Talking about Dark Retreat, Part 2 with Andrew Holecek

Talking about Dark Retreat, Part 2 with Andrew Holecek

From Deconstructing Yourself by Michael W. Taft

August 1, 2025 · 1h 13m · Episode 105

About this episode

Michael Taft continues his discussion with Andrew Holecek on the transformative practice of Dark Retreat and its implications.

Host Michael Taft continues his conversation with with Andrew Holecek about the transformative practice of Dark Retreat; the reasons behind the recent surge of interest in darkness practices; its relationship to the feminine principle and as an antidote to runaway patriarchy; the three “tracks” or “schools” of dark retreat in Tibetan Vajrayana: Kalachakra, Nyingma, and Bön; the power of darkness for working with fear, fear of death, projections; fear as a sign that you're close to the truth, and hints for integration post darkness. Andrew Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions. He is the Resident Contemplative Scholar at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, and a research consultant for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University. His work involves studies on dream yoga and the practice of dark retreat. Dr. Holecek is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the author of nine books, and a concert pianist. He has completed the Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat and is a frequent subject in scientific studies on meditation and lucid dreaming. His work integrates ancient…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Taft

Guest: Andrew Holecek

Topics covered

  • Dark Retreat
  • Tibetan Buddhism
  • fear
  • transformation
  • feminine principle
  • patriarchy
  • dream yoga
  • spiritual challenges

Keywords

  • darkness practices
  • integration post darkness
  • Tibetan Vajrayana
  • Kalachakra
  • Nyingma
  • Bön

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