You feel it, don’t you? The blue-light fatigue. The shallow skimming across the surface of life. We have become a “wake-centric” civilization, addicted to the world of doing, striving, and performing.
But what if the cure for your exhaustion—and the key to your deepest creativity—wasn’t found in more light, but in the total absence of it?
Meet Janus: The God of the Threshold
In Total Eclipse of the Mind, Andrew Holecek introduces you to the ancient Roman god Janus, the two-faced keeper of gateways.
- The Backward Face: The “diabolical” darkness we fear—death, ignorance, and the unknown.
- The Forward Face: The “divine” darkness we’ve forgotten—the womb of creativity, deep healing, and spiritual resurrection.
Available May 26, 2026 Pre-order from your favorite bookseller:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble| Bookshop.org
(For our international friends, check your regional Amazon site!)
This book is the key to turning the frightful face of darkness into the benevolent face of wisdom. It is a manual for how to harness the night to repair the damage of the day.
The Ultimate “Natural Psychedelic”
Why travel to the jungle for Ayahuasca when the most potent hallucinogen is already inside your brain?
Dark retreat is the original sober psychedelic. It is organic, legal, and prescription-strength. Unlike external substances, in the dark, you become the medicine
- Dissolve Duality: Watch the boundaries between “self” and “other,” “waking” and “dreaming” melt away.
- The “Third Eye” Opener: When the two physical eyes are temporarily blinded, the inner eye finally opens.
What You Will Discover in the Dark
This is not just a book; it is a restoration project for the soul. Whether you are building a simple “dark corner” in your basement or practicing with your eyemask on, Holecek guides you through the “Sutra” (accessible) and “Tantra” (advanced) levels of the practice.
You will learn:
- How to Cure “Darkness Deficit Disorder”: Re-align your circadian and spiritual rhythms to stop “skimming” your life and start living it.
- The Edison/Dali Method: How to use the “liminal state” between wakefulness and sleep to incubate creativity.
- The 5 Nocturnal Meditations: Transform sleep from a “gap” in your life into a profound spiritual practice.
- The “Checklist” for Safety: Dark retreat is big medicine. Learn the contraindications to ensure you don’t just survive the dark, but thrive in it.
Stop Looking Outside. The Key is Inside.
“I read Total Eclipse of the Mind with the particular curiosity and attentiveness of one who has also entered into darkness as a spiritual practice and creative adventure. Andrew Holecek writes brilliantly not only about his own experience with the sacred tool of darkness, but also the history and mythology of the practice. I love that he treats the absence of light not as an enemy but as a collaborator–one that strips distraction, sharpens perception, and invites wonder. This book will be a beautiful companion to anyone who, like me, is curious about how entering the darkness can bring us closer to the light.”– Elizabeth Gilbert New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and All the Way to the River
“There is immense value to spending time in darkness and this book provides a pathway into this revolutionary practice–and helps you access more of what I call your Self. An original contribution that will reorient your relationship with darkness.” — Richard Schwartz, PhD, author of No Bad Parts and founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS)
“Andrew has written a masterpiece through his years of direct experience with the Dark. Let this book guide you to inner change for the better.” — Stephan Rechtschaffen, MD, PhD, founder of Omega Institute and Blue Spirit Costa Rica.
“Physical and metaphysical light pollution is pulling us away from ourselves, distracting us from who we truly are. The result is a world that has lost its way in the light. Andrew’s writing is like walking with a dear friend who is expertly and lovingly guiding us through the deepest passages of our mind. This book will help you find your way back–and reconnect to what really matters.” — Judson Brewer, MD, Phd, New York Times bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety
“Andrew Holecek’s masterful introduction to the ancient Tibetan practice of dark retreat centers on a life-affirming but paradoxical contrast: the illusion of seeing in the light versus the profound wisdom found in prolonged darkness. This book offers a visceral path to experiencing the no-thing that is the self.” — Christof Koch, PhD, Neuroscientist, author of Then I Am Myself the World
The Power of Dark Retreat
A program that offers the benefits of dark retreat therapy in an at-home format