Friday
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Arrival + Check-In
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Dinner
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm | Opening Session + Ceremony
Activity Level
●●○○○
Group Size
30-40
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Prerequisites
No experience needed
Focus Your Intentions
Love & Light
During this gathering, we shall come together to give thanks for the blessings of the past year and set our intentions for the new year ahead.
Join us to find clarity of mind and recharge your spirit through sacred shamanic practices. In joining together in retreat, we have the opportunity to find new inspiration for our life and set our intentions for the year ahead.
By sitting together in the circle we reconnect with community and through the art of pilgrimage and spiritual practice, we strengthen our innate connection with nature. Each day we uncover greater appreciation for the gift of life by honoring Mother Earth and all of creation.
What to expect from the
Experience
Gratitude
Begin each day by giving thanks for your life, breathing in the light of Grandfather Fire, and grounding yourself I the love of Mother Earth. Daily rituals help remind us that our life is sacred and of our duty as human beings to care for our planet.
Prayer
Allow your heart to reach out to the spirits of nature and call upon them for help and guidance. The art of prayer allows us to deepen our relationship to our ancient ancestors and the elemental powers of the four directions.
Connection
Utilize ancient chants, along with the sound of the drum and rattle to shift your consciousness and tune into an alternate spiritual reality. Through this process we learn to connect with the unseen life force that flows through everything.
Community
Gather together with a group of people seeking personal and planetary healing. Huichol Shamanism not only strengthens our relationship with the spirits of nature; it also naturally builds a loving and kind community.
Celebration
Together in a sacred ceremony we will welcome the New Year and dance our prayers into the altar of Mother Earth. We celebrate the past, present, and future in this way.
Meet Your
Teacher & Guide
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.
Pricing
Tuition + Accommodation options
- Tuition Prices
- Adult • $475
- Child • $237.50
- Infant • FREE $0
Tuition Options
include program instruction and materials
Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Sessions
- Tribal songs, chants, drumming & rattling.
- Journeying exercises working with the 4 directions.
- Meditation practices to connect with the elemental powers.
- Lecture & discussion including Huichol cosmology and myths.
- Question and answer opportunities.
Dance of the Deer Ceremonies
- Ancient ceremony to honor the light of creation, celebrate the summer season and pray for healing for ourselves and the planet.
Pilgrimage to Lake George
- Learn how to approach places of power in prayer.
- Receive a transmission of power from the lake.
Accommodations
Our all-inclusive packages include lodging and three daily meals, deliciously prepared with nutritious ingredients.
Our Lodge, with breathtaking views of the Silver Bay in Lake George, offers comfortable and modern accommodations. Double rooms, private rooms, or family rooms are available, each with its own bath attached.
Discounted Attendance
Students
Register with a .edu email address and save 10% on all tuition options.
Seniors
If you’re 65 or older, you can save 10% on all tuition options. Simply select the checkbox when registering.
Families
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.
Retreat Itinerary
Program schedule + session details
FAQ + Guide
Tips to ensure a great experience
Where is the program located?
The Retreat is held along the shores of the beautiful Lake George, about a 1.5-hour drive from Albany, New York.
Detailed directions will be provided upon registration.
What are the accommodations?
Our all-inclusive packages include lodging and three daily meals, deliciously prepared with nutritious ingredients.
Our Lodge, with breathtaking views of the Silver Bay in Lake George, offers comfortable and modern accommodations. Double rooms, private rooms, or family rooms are available, each with its own bath attached.
How do I arrange my travel?
By Air
The nearest airports are Albany International Airport (ALB) or Burlington International Airport (BTV). Both are about a 1.5-hour drive from the retreat center. New York City airports are other options as well. It is approximately a 4-hour drive from the Manhattan area.
By Train
Two Amtrak trains per day stop in Ticonderoga (20 minutes north of Silver Bay) year-round. One departing from Penn Station in NYC and one arriving at Penn Station in NYC. All trains stop at the Albany/Rensselaer station to travel north to Ticonderoga.
By Bus
Buses from major cities stop south of Silver Bay in Lake George Village and Glens Falls, New York.
Do I need to bring anything?
Here is a list of items to bring:
- Pack layers as the weather can change quickly, and it can get cool at night. You may want to bring a warm sweater/jacket for outdoor exercises and comfortable shoes for walking.
- Bathing suit and towel for swimming in the lake.
- Chair, cushion, or blanket to sit on outside.
- Notepad/Journal (not required).
Additional items will be provided upon registration.
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 program will begin on Friday (August 23, 2024) with check-in opening at 4:00 pm and the first session beginning at 7:30 pm.
The program will conclude with lunch on Sunday (August 25, 2024) at 12:00 pm.
Will the program be live-streamed?
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.
Do I need to attend the entire program?
We greatly encourage everyone to join the workshop 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.
Can children attend?
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.
Have questions?
Schedule a call with us
What people are saying
Testimonials
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.