Luminous Darkness: The Power of Embracing the Unknown (Online)

This is the ONLINE component of the retreat. If you’d like to register for the RESIDENTIAL component, please click here

We often think of the darkness as an absence of light, but the darkness–we discover through practice–has its own enlightening power. Darkness reveals the unknown and embodies depth, making space for new discoveries, insight and transformation.

This autumnal equinox, join Deborah Eden Tull (author of Luminous Darkness) and Lama Willa Baker (author of The Wakeful Body) as we take a walk on the dark side, exploring the power of our shadow, our challenges and our adversities to awaken us to new levels of insight and depth. We will explore, through practice and reflection, how to meet the unknown with presence, curiosity and serenity, and how to move from fearing the darkness to embracing it.

We will engage with practices of meditation under the brilliant New Hampshire night sky, in the shadows (both literally and metaphorically), and in our beloved meditation hall at Wonderwell.

Our retreat will culminate with a group celebration of the autumnal equinox, portal to the season of change, as a tribute to the power of darkness to illumine and awaken.

The retreat will include meditation both indoors and outdoors, walking meditation and mindful dance practice.

Typical Retreat Schedule

(All times are Eastern time zone)

First Day — Opening session begins around 7:00 pm. (see Residential info for check-in times)

Full-Day Schedule — Morning meditation 7:00 am; Breakfast break 8:30-10:00 am; Lunch break 12:00-2:00 pm; Dinner break 5:30-7:00 pm.

Last Day — The closing session typically ends at 10:00 am.

These times are just for reference. An expanded schedule will be provided in pre-retreat information emailed during the week prior to the event.

Zoom Link

The Zoom link will be sent several days before the retreat to all those registered by then. If you register after that date, you’ll receive the link with your confirmation email shortly after submitting your registration. If you don’t see an email from Natural Dharma Registrar or Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, it may have mistakenly gone to your spam folder or to Promotions or Updates in Gmail.

Important: Please put these this email address in your Contact or Safe-Send list to make sure you receive our emails:

• register@naturaldharma.org

Program Cost

It is Natural Dharma Fellowship’s aspiration that no one be turned away from our teachings and retreats because they are unable to pay the full price. In order make our offerings affordable for all who wish to attend, we offer a three-level fee structure:

• May All Beings Benefit! – supporting access for all and assisting with the care and maintenance of Wonderwell Mountain Refuge
• A Middle Way – covering the base cost
• Held in Sangha Loving-kindness – offering ease when financial resources are limiting

Our pricing options are based primarily on the length and type of an event and are intended to give you an idea of the costs involved. The amounts listed are suggestions. You may write in any amount that fits your financial situation. Any amount offered above the Middle Way level will be considered a tax-deductible donation and will be acknowledged as such in writing.

Access to Recordings

NDF offers unlimited access to recordings for registrants. These are accessed through your user dashboard (information about user accounts will be shared in the pre-retreat letter).

Availability will vary depending on the type of event and the backlog for our precious resource volunteers. Thank you for your patience.

Wonderwell Mountain Refuge Full Calendar