Guided meditation · 23 min
Courting the Darkness
Sit down with the fear you usually avoid, look it in the eyes, and leave feeling lighter and more at peace with yourself.
With
Katia KulykRated4.82.2K plays
- Level
- All levels
- Style
- Guided meditation
- Sound
- Voice with soft music
- Best time
- Evening or night
About this session
- Softens inner fears
- Deepens self-acceptance
- Relaxes the body
- Opens inner awareness
Katia Kulyk begins by turning your surroundings into a soft cotton cushion, then guides you to set down a backpack of heavy rocks and breathe golden-white light through your head, heart and feet. From there you sink into limitless dark, choose one fear, light it up and sit face to face with it.
Come to it when you want to understand a fear instead of pushing it away, especially in the evening when the day has gone quiet. It suits anyone drawn to shadow work and self-acceptance. Plan a little time afterwards to rest, drink some water and let it settle.
After the session
01
A gentler view of fear
See a difficult feeling as a teacher.
02
Deep bodily ease
Let shoulders, breath and nerves settle down.
03
Warmer self-acceptance
Make room for the parts you resist.
04
Trust in your inner world
Remember your subconscious holds treasures you can revisit.
Who it’s for
Yes, if…
- Anyone curious about shadow work and facing fears gently
- People who feel weighed down and want to set something down
- Those wanting a reflective practice to end the day
- Listeners who want to feel more at home in themselves
Not now, if…
- Those looking for an energising or quick practice
- People who prefer silent meditation (this is guided)
- Anyone wanting a light, relaxing track with no inner exploration
Questions people ask
Still unsure? Ask your assistant anything about this session.
Why does the meditation start with the cotton cushion and the backpack?
Before going into darkness, you are asked to feel held. You imagine your space as a soft cotton cushion, even sharp objects turning soft and embracing you. Then you picture your heaviness as rocks in a backpack and take it off, with the reminder that you can always put it back on.
What is the breathing with golden and white light for?
First you breathe in the space around you through your palms into your heart, and hold it there. Then you breathe in golden and white light through the top of your head, heart and feet, and let it settle in every cell, organ and tissue. It prepares you to meet the fear with your body already filled with light and rest.
Which fear am I supposed to choose?
You don't force a choice. The guide names examples such as rejection, not being loved, success, failure, loneliness and death, then invites whatever fear comes to you. If the place is still dark, you turn on the light and notice what the fear looks like, even whether it has a smell or eyes.
What do I do once I am facing the fear?
You simply watch it, and look it in the eyes if it has them, noticing your bodily reactions. Then you ask what it taught you and how you expanded through it. If you feel ready, you can touch its hands, hug it or dance with it. Honest looking alone counts as a step toward acceptance.
What if the image doesn't change or I'm not ready to embrace it?
That is fine. The guide says it is okay if nothing transforms, and that there are no obligations or musts here. You are only asked to allow. You never have to do anything you aren't ready for.
What is the swim upward near the end?
You imagine being surrounded by water in the dark and swimming up, with light above and darkness below. It shows light and shadow existing together as duality. You then take three conscious breaths into your chest, ground the experience in your body and open your eyes, then rest and drink water.