Step Into the Fullest Capacity of Your Heart
Light Dark Foundations
Level 1 Workshop
Awaken the Power of Love by Embracing the Shadows
In-person Workshop in Berkeley, CA
August 15-16, 2026
Saturday & Sunday
10am to 7pm each day
$595 registration
“The Light Dark Institute offers some of the most powerful personal transformation work out in the world right now. They have created some of the most genuine, powerful and deep methods to pierce through the layers of shame and artificiality that keep us from truly connecting with ourselves and with each other. I’ve never felt more seen or more held in all my parts.”
Exploring the shadows within to find a love that holds it all
If you’ve been feeling like you’re too much—or maybe not enough—or if the weight of the world’s challenges feels heavy, this workshop offers a new path forward. Through embracing the parts of yourself you’ve hidden or judged, you’ll uncover a deeper, more resilient connection to your heart and the world around you.
Our approach goes beyond self-improvement; it’s about welcoming the fullness of who you are. Instead of needing to “fix” what feels broken, you’ll discover the strength that comes from accepting, even loving, the parts of yourself and the world that are hardest to embrace.
Turning towards what we resist
At the Light Dark Institute, we believe that what’s needed most in our world right now is the ability to bring love to the unloved places, both in ourselves and in the world. This workshop provides a safe, supportive space to lean towards the things you’ve been turning away from—those hidden fears, judgments, and patterns that quietly limit your capacity for impact and connection.
When we bring love to the parts of ourselves and the world we’ve been resisting, we unlock profound gifts that strengthen our connection to ourselves and to all of life. In learning to embrace the shadows, we find the resilience and clarity needed to move through life with an open, courageous heart.
“This is absolutely foundational work to living a liberated life. Accepting your dark side is something that no amount of working hard to improve can replicate.”
What you will experience in the workshop:
Discover the Beauty in the Shadows
Learn why exploring the darkness in yourself and the world is essential to deepening self-understanding and creating meaningful change.
Expand Self-Love
Find deeper love and acceptance for yourself — even the parts you’ve been pushing away, trying to hide, or afraid to acknowledge.
Embody Darketypes™
Uncover hidden gifts as you play with and learn from dark archetypes such as the Arrogant Disdainer, the Needy Wretch, the Violent Destroyer, and more.
Cultivate Stronger Boundaries
Practice identifying and communicating your clear, embodied Yes and No, empowering you to show up fully in all areas of life.
Engage in Power Play
Explore different aspects of power, letting go of fear around dominance and submission in a safe, supported setting.
Transformative Play
Bring a sense of discovery into spots where you feel tight and fearful. Learn how to reframe everything you normally think of as “bad” or “wrong” in yourself and others, and find the gifts hiding in the dark.
Uncover Your Authentic Desires
Discover desires hiding under your complaints, and gain confidence in claiming and moving towards what you truly want.
Become the Change You Want to See in the World
Release conflict, division, and abuse within yourself, to help create a world with greater peace and compassion.
Join us for a weekend of exploration, embracing, and empowerment.
Ignite a deeper sense of meaning and connection in all that you do
Fall in love with your whole self
Build resilience to rise with grace through life’s challenges
Experience the freedom to show up fully, as you truly are
Foster deeper, more heartfelt connections and intimacy with others
Embody more impactful and authentic leadership for the world you want to create
Access the wisdom and gifts within all of your parts
Expand your vision of what’s possible for you and the world around you
Feel a greater sense of belonging and connection to all of life
About Your Guides:
This course is taught by our powerful lead facilitators Leslie Rogers and Kimberly Han, who bring decades of experience exploring the depths of the human psyche with compassion and authenticity.
Leslie is a co-founder of the Light Dark Institute, and has dedicated his life to helping people integrate, learn from, and find the incredible gifts in their shadows. Kim has spent decades guiding people onto the edge of their discomfort, and bringing forth their courage to help them bravely walk toward what they’ve been holding back.
Kim and Leslie’s approach is playful, non-judgmental, and grounded in real-world experience — combining big-hearted love with irreverent humor, and emotional precision with creative spark. Together, they invite participants to explore the parts of themselves they’ve long exiled and to reclaim a fuller, wilder, and more connected way of being.
Ready to Dive In?
This is a journey for those ready to move beyond conventional self-development and embrace the beauty and power within the shadows. Join us to awaken your whole heart, find the gifts in the darkness, and step into your full capacity to bring more love into our world.
“While not for the faint of heart, this work is transformational at the deepest level. When you’re ready to release shame and step fully into your power, get yourself to an experience with the Light Dark Institute. Highly recommended.”
Frequently Asked Questions
-
There is definitely some overlap between Foundations Level 1 and our 8-week online course, Playing with Darketypes™. However, the focus of each course is different, and they cover a lot of different territory from each other.
In the Foundations in-person workshop, we definitely do work with Darketypes, but the online course offers a much deeper and more intimate study of the 10 Core Darketypes. The Foundations workshop, on the other hand, includes explorations of power exchange and other foundational tools of Light Dark work which are not present in the online course. And due to the nature of in-person versus online work, the Foundations workshop includes more embodiment and relational activities, whereas the online course is more about the individual journey.
It is definitely possible to take both courses (many people do). Although you will go through some repeat content you will also get a lot of fresh and new material through each course, to help you deepen into your relationship with the shadows in yourself and the world.
-
Some of you may have heard of our Advanced Dark Play workshop (formerly known as Embracing the Darkness), which we offered frequently from 2015-2020 and revived again in 2023.
Advanced Dark Play is part of our advanced workshop series. It is a fast-paced deep dive into shadow work and BDSM. It is designed specifically for workshop facilitators and is only accessible via invitation or application.
Light Dark Foundations, on the other hand, is a gentler yet still very potent on-ramp to Light Dark work. It’s suitable for anyone who is willing to play and feels called. This Light Dark Foundations Level 1 workshop is the first of a 3-part series of new workshops. We’ll be placing a particular emphasis on how to stand in your full power and lead from love in these changing times. -
We’d love to have you back, even if you’ve worked with us before. While quite a bit of the content will be similar to what you learned in Embracing the Darkness, no two workshops are ever the same, and this is deep work that benefits from repetition. And even if you’re familiar with our maps and exercises, this Foundations course will include more time and more setup, likely leaving you with a better understanding of the deeper Why behind specific practices.
-
While we’re well-known for using conscious BDSM and kink techniques as an entryway to power and liberation, this particular workshop will only dip a toe in that water. We will have some activities that play with power exchange in a safe and accessible way, even if kink isn’t your thing. Subsequent workshops in this series will wade farther into this territory.
-
By learning to understand and play with the dark parts of yourself, you can transform them into sources of wisdom, creativity and connection. We’ve found this journey helps people cultivate a more profound love for themselves and those around them, empowering them to live with the tremendous power of a courageously open heart. Whether you are an individual wanting to find more self-love, to a partner wanting to improve your relationship, or a leader looking to have a big impact on the world, this work offers the possibility of potent transformation, empowerment, and greater love.
-
Darketypes™ (Dark Archetypes) are specific aspects of our inner selves that we usually avoid. While confronting them may seem daunting, it can also be incredibly liberating.
In this workshop, you’ll meet the Light Dark Institute’s 10 Core Dark Archetypes, such as:
The Arrogant Disdainer
The Violent Destroyer
The Covert Manipulator
The Needy Wretch
You’ll also be introduced to the map that explains how the Darketypes™ relate to each other.
-
The registration fee is fully refundable (minus a $35 processing fee) up to 21 days from the the start of the workshop.
Within 14-21 days of the workshop start date, the registration fee is 50% refundable.
Within less than 14 days of the workshop start date, the registration fee is not refundable. -
No, you are responsible for providing your own lunch.
-
Yes! You are welcome to join us and will be able to participate in all activities.
-
You will be emailed the address and other logistical info soon after registering.
There is profound beauty and connection waiting right in the places you’ve been afraid to explore.
Learn to embrace every part of yourself, and step into your heart’s power to courageously bring more love to the world. The time is now.