Quarterly Temple Weekend
(Blue Mist, NC)
We hold hold monthly temple weekends and traditional temples quarterly. Monthly temples are events that have a specific intention and theme and typically are more focused on community and connection and less on transformation. We hold these every Feb, March, April, August, September, November, & December.
Quarterly temples include ceremony, practices, experiences, and open play and have a stronger emphasis on transformation. Temple refers to the ancient practices of various cultures that utilize spirit, heart, and sexuality to transform. This is an extremely powerful, pleasurable, and impactful weekend experience! These more powerful experiences are held in January, May and October.
Tantra
Tantra is the art and practice of being more present and aligned with all areas of your body, psyche, mind, eros, and heart in order to experience deeper connection with self and others. It involves both sensual and sexual practices.
Kink
Kink has many flavors – for us its celebrating the parts of each of us that feel hidden, repressed, taboo, or shamed and bringing them to life through sensual, sexual, and archetype practices/scenes. We play with polarity and turn-on to enhance experience.
Energy
Energy practice is kind of a buzz word (literally lol) – for us energy is important because it gives us access to deeper, more intimate, more pleasurable layers of our experiences in all areas of life – including sensuality and sexuality.
Quarterly Temple
(January 9 - 11):
Temple of the Dark
TEMPLE OF THE DARKJanuary 9–11, 2026 | Blue Mist Mountain, NC
Featuring:
Richie Parilla: Somatic Sound Practitioner from Philadelphia
Erica Trait: Dark Immersion Space Holder from New Jersey
As the veil of winter deepens and the Earth turns inward, we gather at Blue Mist Mountain for the TEMPLE OF THE DARK, a ceremonial descent into the fertile mystery at the heart of death and rebirth.
This is not a temple of despair, but of TRANSFIGURATION.
Through the dark crown, dark heart, and dark eros, we surrender into the VOID, the still point that births new worlds. Together we will move through layers of shadow and silence, sound and surrender, shedding the skins of the old world as we open to the NEW EARTH rising within us and around us.
Through guided practices, sound journeys, dark embodiment rituals, and sacred eros, we will enter the womb of night and remember the primal stillness from which all creation is born.
This Temple will be deep, initiatory, and ecstatic.
Past Temples of the Dark have emphasized death and release; this Temple brings the energy of 2026, the beginning of Creation.
—
SCHEDULEFRIDAY, JANUARY 9
5–6 pm: Arrivals
6–7:30 pm: Potluck Dinner
7:30–8:30 pm: Opening Circle
8:30–9:30 pm: Dark Sound Journey by Richie
9:30–11:30 pm: Dark Puja
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10
7–9 am: Light Breakfast Provided
9:30–11 am: Body Practices for the Dark: somatic descent, breath, trembling, embodiment
11–2 pm: Time on Your Own (lunch on own, silent reflection, forest walk, journaling, rest)
2:30–4:30 pm: The Triple Dark: Crown, Heart, and Eros (Erica & Jared)
4:30–5 pm: Break
5–6:30 pm: Endarkenment Ritual (Erica, Richie & Jared)
6:30–8:30 pm: Potluck Dinner
8:30–10 pm: Dark Desire Experience
10 pm–2 am: Open Temple: Night of the Void (shadow play, mystery, sacred intimacy)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11
7–9:30 am: Light Breakfast Provided
9:30–11 am: Closing Circle
11–12 pm: Clean up
12–3 pm (Optional): Gathering at The Scotsman (Celtic Pub, Waynesville)
7–9:30 am: Light Breakfast Provided
9:30–11 am: Closing Circle
11–12 pm: Clean up
12–3 pm (Optional): Gathering at The Scotsman (Celtic Pub, Waynesville)
—
CONTRIBUTION LEVELSIn Abundance: $277
In Balance: $222
In Flow: $177
In Balance: $222
In Flow: $177
No or little income? We got you. Come.
Trade or volunteer options available.
Trade or volunteer options available.
—
WORK TRADE OPTIONSMain Meat Dish for 15 → $75 off (4 spots) — Code: JAN-MMD
Vegan Main Dish for 15 → $55 off (2 spots) — Code: JAN-VMD
Land Stewardship (3 hrs) → $75 off (1 spot) — Code: JAN-LAND
Cleaning (3 hrs, Fri arrival 1 pm) → $75 off (2 spots) — Code: JAN-CL-FR
Vegan Main Dish for 15 → $55 off (2 spots) — Code: JAN-VMD
Land Stewardship (3 hrs) → $75 off (1 spot) — Code: JAN-LAND
Cleaning (3 hrs, Fri arrival 1 pm) → $75 off (2 spots) — Code: JAN-CL-FR
Have another offering? Message us.
—
ACCOMMODATIONSReserve your room here: Coming soon
Guest House:
• Queen w/ private bath (upstairs) – $135/night
• Queen w/ shared bath (downstairs) – $125/night
• Queen w/ shared bath (downstairs) – $125/night
• Pull-out w/ shared bath – $75/night
• Queen w/ shared bath (downstairs) – $125/night
• Queen w/ shared bath (downstairs) – $125/night
• Pull-out w/ shared bath – $75/night
Main Home:
• Full, semi-private shower – $120/night
• King, shared shower – $135/night
• Queen w/ shared bath – $125/night
• Twin (temple space) – $50/night
• Twin (temple space) – $50/night
• King, shared shower – $135/night
• Queen w/ shared bath – $125/night
• Twin (temple space) – $50/night
• Twin (temple space) – $50/night
Other Options:
• Couch/floor (BYO bedding) – Free
• Camping (tent or vehicle) – Free
• Nearby hotels: Sylva, Dillsboro, Cherokee, Bryson City
• Camping (tent or vehicle) – Free
• Nearby hotels: Sylva, Dillsboro, Cherokee, Bryson City
—
REFUND POLICY
No refunds. Tickets may be applied to a future event. Rooms are non-refundable but may be transferred privately.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.bluemistawakening.com/temple-of-dark
