Spiritual Cleansing
Purge yourself of negativity and learn to absorb positive energy from the natural world around you.
Activity Level
●●○○○
Group Size
30-45
Duration
6 days / 5 nights
Prerequisites
None
Meet Your Guide
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.
Pricing
Tuition + Accommodation options
Tuition
| Ticket type | Retreat |
|---|---|
| Adult | €680 |
| Child (3-12) | €340 |
| Infant (0-3) | 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 light of creation, celebrate the autumn season and pray for healing for ourselves and the planet.
Pilgrimage to the Zugspitze
- Learn how to approach places of power in prayer.
- Receive a transmission of power from the mountain.
Accommodations
| ROOM TYPE | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Shared Room | €72 |
| Multi-Bed Apartment | €72 |
| Triple Room | €72 |
| Twin Room / Shared Bath | €86 |
| Twin Room / Private Bath | €101 |
| Private Room | €123 |
Accommodation Options
Prices are per/person, all meals included
Selected lodging option
ZIST’s beautiful accommodations include well-appointed rooms built with eco-friendly materials. More about accommodations →
- Shared Room • Multi-bed bedroom with shared bath.
- Multi-Bed Apartment • Multi-bed apartment with private bath.
- Triple Room • Triple occupancy bedroom with shared bath.
- Twin Room • Double occupancy bedroom with shared or private bath.
- Single Room • Private bedroom with private bath.
Organic, vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with fresh produce grown from ZIST’s own garden.
Access to the retreat grounds + amenities
Itinerary
Program schedule + session details
Sunday
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Arrival + Check-In
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Opening Session + Ceremony
Monday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:00 pm | Morning Session
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Evening Session
Tuesday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:00 pm | Morning Session
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Evening Session
Wednesday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:00 pm | Morning Session
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Evening Session
Thursday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:00 pm | Morning Session
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Break
3:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Afternoon Session
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Closing Session
Friday
8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast
9:30 am – 12:00 pm | Morning Session
12:00 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 seminar center is surrounded by a magnificent landscape on a Southern slope facing the Alps, surrounded by pastures, forests and lakes in a remote yet easily accessible rural area about 50 km south of Munich.
When does the program start and end?
The program will begin on Sunday (October 26, 2025) with check-in opening at 4:00 pm and the first session beginning at 8:00 pm.
The program will conclude with lunch on Friday (October 31, 2025) at 12:00 pm.
What are the accommodations?
ZIST’s beautiful accommodations include well-appointed rooms built with eco-friendly materials.
Delicious vegetarian meals will be freshly prepared throughout the retreat. All of your meals will be provided beginning with dinner on Sunday evening through lunch on Friday afternoon.
How do I arrange my travel?
The nearest international airports are Munich Airport (code: MUC). The airport is approximately a 1-hour drive from ZIST. For assistance with shuttle arrangements, please contact the ZIST staff.
Do I need to bring anything?
Here is a list of items to bring:
- Layers of comfortable clothing, including a warm sweater/jacket for outdoor exercises
- Comfortable walking shoes for hiking
- Chair, cushion, or blanket to sit on
- Personal toiletries
- Flashlight
- Pocket knife (necessary for one of our exercises)
- Water bottle and coffee/tea mug
- House shoes
- Anything special you would like to have blessed on the ceremonial altar
Additional items to bring will be listed in the registration confirmation email from ZIST.
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.
Can children attend?
Yes, we love having all ages included at our programs, and ZIST welcomes families and children. Children ages 3 and under stay free of charge. For children who sleep in their parent’s rooms, ZIST offers the following reduced flat rates for full board:
- Children ages 3-6: €29/night
- Children ages 7-14: €63/night
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.
Building Community in the Sacred Circle
Join a circle of like-minded individuals to facilitate both personal and planetary change. Experience the power of collective prayer and ritual in a safe atmosphere of love and understanding.
“It is important for us to find the power of love and wisdom in ourselves, to find our connection to our environment, our community and to Mother Earth, as well as to our own spiritual core. I pray every day to live my life from my heart, to be able to help the people in a good way, to be able to turn my visions into a meaningful reality”– Brant Secunda
Meditate in Nature
Take time each day for personal meditation. Commune with the spirits of nature while sitting in meadows overlooking the alpine horizon or along the fresh spring-fed lakes.
Allow your mindful chatter to dissipate and the healing silence of nature to cleanse your mind and purify your soul. Through daily practice, you will become acquainted with the teachings of nature.
Energetic Cleansing
Nature provides us a pre-built system for both physical and energetic cleansing. Autumn and Spring are both natural times of balance, during which we too should strive to find internal peace and tranquility.
Learn authentic Huichol practices for unifying yourself with nature to obtain that balance. In this way, we can gain a state of harmony within ourselves and with all of life.
Tranquility for Body & Soul
The surrounding landscape provides a balance between the tranquility of the gently rolling meadows and the sharp power of the distant alpine peaks that line the horizon.
Comfortable rooms, maid service and of course delicious organic meals allow you to enjoy each and every moment of this unique retreat.