We now have a new home page. You will be re-directed to the new home page in 5 seconds.
If you are not re-directed in a few seconds then click here (www.shamanism.com).

GotoThe mission of the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies is to preserve the Huichol culture and its shamanic practices and traditions. The foundation was established in 1979 by Brant Secunda to carry on the vision of his grandfather and teacher, don José Matsuwa, the renowned Huichol shama

n. Don Jose's vision was to leave Brant in his place to carry on the sacred traditions and to teach Huichol shamanism.Don José believed that the healing traditions are available for everyone who has an open heart. He also believed that when people learn about the inherent beauty and healing power found in the Huichol way of life, they would want to support the cultural and spiritual survival of the Huichol Indians. To bring don José's visions to life, Brant Secunda established the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies.The foundation sponsors Brant Secunda's workshops throughout the world, including pilgrimages, vision quests, and holistic medical conferences. Participants learn the sacred Huichol traditions. These traditions reunite people to the source of all life in order to help heal the earth, our communities, and ourselves.The Dance of the Deer Foundation works with several villages to provide economic solutions which help the Huichol people to return to their land, their traditional way of life, and their ceremonies. The foundation's efforts have made it possible for the Huichols to move further away from town, to live more traditionally, to preserve their corn farming and sacred art traditions so that they are not forced to work on tobacco or coffee plantations or in other industrial areas. For this reason, proceeds from all the foundation's activities go directly to the Huichols, to don José's village and extended family. The Dance of the Deer Foundation is helping the Huichol Indians to maintain both their rich cultural heritage and their spiritual and healing traditions.The Huichol Indians are a small tribe of approximately 15,000 living in central Mexico near Ixtlan in the Sierra Madre Mountains. They are said to be the last tribe in North America to have maintained their pre-Columbian traditions. Huichol shamans and healers practice today as they have for generations. In part, their survival is due to the focus of their traditions.They have no history of war. Rather than training for war, they train their hearts to open to the healing powers of love and to the celebrations of life through the seasons. Because of this, they are famous for their strong ceremonial tradition, rich mythology and incredible visionary artwork.Primarily an agricultural people, the Huichol are dependent upon corn, planting their fields along the steep slopes of their mountain homeland. Corn is life for the Huichol Indians. The yearly cycle of preparing the fields, planting, growing, and harvesting the corn is surrounded by religious ceremony, as is all of Huichol life.Huichol life is a continuous cycle of ritual and devotional exercises designed to help them stay connected to the Ancient Ones-Tate Wari (Grandfather Fire), Takutsi Nakawey (Grandmother Growth), Kauyumari (our brother, the Deer Spirit), and Tatei Yurianaka (Mother Earth), among others. The Huichols say that during ceremony, they are inviting these spirits to come into the circle of life to be with them- to help empower them and their families, and to help the universe stay in balance.Shamanism is an ancient healing tradition and moreover, a way of life. Huichol shamanism honors all of creation, especially the spirit of nature- the power of the animals, the winged ones, the minerals, and plants. This shamanic tradition involves healing and empowerment through personal transformation and direct experience as well as the healing of our families, communities and our environment. By following the shaman's path, we can truly learn to inhabit the earth and our being with gentleness and respect.The Huichol say we are created from the elements of the natural world- fire, air, water and earth. Because of this, each of us is a miniature universe, a mirror of both the natural and the spiritual worlds. All the knowledge and secrets of these two worlds are inside of us and everything is perfectly arranged. Shamanism teaches us to tap into that arrangement, to understand and to live in harmony with the natural and spiritual worlds.Ceremony, sacred dance, vision quest, and pilgrimages to places of power in nature are all essential aspects of shamanism. Through these techniques, the shamanic circle embraces us unifying our lives with strength, healing and love.

Brant Secunda is a shaman, healer and ceremonial leader in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico. He completed a 12-year apprenticeship with Don Jose Matsuwa, the renowned shaman, who died in 1990 at the age of 110. Since 1979 Brant Secunda has been the Director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation, Center for Shamanic Studies. Having worked with the World Health Organization and the American Holistic Medical Association, Brant is integrating shamanism into the world of modern medicine. He is an internationally recognized shaman and healer. Brant Secunda leads seminars and retreats worldwide.His work has been documented on television, radio, and in articles and books throughout the United States and Europe.

In the Catskill Mountains there is a beautiful lakeside retreat. Join us there and experience Huichol Shamanism, ceremonial celebration and healing with Brant Secunda.You will be given the opportunity to learn practices of shamanic health and healing, and learn how to use dreams to guide and empower your life. In this beautiful setting, you will learn how to approach sacred places of power in nature and how to bring that power into your heart to nourish and balance your life.The Huichol tradition invites us to pass through the doorway of the heart - "Nierika" - to find the ancient wisdom each of us carries there. Huichol shamanism enables us to open up to a profound healing power for ourselves, our communities and our world.By following the shaman's path we can truly inhabit the earth and our being with gentleness and respect.This seminar includes a new slide show taken in Mexico featuring the late Don José Matsuwa and other great shamans. It also includes an exhibition of Huichol sacred art which explores traditional myths and legends.

Join Brant Secunda at Mount Shasta, one of the most spectacular places of power in the world. This beautiful peak in Northern California has been known for centuries as a healing place of power. As we journey to Shasta, we touch the heart of the ancient ones who dwell there, learning first-hand the wisdom and insights this sacred place has to give us. When we connect with the spirit of the mountain by giving our gifts of prayer, we are in turn deeply touched by Shasta's unique power. And by opening to the power of life in this beautiful place, we bring profound wholeness into our own lives, as well as our communities and the Earth. This is an extraordinary opportunity to experience a pilgrimage and to learn through Huichol ceremonies, prayer, vision quest, drumming, song and dance. Learn to draw upon the power of your heart and the power of the mountain and to experience this wonderful union with nature.On this eighteenth annual pilgrimage, Brant will teach us to honor the Earth and the ancient ones through Huichol ceremonies. He will teach the Dance Of The Deer, which helps bring balance to the earth and joy to our hearts.Huichol shamanic practices of purification, prayer, dreamwork, visionary art and drumming will empower us for our personal well-being. There will also be an opportunity to participate in a one-day vision quest, to connect intimately with the land and with ourselves, and to gain the power, vision and clarity Mother Earth has to offer.

Winter-and Mother Earth sleeps-dreaming. Summer-awake, she lives those dreams. Learn to approach your life as a living dream and experience the power of Huichol shamanism during this annual 10-day seminar and pilgrimage to the Alaskan wilderness with Brant Secunda. We will meet at Juneau's only wilderness retreat center near the Mendenhall Glacier and the Tongus Mountains. Our cabins and beautiful meeting lodge look out over Lynn Canal and Benjamin Island, one of the largest sea lion rookeries in Southeast Alaska. The waters are teaming with whales, porpoise, seals, river otters and spawning salmon, and the surrounding forest is home to bear, caribou, moose, deer, and bald eagles.Take this rare opportunity to live in community, listening to the ancient stories of creation and the living spirits of this pristine land. Learn practices of shamanic health and healing, drumming and singing. We will make ceremonies for MOTHER EARTH and Grandmother Ocean, and celebrate this season of almost endless light. We will offer special prayers for our endangered animal relatives, and ask them to teach us how to inhabit the earth with gentleness and respect.Brant will guide us in the vision quest experience, teach us how to recognize and approach places of power in nature, and help us bring that power into our lives. He will show us how to listen more closely to our dreams, so we may use them to bring a sense of purpose and balance to our lives.The Huichols believe every human being can learn to walk the shamanic path. As we learn and participate in this age-old tradition, we, too, will begin to remember the sacredness of our lives and discover our responsibilities as human beings living upon the earth.

This annual Spring Retreat will be held in the spectacular setting of the highest mountain in Europe, the "Monte Bianco", in an area called "Gran Paradiso" - Great Paradise.We will experience the joy of life and the power and clarity which can come from being present in a shamanic circle. The tradition of Huichol Shamanism has helped the Indians for thousands of years to find their place on MOTHER EARTH.Brant Secunda will teach us how to find balance and harmony in our modern lives through ancient rituals and purification practices. In the powerful surrounding of the Great Paradise - "Gran Paradiso" it will be easy to recapture and deepen our intimate connection with nature - our inner nature and the nature which surrounds us.For many thousands of years, this land has been famous for its various places of power and we will use this inspiring energy to learn more about the circle of life.With the fire in the center of our circle, we learn to travel through the "Nierika" - the doorway of our heart - and connect with the ancient wisdom, each one of us carries there. We can learn to see our dreams and visions more clearly every day and use them for the creation of our life.We will dance the sacred "Dance of the Deer", a trance dance the Huichols use to honor life and to find healing for body, heart, and spirit. Brant Secunda will teach us how we can use shamanic singing, rattling and drumming, as well as pilgrimages to sacred places of power - like the "Monte Bianco" as tools for personal transformation. There will also be the opportunity to go in a traditional way on visionquest.Together we will be part of the beautiful spring time in Italy and celebrate our lives with laughter, joy and power. The accommodations will be in a beautiful villa directly in the "Gran Paradiso" area.

This seminar will be held in Germany in the foothills of the Alps, overlooking the mountain range and the highest mountain in Germany, the "Zugspitze".Brant Secunda will teach the meaning and importance of pilgrimages to places of power and how we can transform that power into personal life force. He will lead the group on a pilgrimage to the 'Zugspitze', so everyone has the opportunity to leave their offerings and receive blessings in the ancient way of the Huichol Shamanic tradition.The focus of this 5 day retreat will be to align ourselves with the "Spirit of Spring", a time to go inside ourselves and find our balance in connection with the seasons. The teachings also include important aspects of Shamanism; such as, how to live our lives in a harmonious relationship with nature, to participate in rituals and ceremonies in order to connect with our deepest inner aspects and how to nuture us through daily and annual practices.Purification exercises for body, heart and spirit will be taught by Brant Secunda to help us find inner clarity and harmony and to connect us with the elements.The rich stories about Brant Secunda's 12 year apprenticeship with Don José Matsuwa in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico, help to bring the ancient teachings alive and give a wonderful insight into the depth and the healing humor of the Huichol way.

This year, celebrate Thanksgiving in Mexico in a very special way. Join Huichol shamans Doña Josefa Medrano and Brant Secunda as they make their annual pilgrimage to Tate Haramara, Grandmother Ocean, the birthplace of all life.This special 10-day retreat will be held at beautiful ocean side villa near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We will find ourselves opening up more and more to the natural world around us as we rise each morning to greet the sun and ocean. As we participate in ceremony, drumming and practices of shamanic health and healing, we will explore the rich world of Huichol cosmology and learn to see our own dreams and visions a little clearer each day.This is a rare opportunity to live and work "as one heart," as the Huichols do! As we participate in their ancient ceremonies of renewal, we will learn to fulfill our responsibilities as human beings to help maintain the continued balance of earth and sky. Making our pilgrimage to the ocean, we will learn how to approach places of power, ask for the things we need in our lives and develop an ongoing relationship with the natural world. In this way we can truly learn to inhabit the earth and our being with gentleness and respect.We will perform the sacred Dance of the Deer to bring power, healing and joy into our lives. This teaches us to listen to the voice of our heart and trust our own intuitive wisdom. The tradition of Huichol Shamanism guides us through the doorway of the heart, the "Nierka", into the ancient wisdom each of us carries there. We will also participate in special ceremonies to embrace the WINTER SOLSTICE SUN and hold its warmth in our hearts through the introspective months ahead.When we leave this beautiful place, we will have deeper understanding of the healing power of shamanism and how to incorporate that power into our everyday lives. The natural joy and laughter of the Huichols, their ancient wisdom and "way of the heart," and their visionary yarn paintings will help make this a powerful and beautiful journey.We invite you to join us for our 11th annual pilgrimage and seminar to the Huichols' native land.

Join Brant Secunda for a weekend seminar, The Power of Huichol Shamanism: Living Medicine, Ritual and Healing. This is an extraordinary opportunity to experience, in a natural setting, the world of shamanism and ceremonial celebration in a natural setting.This seminar is held at a beautiful retreat center in the Santa Ana Mountains near Los Angeles and San Diego. Situated in a hidden canyon on 70 acres, the center is adjacent to a healing hot springs resort, which is available to all workshop participants. Accommodations are very comfortable. The food is California cuisine and adds to the perfect environment and special atmosphere for this weekend experience of Huichol Shamanism.Participants will join in a Dance of the Deer ceremony to honor the spirit of nature. You will be given the opportunity to learn practices of shamanic health and healing, and learn how to use dreams to guide and empower your life. In this beautiful setting, you will learn how to approach sacred places of power in nature and how to bring that power into your heart to nourish and balance your life.Learn healing rituals to bring alive your connection to the natural world. Brant will teach the use of imagery, symbolism and vision and how these techniques can affect the symptoms of sickness and its healing therapy.This seminar includes a new slide show taken in Mexico featuring the late Don José Matsuwa and other great shamans. It also includes an exhibition of Huichol sacred art which explores traditional myths and legends.

Join us in spectacular Big Sur, California for a celebration of the Fall Equinox. Experience Huichol Shamanism, ceremonial celebration and healing with Brant Secunda.Participate in a Dance of the Deer ceremony to honor the Fall Equinox. Learn practices of shamanic health and healing, the use of dreams to guide and empower your life, how to approach sacred places of power in nature and how to embrace that power as it nourishes and balances your life. The Huichol tradition invites us to pass through the doorway of the heart - Nierica - to find the ancient wisdom each of us carries. It enables us to open up to a profound healing power for ourselves, our communities and our world. By exploring the shaman’s path we can truly inhabit the each and our being with gentleness and respect. This seminar includes an exhibition of Huichol sacred art which explores traditional myths and legends. We invite you for an extraordinary experience of Huichol Indian Shamanism to celebrate the Fall Equinox in Big Sur.

Sport and Spirit, Connect the Power is an unprecedented event with Mark Allen, 6-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion, and Brant Secunda, world-famous shaman and healer. Join them in Santa Cruz, California and experience the world of sport and spirit, shamanism and personal transformation. Mark Allen will present the newest research on good health, physical fitness, and diet as well as “Forever Fit”, his program designed to help people live a healthy life. He will explain how to utilize the latest technology for t5raining, the essentials of an effective strength program, and how to eat for both performance and lifelong health. Participants will have the opportunity to run with mark Allen and hear his personal story of integrating sport and spirit. Brant Secunda will present the ancient traditions of Huichol Shamanism. Huichol myths and legends encourage healing and empowerment through direct experience and a balanced relationship with the natural world. Brant Secunda will lead a Dance of the Deer ceremony, teach shamanic practices of health and healing, and how to approach sacred places of power in nature. Participants will also learn about drumming and the use of dreams to guide and empower their lives. These are the ceremonies and practices that Brant used to help Mark succeed at the Ironman Races and as a world-class athlete. Whether your goals are race oriented or geared more toward a healthy lifestyle, Mark Allen and Brant Secunda developed this program of personal transformation for everyone. The powerful connection of mind, body, and spirit will be developed throughout the program. Sport and Spirit, Connect the Power combines fitness and spirituality to help you move beyond challenges, whether they are in a race or in everyday life. Come make the connection yourself.

We invite you to celebrate this New Year in an extraordinary way. Join us at a healing mineral spring, renowned for centuries as a place of power. Experience the transformative power of Huichol Shamanism with Brant Secunda.In the Huichol shamanic tradition, winter is a time of introspection, dreaming and inner transformation. In the stillness of winter, we have a chance to quiet our minds so our hearts can sea and hear. We can awaken, open ourselves to the heart of creation and find a deep connection to the power and beauty around us. Find your own power by doing something beautiful for Mother Earth and the Ancient Ones. By exploring the shaman’s path, we can truly inhabit the earth and our being with gentleness and respect. Join in an all night Dance of the Deer ceremony to honor the New Year. Learn practices of shamanic health and healing and the use of dreams to guide your life. Brant Secunda will lead you to places of power, teaching techniques to approach such sacred places to empower you to live a more balanced life. The retreat also includes a slide show taken in Mexico featuring the date Don Jose Matsuwa and other great shamans and an exhibition of Huichol sacred art which explores traditional myths and legends.

In order to continue my grandfather, don José Matsuwa's vision, for the last 15 years I have been traveling world-wide leading workshops, seminars and pilgrimages. Going on a pilgrimage to a place of power 5 years in a row is one traditional way of learning to become a Huichol Shaman; but pilgrimage is for everyone, not just for shamans. Each year I lead a number of pilgrimages throughout the U.S. and Europe. We go to places of power to help heal the earth, to learn the language of the gods, and to have a vision to help transform and empower our lives. I have also established on-going Huichol shamanic study groups on both the East and West coasts of the United States and in Europe. These groups meet between 3 and 4 times a year to honor the changing seasons, the Earth Mother, and special places of power such as Grandmother Ocean or Mt. Shasta, "The Healing Mountain", in Northern California. Open workshops meet at various places of power in Europe. For instance, we meet at Eagle Mountain in the Cevennes Nat'l Park in France, the Zugspitze in Germany, on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean, and in the mountains of Tuscany, near Florence, Italy. In the United States we meet at places such as the Tongas Mountains near the sea in Alaska, Orcas Island, Mt. Shasta, Mt. Rainier and others. Participants take part in ceremony, learn practices of shamanic health and healing, how to use dreams to guide and empower their lives, as well as how to approach sacred places of power in nature. I invite you to join us and experience for yourself the special power of Huichol Indian Shamanism.