In this episode of The Connected Community Podcast, host Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Scott Berman, founder of SkyCave Retreats, the first darkness retreat center in the United States. Scott spent nearly a decade living in solitude across the remote wilderness of Mount Shasta, California, and Southern Baja, Mexico, fasting, meditating, and immersing himself in the stillness of nature. These years of self-guided solo retreat work, combined with time spent at Goenka Vipassana centers and with teachers across multiple traditions, eventually inspired the creation of a sanctuary for others on a sincere spiritual path.

Scott reflects on his own evolution through more than 70 days in solo darkness retreats, and how, over the past six years, he has supported more than 600 retreatants through their journeys. He speaks to the profound impact of darkness and how it brings vulnerability, nervous system activation, unexpected discomfort, emotional rawness, and ultimately, deep transformation. Together, Nicky and Scott explore the intersection of darkness retreats, nervous system awareness, and the importance of safety, support, and authenticity when stepping into the unknown.

This conversation is an invitation into the inner wilderness, one where silence, mystery, and darkness become catalysts for potential transformation and awakening.

Takeaways:

• Darkness retreats can be profoundly life-changing experiences.
• Many people are surprised by the discomfort they feel in the darkness.
• Spiritual practices can sometimes hinder true emotional processing.
• The pressure of darkness can reveal hidden vulnerabilities.
• Support during a retreat is crucial for navigating fear and anxiety.
• Authenticity is often sacrificed for the sake of belonging.
• Expectations can lead to disappointment in spiritual experiences.
• Simplicity in the dark can lead to profound insights.
• The nervous system's response is key to understanding one's experience.
• Connection with facilitators is essential for a safe retreat.

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

support@nickyYyoga.com

Connect with Scott:

www.skycaveretreats.com

http://www.instagram.com/skycaveretreats

https://www.facebook.com/DarkRoomRetreats

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLPXxOvnN3OmWWv3CRt5L2Q

Keywords: darkness retreats, retreats, transformation, meditation, solitude, spiritual journey, vulnerability, self-discovery, mental health, emotional healing, personal growth, nervous system

In this episode of The Connected Community: Exploring Possibility, Nicky Yazbeck sits down with Christine Renee, founder of Moon Rising Shamanic Institute, for a deeply grounded conversation on Tantra, shamanic spirituality, energy awareness, and embodied awakening. With over two decades of experience in the spiritual and healing arts, Christine serves as a bridge between worlds, guiding seekers toward remembrance, sovereignty, and ecstatic aliveness.

This episode explores Tantra beyond its common misconceptions, reframing it as a powerful spiritual practice rooted in presence, breath, sound, movement, and conscious energy cultivation rather than sexuality alone. Christine unpacks how Tantra supports emotional release, nervous system regulation, chakra alignment, and authentic self-expression, offering a path toward living fully embodied and energetically alive.

Together, Nicky and Christine discuss the importance of creating safe, intentional spaces for transformation, emphasizing consent, boundaries, and personal sovereignty as foundational elements of any intimate or energetic practice. The conversation weaves through shamanic principles, Reiki, sacred embodiment, and Tantra as a way of awakening dormant life force energy and reconnecting with the soul’s deepest truth.

Listeners are invited into a broader understanding of what it means to live an ecstatic life, not as constant pleasure, but as full-spectrum aliveness. Christine speaks to embracing the totality of the human emotional experience, allowing grief, joy, desire, stillness, and power to coexist as part of spiritual maturation. Through breathwork, sound, movement, and energy awareness, Tantra becomes a tool for self-discovery, emotional integration, and conscious connection, whether practiced solo or in relationship.

Takeaways:

• Christine Renee has over 20 years in the spiritual industry.
• She emphasizes the importance of energy awareness in personal growth.
• Tantra is often misunderstood as solely sexual; it encompasses much more.
• Personal practice in Tantra can lead to profound self-discovery.
• Breath, sound, and movement are key components of Tantra.
• Emotional release is a natural part of the Tantra experience.
• Setting boundaries is crucial in any intimate practice.
• Tantra can be practiced alone or with partners, focusing on connection.
• Creating safe spaces is essential for exploring Tantra.
• Living an ecstatic life involves embracing all emotions.

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

nickynamaste@gmail.com

Connect with Christine:

mystics@moonrisinginstitute.com

moonrisinginstitute.com

www.youtube.com/@moonrisinginstitute.com

IG: @moonrising.institute

www.facebook.com/moonrisinginstitute

https://moonrisinginstitute.circle.so/c/she-who-rises/

Keywords: Tantra, energy awareness, personal sovereignty, emotional release, breath work, intimacy, sexuality, spiritual practices, self-love, ecstatic living, orgasm, eroticism

In this episode of the Connected Community Podcast, Nicky Yazbeck and Shantel Ochoa delve into the profound topic of conscious grieving. Shantel is a conscious grieving guide and the facilitator of a weekly support community dedicated to healing through loss with intention, presence, and spiritual awareness. Her work was born from the profound spiritual downloads she received following the passing of her son 12 years ago—an experience that initiated her own dark night of the soul and ultimately transformed her understanding of grief. During her deepest moments of mourning, Shantel received a life-altering message that reshaped her perspective on death, the soul’s journey, and the sacred process of healing. She discovered that as we move through grief, we also move through the primary chakras, with each one offering insight, grounding, and an opportunity to reclaim our inner power, especially through the solar plexus. Though the chakra process is fluid and unique for every individual, Shantel teaches that its core purpose is to honor the soul journey of our loved ones while also honoring our own.

Early in her healing, Shantel was introduced to the concept of soul contracts. This understanding opened space for deeper acceptance, helping her recognize the cyclical nature of life and death - and the belief that our soul families, including the timing of our transition, are part of a greater spiritual agreement. Through her podcast Whispers of Wisdom and community work with Reiki 7 Point Healing, Shantel offers compassionate wisdom, intuitive guidance, and a roadmap for conscious grieving—inviting others to heal not by forgetting their loved ones, but by walking with them in a new, empowered way.

Takeaways:

• Conscious grieving is an intentional process of moving through grief.
• Everyone's experience of grief is unique and influenced by their relationship with the deceased.
• Avoiding grief can make the process harder; facing it is essential.
• Grief can lead to a re-identification of self and a new truth.
• The chakras can be used as a framework to process grief.
• Forgiveness is a crucial part of healing from grief.
• Community support is vital during the grieving process.
• Cultural perspectives on grief vary widely and can influence how we cope.
• It's important to allow oneself to feel all emotions during grief, including joy.
• Finding purpose after loss can be a transformative experience.

Connect with me:

https://nickyYyoga.com

https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity

nickynamaste@gmail.com

Connect with Shantel:

reiki7pointhealing@gmail.com

http://reiki7poinhealing.com/

https://www.instagram.com/reiki7pointhealing?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.facebook.com/groups/993297424086856

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlVGoIuFhfLLIAFCu839qut8IFFoaxdLA

Keywords: grief, grieving, conscious grieving, loss, healing, energy centers, forgiveness, cultural perspectives, death, chakras, dark night of the soul