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I think it was in the last CC that his isolation was discussed in some detail? He did it in some rank motel room.

In 1999 I rented the crummiest, remotest little cottage I could find, it was in September, early spring. Located on the coast, the bungalow didn't even have a sea view. I removed all the labels from the supplies and there was no tv, radio or books. I had a small pencil and a piece of cardboard, for the first 3 days I wrote down the names of all the people I had ever met. I had no clock, by the forth day, I was running out of stuff to do in a big way, time felt long and I was feeling more and more unsettled and uneasy. I had used the list of names to neutralize my connections, I did a lot of recapitulating. When I finished the list I ceremoniously burnt it. By the 5th day my mind was just non-stop 'voice' angry about being wronged by other people, this went on for 3 days, when the blaming other people was exhausted, the voice started to blame myself, I started to see my stupid, unconscious ways and how I had failed myself - this went on till about the 11th day. looking back on that part, it was horrible, difficult but completely do-able. Besides the angry thoughts, jealous thoughts and panic-attacks, the voice also gives you great reasons to stop the isolation, you have to struggle to dismiss the voice and you really don't want to be there, when you begin to get close to a real commitment to this life, it becomes daunting and downright frightening and the 'voice' knows what strings to pull!! By the 12th day I was through the scary part and I felt bouyant, I was at peace with my history and I had finished fighting myself - Durin the next 4 days I didn't think about how 'light' and content I was, it was only after, that I remember how in the moment I was. I was thoroughly enjoying my own company, my voice was hilarious. The days just sailed past, and I was at ease just doing nothing, I sat and my mind just travelled. On the 16th day, I was making lunch and my head said something to me, about leaving but the way and how it was said was really clever, not intelligent clever, but the words were like a trick, an embedded command, it was compelling. I can't remember the sentence, but in that moment I knew that the voice in my head was not me, the voice had for the first time said something apart from who i think I am - I stumble backwards with a look of surprise on my face, it wasn't scary or distressing as I had imagined it to be. I felt happy that I had a friend along with me, it really started to dawn upon me that were attached to creatures that are old and know a whole lot(besides being indulgent and lazy). I did 26 days in total, a week short of my agreed time. The last week I really got a good view of how we 'f*ck ourselves up socially, I realized that the 'voices' work together and that we have our friends worst interests at heart.
The sense of what alone is, can only be experienced, alone when you are surrounded with people is how I felt, like how a sober hobo might feel in big city.
Re-entering society after isolation is scary, mostly for the people around you - I learned that a time of 'debriefing' is needed or your likely to scare friends and colleagues away - They all seemed different to me and I started to separate from friendships, some separations were painfull, the debriefing would have helped a lot.



In 2002 I did another Isolation, in the desert, going for a more purist view of nothingness, it was both hugely entertaining and super frightening in different ways to the first one but it's not something I want to share with anyone, it is something personally powerful for me.

If anyone wants my thoughts and advice on Isolation, If you're serious about the breaking point, I can facilitate you, I have a 'voice-proof' isolation that takes 6 weeks(4 weeks Isolation and 2 weeks debriefing/holiday) in the Richtersveld desert in Northern Cape, SA. Far less expensive than any other 6week holiday and way more beautiful and rewarding.

Phil