7-Day Darkness Retreat in Southern Germany (Black Forest)
7-Day Darkness Retreat in Southern Germany (Black Forest)
Am Sommerberg 24, 79263 Simonswald-Haslach-Simonswald, Alemania
Up to 8 in group
November 22 - 28, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- 7-Day Retreat: Unique program in our private retreat center in the midst of the Black Forest. 4 days, 5 nights in the dark.
- Professional Facilitation: Lean on our 24/7 support for process work in the dark
- Preparation: Receive guidance on preparing your body, mind, and heart for the dark (sound bath, meditation and more)
- Integration: Make sense of your darkness stay in our 1.5 day integration program, incl. breathwork, nature time, sharing circles and more
- Food & Drinks: Enjoy delicious meals and drinks by our private chef.
- Alumni Network: Become part of our worldwide Evolute Alumni Network, and connect to people who understand you.
About this Retreat
Christopher is passionate about consciousness development, i.e. how to understand, influence and grow our mindsets and our inner capacities. After a decade of experience in communication & leadership training, consulting and coaching, Christopher is committed to facilitating deep inner work. His path has led him to psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands, somatic approaches and bodywork and he has been training in Integrative Somatic Process (ISP), HAKOMI, a mindfulness-based body-oriented form of psychotherapy, and in trauma-informed process work as part of the Timeless Wisdom Training (Thomas Hübl).
He brings everything together now in his work of designing and facilitating the personal development programs for entrepreneurs, changemakers and leaders at Evolute.
Previously, Christopher obtained a Masters Degree in Business and Economics from WHU (Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management), lived and worked in Sweden, Italy, Spain and Japan and did Ph.D.-level studies at HEC Montreal, Canada. He teaches at LEAD Academy Berlin and in several Master and Executive Programs at ESCP Europe (EMBA, EMDIEL, MSIE…).
His great interest lies in integrating different ASC modalities and especially certain forms of embodied mindfulness and somatics into his coaching and process work – all in the service of promoting integration, growth and deep, lasting change in his clients.
Dmitrij’s vision is being of service at the intersection of human and planetary wellbeing by helping people to deepen their connection with life and to actualize their potential through deep inner work. His personal journey of transformation was catalyzed by an unexpected and life-changing entheogenic encounter in the Brazilian forest several years ago. Ever since, he committed to explore the path of heart and to learn about science-backed and traditional modalities of personal healing and growth. He loves to meditate and finds peace and stillness in (pristine) nature.
Dmitrij is a meditation student of Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach (2-year course), a breathwork and darkness retreat facilitator.
Prior to starting Evolute, he has been combining his expertise in healthcare and data science to create AI-powered
solutions for a rapidly growing US tech startup. In this role, he provided strategic consulting to top-level executives of multi-billion dollar corporations. He is an advisory board member of several digital therapeutics companies and a university guest lecturer. Dmitrij holds degrees in Business (EBS Universität) and Health Policy (London School of Economics). He obtained his PhD in Health Economics while researching at Hamburg and Oxford University and received numerous distinctions for his academic work.
Naomi is a certified clinical psychologist, executive coach, health & performance coach, hypnotherapist, and psychedelic facilitator with 25+ years of experience working in professional environments. She is highly experienced in facilitating individuals and groups in their transformation process toward holistic health, well-being and personal growth. Amongst many other professional certifications such as in breathwork (Wim Hof, Dr. Belisa Vranich), ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) and trauma-informed yoga, Naomi received the MDMA-assisted therapist training from MAPS - the world’s leading organization for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Naomi is a former entrepreneur in the well-being industry (founder & director) and has worked as a managing director at a Big Four accounting organization responsible for leadership training / counselling. Clients value Naomi’s empathetic and warm presence. She has a passion for learning and is exited to explore the new frontier in mental health and personal development through psychedelic-assisted therapy, group and ceremonial work and psychedelic integration counselling.
As an experienced coach, Patrick supports the participants through their personal journey before, during and after the Evolute retreats. Patrick is a certified end-of-life companion (death doula) and has completed several other trainings and courses in integration work, grief work, Authentic Presence, Guiding Presence and contemplative practices.
Before joining Evolute, Patrick worked as an executive coach, facilitator and trainer for 8 years and is especially interested in the art of becoming the author of your own story by integrating meaningful and challenging life experiences. After a deep experience in an altered state of consciousness this interest got expanded by the question on how to integrate mind-altering experiences into a fulfilling life driven by values and meaningful action. After years of self-exploration and training, he now works as retreat facilitator and integration coach, holding space for experiences of altered states of consciousness and helping to integrate them.
Integration also plays an important role in Patricks work related to death and grief. He accompanies people at the end of their life at a hospice in Berlin and co-founded OverMyDeadBody (OMDB), an online community and service provider that promotes and facilitates honest conversations about loss, death, and grief in a safe environment. At Evolute, Patrick is in charge of the integration work and leads the team of retreat facilitators and guides. His work is inspired by different approaches of psychological, emotional and spiritual end-of-life care, ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy), narrative work, as well as the work by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel.
Sarah is senior physician (M.D.) specialized in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy. During her medical studies she was quickly drawn towards a holistic approach to disease and health. After working in the field of neurology for 1.5 years, her path led her into the psychosomatic world, which enables her to integrate the biopsychosocial model into her current medical and therapeutic work at a rehabilitation center. Initially following a cognitive-behavioral therapeutic model, she found that the greatest barrier for individual progress was emotional blockage, which lies beyond the primary cognitive awareness level. As she started doing more trauma work and especially working with imaginative techniques, this quickly led her into the field of psychedelic research and therapy, where emotional triggers are more easily accessible, potentially opening the gateway to profound life changes.
Experienced in psychedelic volunteering work over many years, she is available for advice when it comes to harm reduction and responsible use.
Charlotte is a medical doctor (M.D.), specialized in Integrative Medicine. She has been working for the Dutch Royal Marines for some years and is used to facilitating medical care in every location. During her time with the marines her passion for preventive health care and integrative medicine developed. In this time she was trained as a yoga teacher and even teached yoga classes to Dutch military personnel. Through the path of yin yoga Charlotte got in touch with Chinese Traditional Medicine and in 2015 she decided to study TCM for MD’s. She was trained by DAGFA, a German Institute for acupuncture.
Currently, she brings her knowledge and skills in different forms: in her own practice with natural medicines or supplements, acupuncture of energy medicine treatments or simply with nutrition or lifestyle changes. She is also active as yoga teacher and is guest teacher with Academy for Integrative Medicine (AIM) and with the Dutch Microbiome Center. She has studied energy medicine and is a certified Access Bars therapist as well.
On her personal path she came in touch with altered states of consciousness inducing plants several times. As she believes in supporting the natural self-healing capacities of each person, she prefers the power of psychoactive plants over using external medication for conditions like depression or anxiety.
Details of this retreat
The EvoDARK 7-day retreat, hosted in a private center in the Black Forest, is the only group darkness retreat int he world. It offers a unique experience with 4 days, 5 nights in complete darkness, supported by 24/7 professional facilitation as well as a preparation and integration phase. Through this experience, you will uncover your deepest, most tender places in a radically honest and compassionate way – by submerging into complete darkness. Here you will reintegrate your shadows, gain clarity about your true purpose, and reconnect with yourself, others, and life with one of the most intense ancient practices out there – all without the aid of any external substances.
At the heart of this journey is a seven-day retreat, meticulously crafted by the Evolute Institute. The retreat center is hidden in the wonderful Black Forest, offering a relaxing and private atmosphere with ideal conditions for undisturbed deep work. We will offer fresh and healthy drinks and vegetarian food cooked by our private chef.
To maximize the benefits of the program, in addition to the time in the Black Forest, our program also includes one week of Preparation (part-time, virtual) and one week of Integration (part-time, virtual).
At the heart of this journey is a seven-day retreat, meticulously crafted by the Evolute Institute. The retreat center is hidden in the wonderful Black Forest, offering a relaxing and private atmosphere with ideal conditions for undisturbed deep work. We will offer fresh and healthy drinks and vegetarian food cooked by our private chef.
To maximize the benefits of the program, in addition to the time in the Black Forest, our program also includes one week of Preparation (part-time, virtual) and one week of Integration (part-time, virtual).
Schedule
The Journey Unfolds in Three Phases to maximize the benefits from the program:
I. Preparation (1 week, part-time, virtual)
The better you are prepared for our intense darkness incubation, the deeper your experience will be. You will get to know your fellow program participants, the facilitators. The idea of the preparation phase is to learn what's important for the upcoming weeks. We cover important aspects such as intention setting, the importance of set & setting for a fruitful journey, and what scientific research can tell us about what happens with our minds and body under prolonged darkness.
II. Incubation - Darkness Phase (7 days, on-site)
For our time in our darkness retreat center in Southern Germany, we prepared a curriculum for you that gradually increases in intensity, prepares you for the descent into darkness, and eventually brings you back into the light. Our carefully crafted program focuses on conveying you the techniques for dealing with darkness and all its potential forms of manifestation (such as anxiety, fear, boredom, impatience, ecstasy, blissfulness, emptiness...), exercises around resistance, radical acceptance and compassion, as well as capacity building for dealing better with inner tensions and the paradoxes of being human. You will experience intense altered states first-hand through prolonged darkness and breathwork. We will offer daily check-ins while you are in the dark and are available 24/7. There is also space for contemplation and journalling to get more clarity around values, vision and purpose. You will engage in challenging but highly rewarding individual and group exercises to better understand yourself and your special gift to the world. We will use the last 1.5 days after you come back from the darkness to start the integration process together.
III. Integration (1 week, part-time, virtual)
After you return from the darkness incubation into your day-to-day life, it’s essential to cement the insights you've gained and start applying them in both your personal and professional life. You’ll have support from your fellow participants as well as from our coaches. Additional one-on-one coaching can be booked. You’ll also be welcomed into a community of individuals - our Alumni - who share your values and are there to support you while holding you accountable to the commitments you've made to yourself.
I. Preparation (1 week, part-time, virtual)
The better you are prepared for our intense darkness incubation, the deeper your experience will be. You will get to know your fellow program participants, the facilitators. The idea of the preparation phase is to learn what's important for the upcoming weeks. We cover important aspects such as intention setting, the importance of set & setting for a fruitful journey, and what scientific research can tell us about what happens with our minds and body under prolonged darkness.
II. Incubation - Darkness Phase (7 days, on-site)
For our time in our darkness retreat center in Southern Germany, we prepared a curriculum for you that gradually increases in intensity, prepares you for the descent into darkness, and eventually brings you back into the light. Our carefully crafted program focuses on conveying you the techniques for dealing with darkness and all its potential forms of manifestation (such as anxiety, fear, boredom, impatience, ecstasy, blissfulness, emptiness...), exercises around resistance, radical acceptance and compassion, as well as capacity building for dealing better with inner tensions and the paradoxes of being human. You will experience intense altered states first-hand through prolonged darkness and breathwork. We will offer daily check-ins while you are in the dark and are available 24/7. There is also space for contemplation and journalling to get more clarity around values, vision and purpose. You will engage in challenging but highly rewarding individual and group exercises to better understand yourself and your special gift to the world. We will use the last 1.5 days after you come back from the darkness to start the integration process together.
III. Integration (1 week, part-time, virtual)
After you return from the darkness incubation into your day-to-day life, it’s essential to cement the insights you've gained and start applying them in both your personal and professional life. You’ll have support from your fellow participants as well as from our coaches. Additional one-on-one coaching can be booked. You’ll also be welcomed into a community of individuals - our Alumni - who share your values and are there to support you while holding you accountable to the commitments you've made to yourself.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Evolute Institute, Am Sommerberg 24, 79263 Simonswald-Haslach-Simonswald, Alemania
Accommodation
All participants will be housed in simple but high-quality private rooms on the premises of the retreat center.
Program Price
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Our exclusive retreat center is located in a calm and green environment 30 car minutes away from Freiburg. The facilities offer a relaxing and private atmosphere with ideal conditions for deep work.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
We will have a personal cook who will prepare fresh organic and vegetarian / vegan meals three times a day.
Personal nutritional restrictions (e.g. allergies or intolerances) can be accommodated.
What's Included
- The medical-psychological screening
- two virtual group sessions for preparation and integration
- The complete 7-day on-site program including the support by expert facilitators for a small group of 6-8 people
- A well-balanced variety of group exercises appealing to the physical, emotional and mental level to build your emotional, somatic and relational intelligence
- 1:1 sessions / personal coaching throughout the program (at least 4 individual sessions for each participant)
- 24/7 support during your incubation in darkness
- Your private accommodation in a single room and freshly cooked and delicious meals prepared by our private chef during the 7-day retreat
- Access to an alumni community of like-minded and like-hearted people interested in personal development and consciousness work
What's Not Included
- Travel fees
Similar retreats
Plant Medicine
4-Day Psilocybin Truffle Retreat (3-month EvoSHIFT program) in the Netherlands
March 27 - 30, 2025
€3,490
/ 4 days
Meditation
Individual Retreat with Silence and Meditation in Cozy Country Home outside Hamburg, Germany
6 Days Package
From €869
4.43
/
