergh, D.C, and Marie Rose will carefully hold and challenge you to experience the depth of your vast inner resources. Twin Pond Sanctuary, the season of winter, and the raw, natural rhythms of life will free you of distractions and pull you into your connection to the source of life within….. learn more
*Gyōan - The profound darkness just before the first light of dawn*
- Japanese word