Staying Steady

With all the ups and downs, highs and lows of modern day life, it can be very difficult to remain steady and even keeled. The Huichol people have an amazing ability to remain steady in their life. Both emotionally and physically, they live a life of continuity and balance. By better understanding the ways in which ancient indigenous cultures lived a sustainable life, we too can unlock the secrets to avoiding the roller coaster of negative emotions and physical pain.

By making yourself aware of the natural rhythm of nature and by striving to be a part of that cycle, each of us can find stability on our path of life.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience. If you continue using this website, we'll assume that you are happy about that.

IT'S OK more info

Brant Secunda

Shaman & Healer

Brant Secunda is a shaman, healer, and ceremonial leader in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico. He completed a 12-year apprenticeship with Don José Matsuwa, the renowned shaman who passed away in 1990 at the age of 110. Brant Secunda is the adopted grandson of Don José and was chosen by Don José to take his place to help carry on Huichol Shamanism. He is the co-founder of the American Herbalist Guild, and the founder of the Huichol Foundation. Since 1979 Brant Secunda has been the Director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies and leads seminars and pilgrimages worldwide. His work has been documented on television, radio, and in articles and books throughout the USA, Europe and Japan. He is the co-author of the award-winning book Fit Soul Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You.

Transcript

Mark Allen You described the Huichol people as being very steady. How would you define steady from their cultural perspective?

Brant Secunda That was one of the things that I marveled at the most when I was there living with the Huichols, how steady a people they were. No matter what came up, they were steady. They were calm. You could start, even, from the way they walk. They can walk great distances, long distances, but they just did it steadily. They walk steadily. They didn't walk really fast and then really slow and really fast again. They just were steady in the same way they lived their lift. They just were steady. They were constant. They were always just being connected to the earth.

Mark Allen This is a conscious effort they made to stay steady?

Brant Secunda Yes, it definitely was a conscious effort not to get really excited and then really depressed then really excited. They always believed that you should just be steady.

Mark Allen Is that how they would live, let's say, longer lives that bring them more health? Does it bring health when you're steady like that?

Brant Secunda They think so, for sure. They say that when you're steady, you're not getting really excited. You're not getting really sad. Your life is just in balance that way.

Mark Allen A lot of us in the modern world probably would say we don't lead steady lives. How can we bring ourselves back to that more calm approach to challenges that we face?

Brant Secunda By practicing it, by living it, by doing it.

Mark Allen Clearly, being steady is something that can help us all in the modern world. There's probably not a whole lot of people that would say their lives are steady. How can foster that? How can we find that steadiness ourselves?

Brant Secunda You find it yourself by looking inside of your heart to find the connection to maybe, the rhythm of nature, to find a connection to the sunrise or the sunset. That is something that happens every single day and is a steady reality that you can count on. That's one way.

Another way would be to just remember not to go super up or super down with your emotions, just to live, emotionally, a steady life. That is connected into living a life that's steady as far as your spiritual life goes, as well. You don't want to get super close to the Great Spirit, let's say, and then get mad and run away, and then come back. You just want to be steady.

Mark Allen That sounds like the way a river would move or the way the seasons go every year.

Brant Secunda Every year.

Mark Allen: Thank you.