Alum explores the impact of alternative therapies, medication and self-reflection
Scott Berman ’05 is the founder and host of , a darkness retreat center nestled in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument wilderness
of southern Oregon. Guests typically stay four to five days in complete darkness in
earth-sheltered cabins, where time becomes irrelevant and perhaps a deeper truth emerges.
Established in 2020 and the first of its kind in the United States, Sky Cave has attracted
notable athletes like , endurance athlete Colin O’Brady, and British boxer Anthony Joshua. But Berman emphasizes
that the retreat center is for anyone interested in deepening their meditation practice
or for those who want to simply rest and rejuvenate.
“This is an opportunity for anyone to disconnect from the constant sensory bombardment
of modern life and delve into self-reflection,” says Berman, who has hosted more than
300 retreats.
Berman, who grew up in South Jersey, began exploring alternative therapies as a psychology
major, drawing inspiration from Skidmore’s Psychology Department. Through the department,
he was first exposed to the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) technique developed
by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the late 1970s. Berman conducted independent research with his
professors and attended a MBSR conference in Massachusetts.
After graduation, he traveled to Alaska, staying in a remote cabin for six weeks.
This experience eventually led him to live in solitude in Mount Shasta, California,
and Southern Baja, Mexico, for nearly a decade with his wife, Jill Berman.
After learning about dark-room retreats in places like South America and India, the
Bermans completed their first darkness retreat in their Oregon home before building
three underground cabins that would serve as the centerpieces of their retreat center.
Experiencing oneself in complete darkness is a concept rooted in ancient spiritual
traditions, including that of the Kogi Mamos, indigenous people of Colombia. In its
retreat offerings, Sky Cave also offers somatic therapy, which typically takes place
before and after entering the cabin.
Berman continues his own four- to five-day retreat into darkness annually. He also
visits a nearby cave weekly for a few hours at a time.
“It’s like visiting an old friend you haven’t seen in a while,” he says. “You become
reconnected as the relationship continues to grow and deepen.”
