I read that meditation is also considered the "death of the [concious] mind" in some teachings and let me tell you how accurate that is

It's not, in of itself, terrifying, full disclaimer.

In a dark room, eyes closed, this feeling begins from behind me. Shadow starts to bleed into my "vision" from behind my "eyes". I feel like I'm being both pulled and consumed into this darkness that doesn't feel like the darkness of an unlit room.

It doesn't feel alive like you would normally think, the shadow or its darkness thats trying to half coax/half pull me in. They feel so still they might as well be dead (even though the shadow moves). Alive but not really.

Now the part that panics me is not going in, but not knowing if I can get out of that still dark space. When I said it's coaxing me in, there's part of me that welcomes it. I don't like that either because WHAT wants that stillness?

Could be depression, could be genuinely wanting to feel still, but the fact I don't know is not a factor I want to take my chances with. Nobody should do that when you're doing energy work/work with your mind. Unknowns can get you fucked up in this realm of interest.

I've also had this happen in a sunny room, where the light turned to shadow and THAT was an experience lol. This thread long enough though so story for another time.