In the soft natural daylight of Southern Oregon, a middle-aged man with graying hair slowly pulled off a purple sleep mask. After three days in complete darkness, he squinted, his eyes watering. He covered his face with one hand, shoulders shaking with emotion. Fighting back tears, he spoke in a trembling voice:
“If I could write a book about the last week, the name of that book and their conclusion would have the same name. I am worthy of love… and lovable.”
“So grateful… Changed my life!”
He added, placing a hand on his chest as the weight of the moment settled over him.
A brief video began circulating fast online once posts like @dom_lucre passed it along. Outside, seated among rock, timber, and leafy plants, the man appears calm. His time in total blackness ended three days prior at what’s thought to be Sky Cave Retreats close to Klamath Falls. Staff there sometimes film these exit scenes when guests reenter light with consent, simply to mark the moment.
“Retreats from Darkness” require lengthy sensory deprivation in complete darkness, normally inside completely enclosed, light-proof rooms or caves. Meals are offered as little stimulation as possible in complete darkness, no phones, no light. At Sky Cave, guests stay in earth-bermed cottages designed for this purpose.
A tweet from X.
The practice draws from ancient Tibetan Buddhist traditions, known as “dark retreats” or mun mtshams, used for deep meditation and self-confrontation in lineages like Dzogchen. In modern wellness culture, centers in the U.S. and Europe have adapted these for shorter stays, often 3 to 5 days for beginners.
Some people feel deep emotional relief after coming out. When sight is gone, attention drifts inside. Suppressed feelings may surface, time feels different, clear thoughts appear now and then. In 2023, Aaron Rodgers, who plays quarterback in the NFL, spent four nights at Sky Cave looking for space to reflect.
Some people gain deep understanding, yet others get swamped by how strong it feels. Anxiety might spike, especially if someone already deals with mental health struggles. Big research projects tracking lasting impacts have not been done much so far. Most of what we hear about good outcomes comes from personal stories instead.
A quiet instant bloomed loud online, strangers pausing at the sight of someone finally seeing himself clearly. When he dropped the weight of old masks, something shifted not just for him, but for those watching from their screens.
Darkness retreats are well-documented and real, offered at legitimate centers like Sky Cave. No credible evidence suggests this specific video was staged. Similar emergence reactions appear in many participant testimonials. Still, claims of permanent transformation should be viewed cautiously, as individual experiences vary.
The man’s words captured a simple but powerful truth for many after confronting himself in the dark, he felt seen and worthy in the light.
Standing there in the sunlight, hand on his chest, he appeared overwhelmed not by the darkness he left behind, but by the quiet realization that he was, indeed, lovable.
