Connect with the 4 Directions
Purge yourself of negativity and learn to absorb positive energy from the powers of the cardinal directions.
Activity Level
●●○○○
Group Size
40-50 max
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Prerequisites
No experience needed
Brant Secunda
Brant Secunda is an internationally acclaimed shaman, healer, and teacher in the indigenous Huichol tradition of Mexico. During an intensive 12-year apprenticeship, Brant became the adopted grandson and close companion of Don José Matsuwa, the renowned shaman who passed away in 1990 at the age of 110. Brant was chosen by Don José to take his place in helping to carry on Huichol Shamanism.
Recognized as a global thought leader and spiritual teacher, Brant has been a lecturer at the Mayo Clinic, the American Holistic Medical Association Conferences, and a faculty member of the Five Branches Institute of Chinese Medicine. He also co-founded the Humanistic Medicine Conference with the World Health Organization, the Peace University in Berlin, and is a founding member of the American Herbalist Guild.
Striving to bridge the worlds of fitness and spirituality, Brant co-authored the award-winning book Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You.
Itinerary
Program schedule + session details
Friday
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Check-In
5:45 pm – 7:00 pm | Dinner
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm | Opening Session + Blessing
Saturday
7:30 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast
8:30 am – 11:30 am | Morning Session
11:30 am – 1:30 pm | Lunch
1:45 pm – 4:45 pm | Afternoon Session
5:45 pm – 7:00 pm | Dinner
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Deer Dance Ceremony
Sunday
7:30 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast
8:30 am – 11:15 am | Closing Session + Group Photo + Closing Blessing and Payer
11:30 am – 1:30 pm | Lunch
1:30 pm | Pack up & Goodbyes – we prefer to say We’ll see you later!
FAQ + Guide
Tips to ensure a great retreat experience
Where is the retreat located?
For 50 years, the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health has been a leader in yoga and mindfulness-based education. Located 2.5 hours north of New York City and west of Boston in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, Kripalu is the largest retreat center in North America. Their campus sits on more than 100 acres on the traditional, unceded Mohican territory of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohicans.
How do I arrange my travel?
We do not provide transportation to and from the workshop.
If you plan on flying, the nearest airport is Albany Airport (code: ALB) approximately a 1-hour drive from Kripalu. Bradley International is an alternative option (code: BDL) and is approximately a 1.5-hour drive.
Amtrak offers one train daily from Boston, Albany, and Springfield, arriving in Pittsfield (nine miles from Kripalu). Metro North provides service daily from Manhattan to Wassaic, New York.
What are the accommodations?
There are a variety of lodging options at Kripalu. View Accommodation Options ➜
All meals are included (Friday dinner – Sunday lunch). The all-inclusive package at Kripalu includes three daily meals, deliciously prepared with nutritious ingredients and the freshest foods that are local, seasonal, and organic.
Do I need to bring anything?
Here is a list of items to bring:
- A cushion or blanket to sit on if you prefer sitting on the ground. Chairs will be available
- Pack layers as the weather can change quickly. This can include a warm sweater/jacket for outdoor exercises
- Comfortable shoes for walking
- Personal toiletries
- Flashlight
- Anything special you would like to have blessed on the ceremonial altar
- Notepad/Journal (not required)
Are there any prerequisites to attend?
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.
When does the program start and end?
The retreat will begin on Friday (March 28, 2025) with check-in from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, dinner at 5:45 pm and an opening session at 7:30 pm.
The program will conclude on Sunday (March 30, 2025) at 1:30 pm with lunch following a closing session.
Will the program be live-streamed?
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.
Do I need to attend the entire retreat?
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.
Will plant medicine be offered?
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.
Will I become a shaman by attending this program?
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.
What is Shamanism?
Shamanism is a way of honoring nature. Practiced in various forms around the world by different indigenous tribes, the methods of shamanism are diverse; however, they are unified in their inherent basis in the natural world.
Wixárika Tribe
The Huichol (Wixáritari) are a small indigenous tribe of approximately 35,000, living in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. They are considered one of the last cultures in North America to have maintained their pre-Columbian traditions to this day.
Shamanic Healing
Inherent to the spiritual traditions of shamanism is the art of healing. Although our programs do not aim to teach people to heal or become shamans, they most definitely provide the tools for personal healing and transformation.