Spiritual Cleansing
Purge yourself of negativity and learn to absorb positive energy from the natural world around you.
Geographic Information
Crete is the 5th largest island in the Mediterranean and holds a significant part of Greek heritage and culture. It is considered the birthplace of western civilization and is home to countless historical sites found within Greek mythology. Crete was once the center of the Minoan civilization (c. 2700–1420 BC), currently regarded as the earliest recorded civilization in Europe. The island’s earliest human inhabitants date back to 130,000 years ago (approx. 128,000 BC) with Neolithic farming communities.
The Cretan landscape includes rocky mountain slopes, deep valleys, long gorges, and 650mi (1,046 km) of beautiful coastline. The tallest mountain on the island, Mount Ida, was the birthplace of Zeus. Crete is filled with archeological sites, including Knossos, Phaistos, Gortys, and countless others.
Meet Your Guides
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.
Nico Secunda
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 of member of the Provost Advisory Council at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Nico utilized his unique perspectives to help guide the long-term vision of the college with an aim of supporting a balance of environmental sustainability, modern technology, and community diversity.
Nico holds a 4th Dan (degree) black belt in Aikido and is a regular instructor at Aikido of Santa Cruz. As a close student of Motomichi Anno Shihan (8th Dan), Nico has journeyed to Japan many times to deepen his practice and connection with the roots of Aikido. He is also a member of the Aikido for Tomorrow initiative, striving to support future generations of Aikido practitioners around the globe.
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.
Itinerary
Program schedule + session details
Wednesday
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Check-In
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Dinner
7:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Opening Session + Blessing
Thursday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner
Friday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner
Saturday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner
Sunday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:00 am – 10:00 am | Room Checkout & Goodbyes for Part-Time Attendees
Sunday is a rest day with opportunities to relax in the village or explore nearby towns and sights
9:00 am – 6:00 pm | Free-time
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Dinner
7:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Ceremony
Monday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm | Evening Session, Ceremony, or Purification Practice
Tuesday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner
Wednesday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Evening Session, Ceremony, or Purification Practice
Thursday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Free-time
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session + Closing Ceremony
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner
Friday
8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast
9:00 am – 10:00 am | Room Checkout & Goodbyes – we prefer to say we’ll see you later!
Travel
Information for your journey
Where is the program located?
The retreat will be held on the south coast of Crete, Greece. We stay in family-owned Tavenrnas (traditional Greek inns) in a small village at the end of the road. The exact location of the retreat will be provided upon registration.
By Air
The primary airport in Crete is Heraklion International Airport (HER), which offers connecting flights through major EU airports. Chania International Airport (CHQ) is another option, though there are fewer daily flights. Both airports are approx. 1 hr 45min drive to the village where our retreat is held.
By Bus + Taxi
Shuttles from the airport are not included and we recommend using a Taxi or renting a car. Below is the contact information for a local taxi driver who has driven many of our attendees over the past 30+ years and who we highly recommend:
Petros Giannadakis
Phone: +30 697 7570376
Email: w-petros-taxi-@hotmail.com
FAQ + Guide
Tips to ensure a great retreat experience
When does the program start and end?
The Retreat will begin on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) with check-in from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm, followed by dinner at 6:00 pm and an opening session at 8:00 pm. The program will conclude on Friday (April 10, 2026), which is solely a departure day. You must be checked out by 10:00 am.
For those attending Part-Time, you must be checked out by 10:00 am on Sunday (April 5, 2026).
What are the accommodations?
Participants stay at a number of “Tavernas,” or small family-owned hotels. Each Taverna has beautiful rooms near the coast.
Meals are not included.
Each meal can be purchased individually during the retreat.
Everyone will dine together at the different Tavernas each meal. Experience mouth-watering dishes that exemplify the renowned Mediterranean diet, accompanied by local foods such as fresh fish, wild vegetables, and family-grown olives.
How many Euros should I bring?
Budgeting around 30 Euros per day should comfortably cover three meals, including meat and fish dishes. If you opt for vegetarian options, your expenses may be lower depending on your choices. You can choose to leave a tip at the end of your stay or on a per-meal basis.
You may also want to factor in extra for unexpected expenses and the cost of a taxi to and from the airport.
Do I need to bring anything?
Here is a list of items to bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Cushion, blanket, or outdoor chair
- Hat and sun protection
- Bathing suit
- Euros for meals
- Snacks, if you need them
- Rain gear
- Personal toiletries
- Pocket knife
- Layers of clothing
- Beach towels
- Flashlight
- Daypack
- Water bottle
- Sleeping bag and mat for possible/optional one-day vision quest (Intensive only)
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.
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.
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.