A SHADOW SOMATICS™
GROUP INTENSIVE
SHADOW + POWER™
An embodied exploration of power, surrender + the freedom to choose
WARSAW · POLAND
7–13 DECEMBER 2026
What happens when we stop performing who we think we should be, and begin exploring who we have yet to become?
SHADOW + POWER™ is a seven-day residential group intensive rooted in John Hawken's Dark Eros and informed by Shadow Somatics™ — bringing individuals + couples into direct contact with the unconscious patterns shaping our choices
This advanced journey is designed for those with previous experience in Dark Eros, ISTA or comparable training
By encountering the existential tensions beneath the roles we have learned to perform, we can begin to recognise the unseen forces influencing how we lead, surrender, protect + express ourselves.
The shadow is not only what we hide or fear
It also includes the strengths, desires + possibilities within us that have yet to enter our conscious awareness
with
Danni Lovefox, Freya Wolna
+ Piotr PJ Reisch
Through allowing ourselves to play consciously with the themes of power over and under,
we free ourselves from the unconscious living out of these dynamics in our lives.
You may feel confident in your ability to lead
yet hesitate when another person places their trust in you.
You may long to surrender
yet find yourself bracing against the very experience you wish to explore.
You may know your boundaries clearly in solitude
yet struggle to express them when another person's expectations enter the room
Or perhaps you thought you understood your patterns
but find something unexpected when the encounter becomes real
There is a difference between knowing how we want to respond and discovering what actually happens when the moment arrives.
Power. Control. Surrender. Resistance. Anger. Shame. Desire. Boundaries.
Rather than treating these only as ideas, we create a space to meet such territories — observing what emerges within ourselves and between us
FOR INDIVIDUALS READY TO MEET THEIR OWN POWER
SHADOW + POWER™ is the only current opportunity to enter the world of Shadow Somatics™ without a partner — discovering aspects of yourself among people who meet you without the expectations of your everyday relationships
Explore the pleasure of leading, the vulnerability of surrendering + the freedom of knowing your own boundaries
Discover how you respond to another person's authority, attention, resistance or invitation
Experiment with unfamiliar expressions of yourself — finding confidence where you expected hesitation, resistance where you expected openness, or something entirely unexpected
The group becomes a living field of exploration
Through individual inquiry, guided participant exchanges + shared processes, you can explore the art of leading, receiving + holding space while developing greater awareness of your own responses
FOR COUPLES EXPLORING THE PATH OF DARK EROS
What might you discover about one another when the relationship is no longer your only point of reference?
Within a wider group, each of you can encounter different expressions of desire, authority + surrender — and witness one another responding in ways you may never have seen before
To see your partner as an individual,
rather than through the lens of
your shared relationship
To explore the pleasure of leading and yielding, the freedom of expressing your desires + the vulnerability of meeting what you cannot control
And perhaps to discover what happens between you when each is free to follow their own curiosity, without needing the other to participate in the same way
Entering as a couple does not mean surrendering your individual boundaries, pace or freedom to choose
Your individual exploration remains your own
The journey is one you share
For some couples, this becomes an unusual opportunity to explore themselves alongside one another, rather than only through one another
THE ENERGETIC ARTISTRY OF DARK EROS
At the heart of this work lies a polarity of attention — a Tantric meditation requiring deep presence from both participants
The art lies beyond the appearance or performance of dominance + submission. It is found in the underlying energetics of the encounter — sensing what happens within ourselves and between us.
THE INITIATOR
The initiator directs attention outward, sensing and responding to the receiver while remaining aware of their own body, intentions + energetic responses
Through tension, anticipation, invitation + restraint, they cultivate intensity without forcing surrender
Their artistry lies in creating the conditions for deeper inward contact, rather than producing any particular outcome
Can you dare to lead without taking away another person's autonomy?
THE RECEIVER
The receiver turns inward towards sensation, emotion, pleasure + whatever is arising.
Surrender is not an abdication of agency
The receiver retains the freedom to choose, communicate a boundary, redirect the encounter or stop
Their self-awareness is essential to the meditation
THE ART OF SHARED SURRENDER
The outward appearance of dominance + submission may be present, but it is not the measure of depth
Presence allows the polarity to become a living energy exchange rather than a performance
Through this meeting, ego defences may soften, allowing greater contact with oneself and what is present — without making that softening a demand, or predetermined outcome
Beyond the polarity lies the possibility of surrendering not to another person, but to the experience itself
OUR POWER LIES IN OUR CAPACITY TO CHOOSE
When faced with intensity, our habitual survival responses may lead us to fight, flee, freeze or appease — often before we consciously recognise it is happening
Shadow Somatics™ trains our ability to notice these responses as they arise in the body, rather than only recognising them afterwards
From this awareness, we can develop a more conscious relationship with activation — staying present with it when appropriate, regulating when needed + discovering the resources that help us respond rather than remain caught in habitual protection, withdrawal or overwhelm
This becomes a central part of SHADOW + POWER™
Whether leading or receiving, we learn to recognise when we are losing contact with ourselves — and to communicate a boundary, request an adaptation or change the pace when needed
Recognising + asking for what we need is part of the art
We experiment with discovering what genuinely supports us, whether through somatic practices, connection with our surroundings or the presence of others
This includes allowing ourselves to be seen in our need for support, and practising making clear requests — for listening, witnessing, supportive touch or taking space — rather than assuming we must manage everything alone
The intention is not to avoid discomfort,
but to cultivate the awareness and resources
to welcome intensity — without losing ourselves to it
INSIDE THE INTENSIVE
SEVEN DAYS OF EMBODIED PRACTICE
PRACTISING PRESENCE WITHIN INTENSITY
Move beyond insight into direct experience, recognising responses such as freezing, shutting down, appeasing or reactive anger, while restoring access to capacities that may have become suppressed or dormant. Through breath, movement, voice, body awareness + bioenergetic exercises, we practise expanding the range of responses available to us.
VULNERABILITY WITHIN POWER + SURRENDER
Guided encounters with the energetic dynamics of power, practising how to express + hear desires, negotiate boundaries and lead or surrender without losing your sense of self
SHADOW + EXPRESSION THROUGH RITUAL
Tantric rituals, conscious kink, paired practices, group processes + evening ceremonies that invite anger, shame, desire and dormant aspects of ourselves into expression and witnessing within a non-judgemental group
INTEGRATION
INTO LIFE + WORK
Time for reflection, group sharing + personal rest, allowing the week's experiences to settle — developing practical ways to navigate power, boundaries + emotional intensity in relationships, everyday life and professional practice
ALL PRACTICES ARE INVITATIONS
Participants remain free to communicate boundaries, decline an exercise, request an adaptation or change their minds at any point
HOW THE WEEK IS HELD
THE DAILY RHYTHM
Our first evening begins with registration, a shared dinner + an opening ceremony
Each full day offers an optional morning meditation before breakfast, followed by a morning session with time for sharing, reflection + individual support
Morning and afternoon teaching blocks provide ample space for movement, embodied exploration + learning, with an evening ritual to integrate the day's material and experiences
Our final morning is dedicated to integration, followed by a shared lunch before departing the venue
THE SUPPORT AROUND YOU
Throughout the intensive, our experienced teaching and assisting team maintains an attentive presence in the room — offering participants support during practices, alongside opportunities for individual assistance during breaks
When an experience calls for additional time to process, a member of the support team — or a facilitator where needed — can accompany you, allowing the wider group to continue while offering individual attention within the practical limits of the workshop
We allow a maximum of 40 participants with the guidance of three facilitators and the support of a team of ten assistants and helpers during the week
YOUR BUDDY GROUP
Each participant becomes part of a smaller buddy group for the week, offering a more personal space for connection within the larger gathering
A place to share reflections with greater privacy, ask for emotional support or simply be witnessed by others as your journey unfolds
Together, these layers of support allow for both the depth of a shared group experience and the possibility of more individual attention
THE FACILITATORS
As certified Paths of Transformation teachers, trained and licensed to teach Dark Eros, we come together to immerse ourselves in the teachings of John Hawken through this curated week of experiential practice, drawing on our respective backgrounds in somatic work, Tantra + conscious leadership
Shadow Somatics™
Dark Eros + TantraSOMA™
Embodied leadership
Freshly prepared vegan meals, time outdoors + access to sauna facilities create space for rest and connection beyond the teaching room
Set among pine forests approximately 75 kilometres from Warsaw, Oddechowo offers wooden cottages surrounded by nature, dedicated spaces for group practice + quiet spots to retreat between sessions
Six nights of accommodation and three meals daily are arranged directly through the retreat venue, with a choice of room categories available
YOUR PLACE + INVESTMENT
7–13 DECEMBER 2026
POLAND
WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION
€ 999
Standard · until 31 October
Six full teaching days · Three facilitators · Support team · Morning meditation (optional) + evening rituals
ACCOMMODATION + CATERING
€ 440 – 560
Six nights · per person
Room category of choice · Three vegan meals daily · Sauna evening · Venue facilities
Combined investment
€1,439–1,559 per person until 31 October
Workshop fee rises to €1,111 from 1 November Accommodation charged separately · Travel excluded
ENTERING THE SHADOW
SHADOW + POWER™ is an advanced experiential intensive for individuals + couples with previous experience in Dark Eros, ISTA or comparable in-depth conscious sexuality work
Participation begins with an application, giving us an opportunity to understand your previous experience, intentions + suitability for the group
AN INVITATION INTO THE UNKNOWN
You cannot know everything you will encounter within yourself
But you can choose to enter with curiosity, courage + a willingness to discover what has yet to become visible.
A MORE PRIVATE EXPLORATION
For couples seeking a space devoted entirely to their relationship, Danni offers private somatic relationship work through THE UNFOLDING, THE IMMERSION + THE ARC