Activity Level
●●○○○
Group Size
30-40
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Prerequisites
None
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 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
| Ticket type | Retreat |
|---|---|
| Adult | €900 |
| Child | €450 |
| Infant | FREE (€0) |
Tuition Options
Includes 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 new year, celebrate the winter season and pray for healing for ourselves and the planet.
Pilgrimage to the Schwarzach River
- Learn how to approach places of power in prayer.
- Receive a transmission of power from the land.
Accommodations
| ROOM TYPE | PRICE |
|---|---|
| SOFA BED | €600 • Shared bedroom on sofa-bed or cot with shared bath. |
| STANDARD BED | €800 • Shared bedroom on standard bed with shared bath. |
| PRIVATE ROOM | €1,500 • Private room with private bath. |
| COMMUTER | €315 • For those who reserve and pay separately for off-site accommodations. |
Accommodation Options
Prices are per/person, all meals included
Our all-inclusive package include lodging and three daily meals, deliciously prepared with nutritious ingredients.
Our seminar house, nestled in the picturesque Murnthal region, offers a serene and tranquil escape surrounded by gardens, forests, and a river. Guests can enjoy modern amenities in a variety of room options.
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.
Itinerary
Program schedule + session details
Saturday
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Arrival + Check-In
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Opening Session + Ceremony
Sunday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Evening Session
Monday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Evening Session
Tuesday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
10:00 pm – 2:00 am | New Year Dance of the Deer Ceremony
Wednesday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Evening Session
Thursday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:30 pm | Morning Session
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Evening Session
Friday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Closing Session + Blessing and Prayer
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Lunch & Goodbyes – we prefer to say we’ll see you later!
FAQ + Guide
Tips to ensure a great experience
Where is the program located?
The Retreat will be held in the Murnthal region of Bavaria in the town of Neunburg vorm Wald, about a 2-hour drive from Munich.
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.
Guests can enjoy modern amenities in cozy private or shared rooms. Shared rooms share a bathroom; private rooms offer private bathrooms.
How do I arrange my travel?
By Air
The nearest airports are Nuremberg Airport (NUE) or Munich Airport (MUC). Nuremberg Airport is about a 1 hour and 15-minute drive, while Munich Airport is about a 2-hour drive from the seminar house. You will need to arrange your own transportation. Many people will rent cars, while others prefer to arrange a taxi ride.
By Train
The nearest train station is Bodenwöhr Nord, which is a 15-minute taxi ride away from the retreat. The recommend taxi is Taxi Weinzierl, located in Bodenwöhr (09434 200500). Alternatively, guests can travel to Schwandorf Station, which is a 30-minute drive from the retreat.
By Bus
Buses operated by the regional company (e.g., VLP – Verkehrsverbund Landkreis Passau) connect Neunburg vorm Wald with neighboring towns and cities. Check local bus schedules for routes that might pass through or near Untermurnthal.
Do I need to bring anything?
Here is a list of items to bring:
-
- Layers of comfortable clothing
- Walking shoes for hiking
- Bathing suit + towel
- Chair, cushion, or blanket to sit on
- Personal toiletries
- Pocket knife (necessary for one of our exercises)
- Flashlight
- Daypack
- Water bottle and coffee/tea mug
- Anything special you would like to have blessed on the ceremonial altar
When does the program start and end?
The program will begin on Saturday (December 28, 2024) with check-in beginning at 3:00 pm and the first session beginning at 8:00 pm.
The program will conclude with lunch on Friday (January 3, 2025) at 12:00 pm.
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 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.
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.