Aaron Rodgers has seen the light, emerging from his darkness retreat, according to ESPN’s Xuan Thai. The Packers veteran shacked up in a sparse, 300-square-foot room, equipped with only a queen bed, bathroom and a “meditation-like mat.” Scott Berman, owner and proprietor of Sky Cave Retreats, confirmed Rodgers left the facility on Wednesday, pondering his NFL future over four days spent in almost complete isolation.
Situated on hundreds of acres in rural Oregon, the “hobbit-like structure” has become a popular oasis for those seeking alternative forms of therapy, hosting countless guests including renowned adventurer Colin O’Brady, who has summited Mount Everest and traversed the South Pole, among other endurance feats. Sky Cave, which doesn’t list an official address on its website (Ashland, the closest town, is said to be a 30-minute drive), is booked for the next 18 months with a waitlist in the hundreds. To accommodate intense demand, Berman plans to eventually add seven more rooms to the existing three.
As daunting as the experience may sound (Stanford’s Associate Director of Human Health and Performance Sarah Meyer Tapia cautions that extreme sensory deprivation can, in the wrong hands, lead to “spiraling” and “psychotic episodes”), guests are free to turn on the lights, go for a hike or even abandon the retreat altogether if necessary. Berman typically checks in with his guests at least once a day, providing meals through a two-way door while also engaging them in “short, contemplative prompts.”
Rodgers’ search for inner peace began years earlier on a trip to Peru when he experimented with psychedelics—specifically ayahuasca—using the tea’s hallucinogenic properties to extract feelings of gratitude and acceptance. Rodgers’ subsequent spiritual awakening has become a major part of his identity, centering himself through increasingly radical methods.
While some would dismiss Rodgers’ self-exploration as a gratuitous exercise in contrarianism, embodying all the familiar traits of a midlife crisis, the 39-year-old remains the most coveted player available, drawing intense interest from the Jets and Raiders, among other expected suitors. Despite signing a three-year extension last offseason, all signs point to Rodgers leaving Green Bay, with the Packers reportedly eager to unveil Jordan Love, who has played sparingly since arriving as a first-round pick in 2020.
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