The questions you ask before entering darkness are different from the questions you discover within it.
We understand that stepping into complete darkness requires both courage and practical preparation. These are the questions we're most often asked, along with the detailed answers that help our guests approach their retreat with confidence and clarity.
You'll have two call button systems available at all times:
Greg is available 24 hours a day to respond to your calls. If he's sleeping, it may take a few minutes for you to be reached, but there's always someone in the house. Communication is limited to essential needs and guidance, because isolation from external communication is crucial for ensuring the depth of the experience.
Yes. When you book, you'll receive contact details for emergency communication. We recommend giving this number to a close family member or friend. In case of emergency, Greg can pass on messages without disturbing your darkness immersion.
Under normal circumstances, you won't be able to communicate with the outside world. Your complete isolation is essential to cultivate the profound states that darkness can produce. Only in exceptional circumstances would external communication be facilitated, and this would be done through Greg.
Your door is never locked - you're free to leave at any time. However, we strongly recommend speaking with Greg before making this decision, as many challenges that arise can be addressed without ending your retreat.
Important safety note: After prolonged darkness immersion, exposure to light can significantly change your state of mind. It may not be safe to drive for 30-60 minutes after emerging, and you won't be able to quickly return to the deep states achieved during extended immersion.
Yes, there's always someone in the house and available to you. Greg lives on-site and responds to all call button requests. While response time may be a few minutes if he's sleeping, help is always accessible.
Standard emergency protocols apply. If you have serious medical conditions or concerns, these should be discussed during your preparation consultation. Greg is trained in basic first aid, and emergency services can be contacted immediately if needed.
Art supplies for integration work
All light-emitting items (besides those on personal hygiene items) will be collected for safekeeping before immersion. Even the smallest amount of light can shift your brain chemistry and alter your experience.
Our rooms are sealed from light, with any windows or other light sources blocked out through professional blackout design. Meals are passed through a special hatch that prevents light from entering.
This is often easier than expected! Here's what helps:
Most guests find this becomes natural very quickly.
Eating in darkness becomes a mindful, sensory-rich experience:
Many guests discover that food tastes more intense and satisfying when they can't see it.
We do not recommend fasting during your darkness immersion. We encourage a light, clean diet for several days before arrival and will provide two wholesome vegetarian meals per day designed to maximise imagination and support emotional/physical cleansing. Other darkness immersion participants have fasted and then later reported that it was ten times harder fasting in the dark with no distractions than in a normal fast outside.
There is an unlimited supply of drinking water provided inside the dark retreat, which comes through a Berkey filter and is refilled on request. We ensure you have easy access to water throughout your stay to support your well-being. You are only requested to provide your own bottle.
The house has several baths, showers and bathrooms, all accessible in darkness:
Guests often find bathing in darkness to be profoundly relaxing and meditative.
Absolutely, and it's encouraged! Lack of movement can result in aches and pains.
Duration depends on your intentions and experience level:
Your preparation consultation will help determine the optimal duration of your retreat for your goals and circumstances.
Extensions may be possible depending on availability. Discuss this with Greg during your retreat. Additional days will be charged at the daily rate.
You're free to leave at any time, though we strongly encourage consultation with Greg first. Many challenges that arise in darkness can be worked through, and premature departure often means missing breakthrough experiences.
Important: No refunds are offered for early departure.
Generally yes, though specific conditions should be discussed during preparation:
Darkness retreat isn't confinement. Your door is never locked and you have space to move. However, if you have severe claustrophobia, this should be discussed thoroughly during preparation.
While darkness work can benefit most people, it's not appropriate for:
We have designed the darkness experiences for individuals, to ensure that in the depths of darkness you encounter the depths of yourself. Because of this, and in order to maintain the integrity of the experience, we do not allow for sharing of the rooms.
Preparation guidance is personalized based on your consultation, but standard recommendations include:
Substance Preparation:
Dietary Preparation:
Mental/Emotional Preparation:
Hestia Darkness Hotel is a specially-designed bungalow tucked away in the Dorset countryside just outside Shaftesbury, near the village of Semley.
Transport is easiest if arriving by car or taxi, with trains running between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids stations arriving at the nearby villages of Tisbury and Gillingham. Buses from Tisbury also arrive very close to the Darkness Hotel.
Arrival is between 4-6pm. This timing allows for:
These practical details support the deeper work, but they're not the work itself. In darkness, you'll discover capacities you didn't know you had and release dependencies you didn't know were limiting you.
Still have questions? Contact us directly - we're here to ensure you feel completely prepared for this profound journey.
Email: hello@hestiaretreat.co.uk
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