{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/5efe31fda17d5559f265b58f/6a864e9b3c90594060392960?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"The Magic of Enclosure:  Dark Retreats with Meghan Elfsten","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/5efe31fda17d5559f265b58f/1787187193498-0ae0d7b5-7217-448b-bbd7-2851abf70fc9.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In a world that never turns the lights off, what happens when you willingly choose complete, uninterrupted dark?&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Joining us for today’s conversation is Meghan Elfsten. She is the Director of OMYA Dark Retreats, a California Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), and holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She is completing her Somatic Experiencing® training in September 2026 and facilitates immersive dark retreat experiences designed to support nervous system regulation, deep restoration, and inner reconnection. Rooted in Somatic Experiencing®, her work weaves mindfulness, relational awareness, and body-based practices to gently unwind patterns of trauma, addiction, and chronic overstimulation in a way that feels more womb-like than punishing.</p><p>Drawing from her own life-changing time in extended darkness, Meghan became deeply devoted to the question: <em>What becomes possible when we remove all external stimulation and finally listen to the body?</em> At OMYA Dark Retreats, she now creates highly supported, trauma-aware containers where participants can safely turn inward, meet long-buried parts of themselves, and access deeper layers of emotional and embodied healing—without plant medicine, performance, or spiritual bypass.</p><p><br></p><p>If you feel the pull toward the dark, Meghan is offering 20% off for our listeners at <a href=\"http://darkretreats.life\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">darkcaves.life</a> with the code <strong>ROSEWOMAN</strong> at checkout.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, we cover so many topics, including:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>(00:00:00) - Introduction and History Of Enclosure Across Traditions</li><li>(00:08:56) - Meghan's First Dark Retreat</li><li>(00:10:14) - Structure Of Dark Retreats and Omya Ranch Environment</li><li>(00:13:26) - Gray Retreat Option</li><li>(00:15:11) - Tomb-To-Womb Reframing by Andrew Holacek&nbsp;</li><li>(00:17:25) - Neuroscience Tracking and Aftereffects</li><li>(00:24:32) - Somatic Experiencing Practices</li><li>(00:26:30) - Psychological Screening</li><li>(00:28:12) - Participant Stories and Non-Local Effects</li><li>(00:30:08) - Extrasensory Perception And Telepathy Training In Darkness</li><li>(00:32:00) - Meghan Life Purpose Shift</li><li>(00:33:40) - Building The Dark Caves and Finding Comfort In Total Darkness</li><li>(00:37:42) - Omya Ranch Vision, Regenerative Ecosystem, And Practical Integration</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Helpful links:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Meghan Elfsten - Director of <a href=\"https://darkcaves.life/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Dark Retreats</a> at Omya Ranch. Follow her on Instagram <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/meghanelfstense/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@meghanelfstense</a> and <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/omya.community\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@Omya.Community</a></li><li><a href=\"https://wendyrule.com/album-persephone\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Wendy Rule's album *Persephone*&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.andrewholecek.com/total-eclipse-of-the-mind-book/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Andrew Holecek’s Total Eclipse of the Mind</a>: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and Transformation</li><li><a href=\"https://rosewoman.com/products/oversized-silk-eye-mask?variant=46601583165694\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Oversized Mulberry Silk Eye Mask</a> available at Rosebud Woman</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Your host:</p><p>Courses, Retreats and Events by Christine:</p><p><br></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://christinemariemason.com/living-tantra-course\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Living Tantra 101 begins Sep 15, 2026</a></li><li><a href=\"https://christinemariemason.com/living-tantra-course\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Living Tantra 201 begins Sep 17, 2026</a></li><li><a href=\"https://christinemariemason.as.me/schedule/c93e5cdd/?appointmentTypeIds[]=97290239\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Wake Down for Women:</a> Workshop live in Mexico</li><li><a href=\"https://christinemariemason.com/retreat-offers/p/living-tantra-fall-immersion\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fall Hawai'i Immersion</a>: November 1 to 22, 2026</li><li><a href=\"https://christinemariemason.com/easter-intensive\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Easter Intensive: Mystic Heart of Easter Retreat</a> with Christine Mason on March 25-28, 2027</li><li><a href=\"https://christinemariemason.com/events\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Upcoming Events</a> with Christine</li><li><a href=\"http://goodgatherings.org\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Good Gathering Events</a> at <a href=\"http://sundarigardens.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sundari Gardens</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Brought to you by <a href=\"http://www.rosewoman.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Rosebud Woman</a>, Award Winning Intimate and Body Care:</p><p><br></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://rosewoman.com/account/login\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Log in to the Rosebud Woman Website</a></li><li><a href=\"https://library.rosewoman.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Rosewoman Library:</a> The Embodied Menopause &amp; Intimacy Library</li><li><a href=\"https://journal.rosewoman.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Body Love Journal: The 9-Week Body Love Journal</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"http://christinemariemason.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Christine Marie Mason</a></p><p><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/christinemariemason\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@christinemariemason</a></p><p><a href=\"https://instagram.com/rosebudwoman\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@rosebudwoman</a></p><p>Founder, Rosebud Woman</p><p>Co-Founder, <a href=\"https://radiantfarms.us/?srsltid=AfmBOoogCWGDJc8oLUepCrdz2kAWxWONMRtFIgLbCobSxF7tksZQ_sfU\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Radiant Farms</a> and <a href=\"http://sundarigardens.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sundari Gardens</a></p><p>Host, <a href=\"https://christinemariemason.com/podcast\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Rose Woman on Love and Liberation</a>:&nbsp;</p><p>Listen, Like, Share &amp; Subscribe on <a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-rose-woman/id1525421264\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Apple Podcast</a> |<a href=\"https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hY2FzdC5jb20vcHVibGljL3Nob3dzL3Jvc2V3b21hbg\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> </a><a href=\"https://open.spotify.com/show/7t6pKFu2M5WOPTzOZAvHa9?si=3LT7OHmnSvq-JOtD3-5kTg\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp;Spotify</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"Christine Marie Mason"}