The Smiley Smile Message Board

Any Smiley Smiler's like to plunge themselves into the all-pervading velvety darkness of a dark retreat? It's a traditional mystic practice. Basically it involves staying in a room or location which is totally devoid of light. I block off the windows with several thick blankets, turn off all the electricity, block the door cracks, etc., to create this darkness or rather to remove the light.

It's intense, mysterious, strange - but beautiful. It's OK to fall asleep, too! In fact, you will have the most relaxing, death-like sleep you've ever had if it comes about through dark retreat. It's like slipping into the womb of existence and waking up in the void.

At times it can be disorienting because there is no perception of distance when there is no light. You may also trip, for lack of a better word, since it's sensory deprivation at least for one of the senses. I've had some crazy visions - while sober, mind - from this practice.

Sometimes I invite people over after midnight and we just sit silently in the darkness for about two hours. I like to think that they get intensely self-conscious and cover their genitals in fear.

I also recommend this practice as a sort of medicine or healing if you've been using too many drugs or if you've been going through stressful or depressing times. Please trust me! Remember these wise words, I am here to help you.

In using this practice as a healing, do the following:

Create that dark space
Sit, relaxed, unmoving
Breathe deeply and consciously as if for the first time for a few minutes, put emphasis on both inbreath and outbreath
Keep your eyes open for as long as possible, resist the temptation to close your eyes
Stare into the darkness, allowing the bubbling thought forms to rise and then dissolve into the ether
Feel the darkness as a presence, not an absence, and merge with it
When you feel sleepiness approaching, gently slip into sleep
When you wake up, don't rush to put on a light!
Get re-acquainted with the darkness for at least 15 more minutes
Then put on a light

Following these directions will reveal to you a relaxation you had not known before, and a silence and seriousness in your mind that gives great clarity to your life.

I prefer a cup of tea, personally.That first sip directs me to relaxation i had not know before, and also a silence and seriousness in my mind that gives me great clarity to my life. I have it with milk and sugar, i think that's the secret.

True, tea in its slow pacing is good for relaxation, and the effects of it bring clarity and alertness to a tired mind, but it's nothing compared to a dark retreat.

I used to need to turn my bedroom into what you call a "dark retreat" in order to go to sleep at night. College, though, led me to frequently not getting to bed until the daylight hours, so I eventually got used to it. At first I would need to sleep with a pillow over my head. I've found, though, that if I'm tired enough, I can fall asleep anywhere. I've fallen asleep standing up next to a speaker at a concert before.

narcolepsy is a bitch