Friday
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Check-In
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Dinner
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm | Opening Session + Blessing
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50
10 days / 9 nights
No experience needed
The Italian Alps are home to some of the tallest mountains on the European continent. These peaks include the famous Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso. Mont Blanc 4,810 m (15,781 ft) was the site of the first ever Winter Olympics and is shared between three countries: France, Switzerland, and Italy. Gran Paradiso, while slightly shorter than Mont Blanc, is nonetheless a magnificent and towering family of peaks. It is home to the Alpine Ibex, a pre-historic goat that continues to roam wild in this mountainous region.
The Aosta Valley has a long history, having first been settled in proto-historic times. It sits at the confluence of two alpine rivers and at the end of the Great and the Little St Bernard Pass, making it a historically strategic area. Locals of the region speak Padua, a rare and ancient language.
What to expect from the
Start each day by focusing your intentions and connecting with the light of Grandfather Fire. Ground yourself in the love of Mother Earth as you walk on the land and celebrate the summer season in sacred ceremony. Through these practices, we purify the spirit and find clarity for our life.
Tap into the life force of this place of power. Embark on a pilgrimage and make prayers for yourself, your loved ones, and all that lives on the Earth.
Cultivate a deeper bond with the elemental powers and the spiritual world of nature. Learn ancient chants and use the sound of the drum and rattle to shift consciousness in order to strengthen your connection to all of creation.
Cleanse body and soul in the abundant waters that flow freely from the summer ice melts of Mount Shasta’s glaciers. Purify your consciousness and unite with the flow of nature.
Share the experience with a wonderful group of people, all striving to bring healing to themselves and the planet. The way of shamanism not only strengthens your relationship with the spirits of nature; it also naturally helps us build a more loving and kind community.
Tuition + Accommodation options
Shared bedroom with private bath. Price is per/person. All meals included.
Private bedroom with private bath. Price is per/person. All meals included.
include program instruction and materials
Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions
Dance of the Deer Ceremonies
Pilgrimage
all options include the following
Selected lodging option
26 traditional Italian meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) from dinner on Friday to breakfast on Sunday.
Access to hotel grounds + amenities including a nearby river, pure spring-fed water, and extraordinary views of Gran Paradiso.
Register with a .edu email address and save 10% on all tuition options.
If you’re 65 or older, you can save 10% on all tuition options. Simply select the checkbox when registering.
We love having families at our programs and strive to bring all ages into the sacred circle. Children 4-17 receive a 50% discount on all tuition options and infants (under the age of 4) are FREE.
Families of four or more receive 10% off each adult attendee.
Program schedule + session details
Tips to ensure a great retreat experience
The retreat is held near the Aosta Valley, in northern Italy. We reserve an entire 4-star hotel overlooking the surrounding alps. The exact location of the retreat will be provided upon registration.
The nearest international airports are the Torino Airport (or “Turin” airport – code: TRN) and the Milano Malpensa Airport (code: MXP). Both airports are approximately a 2-hour drive from the retreat.
For assistance with air travel, please contact Peter Silberschatz at Travel Works – toll-free (800) 874-7207 or international +1 (415) 897-4405.
Shuttles from the airport are not included and we recommend using a Taxi or renting a car.
This program is moderately active. Program activities include short walks, moderate but slow pilgrimage hikes (longest being about 1-hour), and several hours of driving. The hotel sits at 1800 m (5,900 feet). From there, our meeting circle is a 5-minute walk uphill. If you are concerned about the intensity of this program, please let us know.
We book an entire hotel, creating a complete sense of spiritual practice and community. Amazing food and beautiful architecture complement the environment. Both shared and private rooms are available, each equipped with its own private bathroom.
Meals are included (Friday dinner – Sunday breakfast).
The hotel chefs prepare traditional Italian meals, mainly vegetarian, and can provide vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free options upon request.
Here is a list of items to bring:
Yes, we welcome families and children at all our programs and love having all ages included in our circle. We offer a 50% discount for children ages 4-17 and infants under the age of 4 join free of charge.
Children (anyone under 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
No. This retreat is open to anyone, whether you are looking to take the first step on the shamanic path or if you’ve been studying with Brant for decades.
The retreat will begin on Friday (May 24, 2024) with check-in from 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm, followed by dinner at 7:30 pm and an opening session at 8:30 pm.
The program will conclude on Sunday (June 2, 2024) at 10:00 am following breakfast.
The primarily vegetarian meals include an assortment of local cheeses and breads for breakfast, as well as a diverse selection of lunch and dinner options ranging from traditional homemade pastas to zesty vegetable soups, all complemented by a plentiful salad bar. Meals are included in the price of accommodations.
No. This retreat will only be available for those attending in person. If you’re interested in joining a virtual program online, please take a look at our schedule of upcoming programs.
We greatly encourage everyone to join the retreat for the full time in order to gain the complete experience of the teachings and practices, while also helping maintain the energy of the collective group.
No, this program does not include any type of plant medicine. Although this is indeed an integral part of shamanic traditions, this program will focus on the use of drumming, rattling, chanting, and dance to achieve similar altered states of consciousness.
Absolutely! The health and safety of everyone is our highest priority. We are closely monitoring local and international healthcare recommendations and updating our protocols accordingly. We’ll be sending updated information to all registrants ahead of the program.
Read more about what we’re doing to keep our programs safe ➜
No, our programs do not provide any type of certification and are not designed to teach people to become shamans, as this requires years of complete dedication through a traditional shamanic apprenticeship. Instead, this retreat provides an opportunity to practice shamanism, learn the ancient exercises for spiritual developemnt, and celebrate life in sacred ceremony and ritual.
The practices of shamanism are ones that can be integrated into your everyday routine in order to empower yourself, your community, and all that lives on Mother Earth.
Take time each day for personal meditation. Commune with the spirits of nature amidst the bounding meadows, babbling brooks and towering mountain peaks.
This quiet landscape is the perfect place to silence your inner mindful chatter. Learn to listen to your intuition and let the language of nature be heard.
The retreat is held in a stunning mountain-top hotel, which overlooks the Aosta Valley. Across the valley, Gran Paradiso rises high above the horizon, making for one of the most mesmerizing views you will ever see.
Comfortable rooms, private baths, maid service and delicious Italian meals allow you to enjoy every moment of this unique retreat.
Eagles soar with the wind currents rising along the mountain slopes. Red foxes meander through flower-filled meadows. Deer graze fresh grasses and prance through the forests.
Perhaps the most famous animal in this region, the Alpine Ibex can be found scaling sheer cliff faces. The Gran Paradiso National Park is this prehistoric goat’s last natural habitat.
Since time immemorial shamanic cultures have practiced the art of pilgrimage as a way to honor sacred places of power. Throughout the retreat, you will visit mountains, rivers, and gorges in order to honor their spiritual essence and to make positive prayers for your life.
You will have the special opportunity to offer your prayers to Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso and Brant will help transmit the power of each place into your heart.
Schedule a call with us