How many of you can meditate in a pitch-black room?

[Adonai One]

How many of you can meditate in a pitch-black room?

I find myself curious. I can only imagine myself trembling in fear of what I would see popping out of the darkness even though I know I would become used to such sightings over time.

Every night I see these random, misplaced shadows on my wall and even that scares the heck out of me, lol. My top goal for this life is just to get used to the darkness and sightings of stuff beyond the veil.

[Sagittarius]

I find pitch black rooms the most effective for seeing images in the minds eye. Sometimes I'll do an open eye meditation in a dark room and it is quite scary seeing the shadows moving and flowing around but once you do it a few times and have the knowing that the shadows are simply there to help/guide the fear leaves you.

[Jeremy]

I prefer pitch black rooms as any light that penetrates through my eyelids tends to create crazy shapes and distracts me from fully relaxing my eyeballs

[xise]

I'm uncomfortable in a pitch black room, though I used to meditate that way for the first few months back at the beginning of 2012.

Then I started to have more random s*** happen that made me experience first hand the spirit world was real, and I felt more comfortable with at least a night light on

I can feel energetic presences on occasion (I did not identify these energy as presences until my trusted reiki teacher and I simultaneously experienced one during a session and she it was a spirit in the room)...and its just a little spooky feeling them in a pitch black room during meditation. Back when I didn't know what they were it was easy lol.

[Jeremy]

I had a scary negative presence back when I first started meditating last year. I wouldn't see it during the day but within the first few minutes of a nighttime meditatin, I felt and saw this shadow figure walk up to me and attempt to wraps its arms around me. This was with my eyes closed btw. I struggled for weeks with it until I was instructed by a medium to exclaim out loud that this is my sacred area and no negative entire shall pass. I then ended it saying something like "in the name of love and light and the One infinite Creator".

I never had it appear after saying that

[Ruth]

I used to process film in a truly pitch black room, and would sometimes retreat to the darkroom specifically to meditate. I never experienced anything scary or frightening.

[Spaced]

I don't have any rooms that are pitch black. Sometimes I use a sleeping mask though, but not often.

[vervex]

Like Spaced I don't have any pitch black rooms, however I do like to meditate in darkness in the night/evening. I usually create a space of love and light in my home so there is no fear to have. If I feel something passing by that is not filled with light, I do my best to remain calm and send it my love as well as healing. In my personal experience, the darkness' best weapon is fear. If you understand they are your brothers and sisters as well, and that fear itself cannot do anything to you (but scare you), it is easier to let go and love them unconditionally.

I believe, we, humans, tend to feel fear in the dark as we block the perception we rely on the most: sight. In such case, since we are not used to it, we suddenly feel vulnerable. We may "attract" negativity because we project lack of confidence and fear. Truth is, sight or no sight, we remain the same and we are not more or less vulnerable, especially in meditation. Realize that blind or not you are an empowered being, part of God, and you will not project such energies, and therefore not materialize shadows.

[Bat]

I always see things moving about in a darkroom made of purple, some time people sometime geometry. I don't meditate in a dark room often but i can do so.

I did so once and when i opened my eyes all i could see was darkness, it was almost like i couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed until i looked out of the window.

I think a darkroom does have some type of effect on our energy if you can balance the fear aspect that it may have. I think its probably a red ray energy coming from our animal past, because night time is often associated with predators.

[ChickenInSpace]

I prefer 'darkness'. It was a long time ago I stopped seeing dark, though. Now there's always colours present and when I close my eyes, it all goes batpoop crazy most of the time.

Then again, I have a constant grainy film of colour/particles since a year back over my vision...

[Oldern]

One of the biggest improvements for me was when I cleared my past, irrational fears enough to be perfectly calm when meditating in a pitch black room without lights. We will all get there.

Also, one can fear the dark for good reasons as well: VASHTA NERADA

[Wai]

I meditate at 5.45AM on most days in my study room which is pitch-black when the window blinds are closed. I have no problems meditating in total darkness. The challenge I have is meditating with noise from my neighbors, barking dogs and meowing cats.

[Jeremy]

Buy some earplugs. I can't meditate without them. The slightest sound completely distracts my focus.

[BrownEye]

Then again, I have a constant grainy film of colour/particles since a year back over my vision...

I have a screen that looks like snow on a TV. This screen comes at me from my right, swinging as if hinged to me or something. My first experience with this screen was focusing on the pixels and then just pushing my head through the screen. I popped up in a different body.

Since then I have only been able to see through the screen as if a tunnel opens up. Most of the time as soon as the screen swings in front of my face it quickly swings back away before I can react.

[Eddie]

I love pitch black environments. Many years ago, before I knew anything about meditation, I used to spelunk. Often when in caves, I would turn out the flashlight, and just sit there enjoying the dark and quiet. I no longer live conveniently close to easily accessible caves, but if I did, I'd meditate in caves several times a week.

By the way, if any of you ever get the chance, visit West Kennet Longbarrow in Wiltshire. It's a superb spot for meditation (if you can manage to get it all to yourself).

West Kennet Long Barrow at Wikipedia

[ChickenInSpace]

Then again, I have a constant grainy film of colour/particles since a year back over my vision...

I have a screen that looks like snow on a TV. This screen comes at me from my right, swinging as if hinged to me or something. My first experience with this screen was focusing on the pixels and then just pushing my head through the screen. I popped up in a different body.

Since then I have only been able to see through the screen as if a tunnel opens up. Most of the time as soon as the screen swings in front of my face it quickly swings back away before I can react.

Interesting. Mine still looks like a thick even blanket. Perhaps I will someday see more details. I'll try something like you tried and see what happens ^^.

Sometimes I see energy currents but only very localized. Mostly when I space out. Unvoluntarily, the patterns then come.

[Unbound]

I love to meditate in a totally dark room precisely because it is much easier to see the ethers/prana flowing around the space and I can see how it is reacting to my consciousness. Darkness has always been moving and "full" for me and when I was younger it scared me because I didn't understand why the darkness moved, but nowadays I get it and enjoy it. I have had a number of experiences now with entities while meditating in dark rooms, it is easier for them to show themselves to me that way.

[Brittany]

It's hard to get anything pitch dark around here. I suppose I'd have to get some of that special paper that blocks out all light. I don't mind the dark, though. I usually start seeing shapes and play around with that. I often have a candle lit, though, because I like that nice, ambient feel.

[xise]

Just finished a 20 minute pitch black meditation. It felt great! I got some good insights!

[Monica]

Let your inner Light shine. There is no darkness if you are there, because the Light is in you.

[Jerome]

There is profound beauty in a dark space when you begin to understand what your fear really is. It has taken me five years to get to this beginning point and I likely wouldn't have done so without the help of the members of this forum. Thanks guys.
I was going to start a thread about this topic after my experience three nights ago was far more visually intense than usual. I wondered if this was personal or perhaps an interface with increased solar ejecta accompanying the full moon. Whatever the cause, good golly what a show.
For those of you who do see the dark/light/multicolored phenomena, has the activity increased lately also?

[reeay]

Many years ago I walked down the steps to the basement of a famous buddhist temple, then walked thru a pitch-black dark basement. Walking thru this dark room symbolized going thru the mother's womb/birthing canal and coming out into the light (birthing symbolism). It was like going thru a maze in pitch-dark room, and you hold onto a rope to navigate around the basement. It was REALLY dark in there. I was very afraid of falling and bumping into something. I was so afraid that I grabbed onto my mother and thought, oh gosh I want to crawl back into her womb lol. She was very focused and quiet so I followed her example. Then I took a deep breath and just focused on my breath and on each step forward. One step, breath, another step, breath, etc. It was all that I could do to get thru this without becoming overly fearful. Then I saw a bright light and we ascended up the stairs back to sunlight. Rebirth! Best meditation ever.

[Lycen]

Unless I plan some special times for meditations the darkest place here is the toilet (no windows). Even that has a small green/orange light on the boiler, which one notices. Having said that, I find myself thrilled in pitch blackness usually, cause one can not see themselves even when the eyes are open. I guess I enjoy that

[Monica]

Many years ago I walked down the steps to the basement of a famous buddhist temple, then walked thru a pitch-black dark basement. Walking thru this dark room symbolized going thru the mother's womb/birthing canal and coming out into the light (birthing symbolism). It was like going thru a maze in pitch-dark room, and you hold onto a rope to navigate around the basement. It was REALLY dark in there. I was very afraid of falling and bumping into something. I was so afraid that I grabbed onto my mother and thought, oh gosh I want to crawl back into her womb lol. She was very focused and quiet so I followed her example. Then I took a deep breath and just focused on my breath and on each step forward. One step, breath, another step, breath, etc. It was all that I could do to get thru this without becoming overly fearful. Then I saw a bright light and we ascended up the stairs back to sunlight. Rebirth! Best meditation ever.

What an amazing experience to share with your mom! What an awesome mom, to take you to a Buddhist temple and allow you to have such experiences!

I had a similar experience in a dark tunnel in England, though I was totally alone. It was one of many stops on our spiritual pilgrimage to the sacred sites of Britain, including the stone circles, etc. I don't even remember where it was, but it was a tunnel that went into the Earth, symbolizing the womb of the Mother.

It had seemed like such a good idea while on the surface, but once I was in there, and it went totally dark, I began imagining all sorts of creepy crawlies and other dark things. I was sitting on soil, leaning back into soil, with no sense of direction, in the pitch black. And I was left there for...not sure how long it was, but I was at the mercy of those who would come to get me when my time was up. Maybe it was only 20 minutes or so, but in that 20 minutes I definitely confronted some fears and dark places in my psyche!

Here is an excellent book about a priestess whose daily task was to walk through pitch-black tombs. She did this for many years and came to know every nook and cranny. The description of her experiences is rich and well worth the read! It's a 'young adult' fantasy novel by one of the genre's best writers, but has more depth than many adult novels in the genre.

The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle) by Ursula K. Le Guin

It's Book 2 in the Earthsea series. Book 1 - The Wizard of Earthsea - is quite a good read too, and quite profound. I don't think it's necessary to read Book 1 first, since Book 2 could probably stand alone, but you'd surely get more depth if you read Book 1 first. One who wishes to read only about the experiences in darkness could probably just read Book 2, however. I read these books to my son many years ago, and found them very, very enriching!

Ultimately, though, experiences in pitch black physical places pale in comparison to the dark night of the soul.

[Blunt Force]

Once the environment got black (as to my conclusion now), I could see a fire wheel. This is the only wheel you will ever have. In 'pitch black' I give 100% of levitation.
Having fear is ok.

[loostudent]

I like total black room for sleep. For meditating I need a small lamp not to fall asleep.

[Infinite]

A dark environment is much more conducive to the action of a negative entity because light weakens the ether. I recommend performing the Belilin's Conjuration and the The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram before any spiritualistic or magical work.

Peace, love and light.

[loostudent]

Many years ago I walked down the steps to the basement of a famous buddhist temple, then walked thru a pitch-black dark basement. Walking thru this dark room symbolized going thru the mother's womb/birthing canal and coming out into the light (birthing symbolism) ...

... Ultimately, though, experiences in pitch black physical places pale in comparison to the dark night of the soul.

This simbolism reminds me of the Plato's cave and the ritual yesterday in the church - saturday vigil. It begins with "the service of light". This starts in the evening with all lights off and than a flame on the candle enters the place simbolizing the Light of Christ. As the candle proceeds through the church, the small candles held by those present are gradually lit from it and lights are being turned on gradually. As this symbolic "Light of Christ" spreads, darkness is decreased until whole place is in light.

[loostudent]

A dark environment is much more conducive to the action of a negative entity because light weakens the ether. I recommend performing the Belilin's Conjuration and the The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram before any spiritualistic or magical work.

Peace, love and light.

As far as LBPR is concerned I have a little distrust in everything masonic - they seem left hand (negative) path to me. That's not where I'm heading.

Author of Belilin Conjuration is Samael Aun Weor. Although I can relate to some of his concepts ("Christification") and eagerness in spiritual quest I'm careful when someone is focused on attaining occult powers. I also don't know who name Belilin presents so I wouldn't use it for evocations.

I rather stick to established church ceremony and prayers for the same purpose.

[Aion]

LBRP is a Golden Dawn creation which was influenced by masonry but is actually its own separate system. The Ra contact was supported by the use of the LBRP as well.

However, Samael Aun Weor is someone I am also very wary of and I would not include him in my trust. Samael Aun Weor is a 'gnostic' but he seems incredibly self-service to me. His energy feels like a gravity well. He has nothing to do with LBRP or Golden Dawn though.

As for meditation in the dark it depends what I am intending to achieve. The dark for me usually represents the mother womb for me and so I tend to take baths in the dark to talk to and get in touch with the deep unconscious.