Heart of the Darkness: A retreat of reverence and re-imagination
Heart of the darkness
Life begins in the darkness Great Hatun Inti, the dark sun, stands vast beyond all the suns. Offering limitless possibility
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
What is missed until we pause and remember To embrace the darkness
To allow the darkness to peel back our senses Rest in the quiet, and kinship that brings us close Feel the fertility of the mystery …. And re-imagine what we are all made of
Join us for
A retreat of reverence and re-imagination
The call can come as a whisper, deep within our bones, a sense of knowing. This is the place to be quiet and still in response, and deeply acknowledge our inner knowing.
This retreat is a guided exploration to return to the darkness and honor its gifts.
Here, you will bring the unseen into your felt experience, to listen, to grow, and to nurture. The season of winter brings longer nights, and the waning of light for a divine purpose. It is a time to dream, delve into the mythic story of you, and plant seeds. A time to tend the inner soil of tremendous growth.
This retreat will be a time for you to connect to this ancient rhythm with new reverence. We will answer to a depth of knowing that will dissolve the illusion which keep us separate from our source, our self, each other, and the planet. The retreat flows between solitude and community, silence and sharing, action and rest. From this place of deepening your alignment with this natural rhythm, you will discover new efficiency and less effort in your fullest life expression.
In this collaboration, Cynthia Bergh, D.C, and Marie Rose will offer practices, questions, ceremonies, resources, and space to explore your relationship with your inner realms and your inner mythic story. Female archetypes will be explored to question cultural assumptions and to reveal concealed truths.
Cynthia will initiate an evolution in your relationship with your body to gain Embodied Wisdom. This involves self discovery, honing senses, and re-programing of subconscious nervous system patterns, opening you to a deep reverence for all of life’s rhythms. Engagement practices are offered to re-activate our birthright of self-learning and self-healing.
Marie Rose will bring her depth of wisdom of the feminine mysteries, exploring the realm of darkness through archetype, myth, ceremony, loving presence, and deep listening. She will help us unpack the conditioning that separates us from embracing the darkness and will invite us into the Dreaming Way as a path to restoring wholeness and vitality, connecting us to our inner wise one who waits in the dark ready to reveal our deepest truth.
Together they will support movement, creative process of dream and story telling, and an activation of greater resourcefulness.
Join us to discover and celebrate what happens in the dark.
*Gyōan - The profound darkness just before the first light of dawn* - Japanese word
The 4 day Program
Begins Thursday, January 7, 2026: 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, followed by an evening activity and conclude by 9 pm.
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.
Food 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 $ /night to $ /night. Register early to receive your best choice.
Additional program information:
We aim to create an exceptionally valuable program. We hope you love it as it is designed. We also understand that everyone’s situation is a little different and some people will want more feedback and more support. Others may be so inspired that they want guidance into greater depths. Regardless of the motivation, we are available. Discounted private sessions with Marie Rose and Cynthia can be purchased during and after the program.