The Power of Darkness with Andrew Holecek

Host Tracee Stanley has had a devoted practice of yoga nidra for the past 25 years as well as a curiosity about darkness and the power it holds for our transformation—especially in this era of distraction, AI, and misinformation. In this episode, Tracee is joined by one of her favorite teachers, scholar-practitioner, author, and guide Andrew Holecek, for a fascinating conversation about the topic of his new book, Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing and Transformation. Andrew details his long-standing practice of dark retreats in the Buddhist tradition. He tells us what to expect at a dark retreat and how this relates to ego, artificial light, and the Kali Yuga. About our guest: Andrew Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions who has spent over thirty years helping people transform life's greatest challenges into opportunities for awakening. A dedicated meditation practitioner who completed the traditional Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat, Andrew is known for making profound contemplative practices accessible and practical. His flagship Preparing to Die program, drawing on the bardo teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, has guided over 1,000 participants through comprehensive spiritual and practical preparation for life's final transition. Graduates consistently report a profound reduction in death anxiety and a new clarity about what truly matters. As one of the West's foremost teachers of dream yoga — the spiritual dimension of lucid dreaming — he guides students in using the night to transform their waking lives, turning sleep into a powerful vehicle for psychological and spiritual development. Connect with Andrew Holecek: https://www.andrewholecek.com/ Order Andrew's book, Total Eclipse of the Mind: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781649634856/totaleclipseofthemind/ Connect with host Tracee Stanley: Order Tracee's new book, Living Ritual, and join the FREE 16-day ritual: https://www.traceestanley.com/livingritual Website https://www.traceestanley.com Newsletter https://www.traceestanley.com/#newsletter Radiance Subscription Online Community—try it for a month FREE! https://www.empoweredlifecircle.com/join-today/ Instagram http://instagram.com/tracee_stanley Radiant Rest book https://www.traceestanley.com/radiant-rest The Luminous Self book https://www.traceestanley.com/luminous-self Podcast https://www.traceestanley.com/podcast