Sunday
3:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Check-In
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Opening Ceremony
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60 max
7 days / 6 nights
View Prerequisites →
Focus your intensions on
The Huichol believe it is our responsibility as human beings to care for our Mother Earth. In turn, the teachings and practices of Huichol Shamanism focus not only on our own personal healing but on the healing of all of creation.
Join together in sacred community. Learn to bring about greater harmony within yourself and tap into the healing energy of nature through ceremony and the art of pilgrimage.
What to expect from the
Travel more deeply not only into the Nierika (spiritual doorway), but also physically to various places of power surrounding Mt. Shasta.
Awaken your dream state amidst the tranquility of nature, with a full week to unplug from the distractions of daily life.
Wash away any negativity that may be holding you back in life and reinvigorate your body, heart, and spirit with the energy of the healing waters that flow from the mountain.
Build a stronger relationship with your community – not only with the people with whom you share this journey, but also with the animals, the trees and flowers, the rocks and rivers, the earth and sky that are always there for you.
Meet Your
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.
Nico Secunda has been steeped in the indigenous Huichol tradition and shamanic practices since birth. He completed an intensive shamanic apprenticeship with his father (Brant Secunda) at twenty-one years of age and underwent the rare transmission of power ceremony to become a Mara-Akame (Huichol Shaman) in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico.
He is the Managing Director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation – Center for Shamanic Studies. Nico is also the Co-Founder of the Huichol Foundation, which provides economic and cultural support to the indigenous Huichol people of Mexico.
As a child of both the modern world and the ancient Huichol culture, Nico has walked a unique path, bridging the new and old worlds. Because of this, he offers a very relatable approach for people striving to integrate spiritual practices into their daily lives and unify various aspects of the self.
Tuition + Accommodation options
Tent not provided; please plan on bringing your own tent, sleeping bag, and pillow. Price is per/person. All meals included.
Select this option if staying offsite (hotel, B&B, etc). You will reserve and pay separately for your own off-site accommodations. Price is per/person. All meals included.
Limited spaces are available and must be booked and paid for separately with the venue. Price is per/person. All meals included.
include program instruction and materials
Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions
Dance of the Deer Ceremonies
Pilgrimage to Mt. Shasta
all options include the following
Selected lodging option
17 vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) from dinner on Sunday to breakfast on Saturday.
Access to the retreat grounds + amenities – rivers, ponds, bathrooms, hot showers, and laundry facilities.
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 intensive experience
The Intensive will be held near the town of Mt. Shasta in Northern California at the same location as our annual retreat. Detailed location information and directions will be provided upon registration.
There are a variety of lodging options for this program, though most people choose to camp. RV/Car Camping spots must be booked and paid for separately with the venue. Venue contact information will be provided upon registration.
All meals are included (Sunday dinner – Saturday breakfast). Our chefs prepare vegetarian meals and can provide vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free options.
Daily activities may include walking, excursion drives, swimming in rivers, and easy hikes; and some days may include longer hikes and pilgrimages. Intensive attendees should be in good health and comfortable walking or standing for extended periods of time.
Generally, the typical climate is hot and dry during the day and cooler at night.
The heat adds a unique intensity to the program, though we like to meet in the shade whenever possible. There is a creek that runs along the property with cold mountain water that you can enjoy during breaks.
Here is a list of items to bring:
For the well-being of all attendees and our beloved animal friends, dogs are not permitted at our event sessions. Our program includes drumming and rattling sounds that may be unsettling to them.
If you’re considering an RV spot, the venue may accommodate your dog, although breed-specific regulations apply. Kindly inquire with the venue when reserving your spot.
Yes. You must first attend one of our retreats or workshops prior to joining an Intensive program.
If you have not already attended a retreat or workshop, you can fulfill the prerequisite by joining our Mt. Shasta Retreat, immediately before the Intensive.
The Intensive will begin on Sunday (July 21, 2024) with check-in from 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm, followed by dinner at 6:00 pm and an opening session at 8:00 pm.
The program will conclude on Saturday (July 27, 2024) at 11:00 am once the camp is cleaned up.
No. This program 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.
Yes, we ask that all attendees join for the entire Intensive (Sunday – Saturday) in order to support the collective energy of the circle.
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.
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.
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.
Schedule a call with us
healing is a
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.
Huichol Tribe
The Huichol (Wixaritari) 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.