Menla MountainEmbrace the Light
This seminar focuses on the Power of the Light and spiritual practices to brighten yourself from both the inside out and outside in. Learn to brighten your soul through your inherent connection to the sun and experience ancient ceremonies to celebrate the light. Brant Secunda presents specific Huichol teachings on the light, grandfather fire and father sun. Delve into the ancient shamanic knowledge passed on for thousands of years to empower your life, focus your intentions and create a more balanced life.
Enlighten your soul and gain new inspiration for your life
During this weekend retreat you will learn practices to honor the light and the power of nature. The serene Catskill Mountains of New York and the beautiful Menla Mountain Retreat Center offer the perfect setting for this weekend retreat.
A Weekend of Transformation
Treat yourself to a weekend of transformation. Step away from your hectic life and dedicate this time to rejuvenating your soul.
Learn Spiritual Practices
Brant Secunda will teach you how to harness the light of nature to empower your inner self and in turn find greater balance in both body and soul.
Healing Rituals
Take part in the healing Huichol ceremonies, which are meant to bring healing to the body, heart and spirit of both ourselves and the world at large.
Menla Mountain Retreat Center
Menla is a serene sanctuary located in a 320-acre valley in the Catskill Mountains of New York state. Surrounded by a national forest preserve, we are able to provide our guests with a wondrous and tranquil experience. Throughout the year visitors can enjoy the fresh mountain air, abundant wildlife, and natural beauty of our valley's exquisite landscape. Designed to meet the highest standards of comfort and convenience, our modern eco-friendly facilities are an ideal setting for your group retreats, conferences, and spa vacations.
Sacred Places
Part of the retreat will focus on approaching places of power in nature. You will learn the Huichol way to leave offerings at such places in nature.
Dream Exercises
Brant will teach practices of internal and external awareness, such as dream practices to awaken your dream state and allow you to tap into the hidden world.
Simple spiritual practices create profound positive changes
Brant Secunda will teach simple techniques for purifying the soul and connecting with the elemental powers. Brant always says, “do no’t be tricked by the simplicity.”
Awaken Your Soul
Awaken to the chirping of songbirds and step out for a stroll around the lake. Following breakfast, sit in circle and learn an exercise for connect with the four directions. Work with the light of the fire to brighten your soul and invigorate your body.
Learn to Create Balance
Walk along the forest trails in silence, focusing on the love of Mother Earth and the light of Father Sun. Learn to create balance between the elements within yourself and recognize that we are all mirrors of the world around us.
Share the Experience
Find interesting and meaningful conversation at the dinner table and enjoy a plentiful meal. Listen to the ancient chants, as Brant leads the evening ceremony. Finally, go to sleep at night with a sense of wholeness, knowing that you have done something good for yourself, your friends and family and the world. Become aware of the energy flowing through nature.
Grow Together
In each retreat Brant works to build a community, a village of sorts that creates an atmosphere for spiritual growth. Laughter is medicine. Humor is a major part of Huichol traditions and thus Brant's teachings. Feel at home anywhere. Recognize the community of nature and become a part of it.
Accommodations & Dining
The Menla Mountain Retreat Center offers various accommodation options and plentiful meals.
Room Types
Choose from a variety of accommodation options, including camping, shared rooms and private rooms.
Recreation
During the retreat you will have the opportunity to utilize Menla's grounds, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, weight room and hiking trails.
Private Rooms
A limited number of private rooms are available. Please contact us if you would like individual recommendations for your stay.
Enjoy Delicious Meals
Various lunch and dinner entrees will be offered with a variety of side offerings accompanying each meal along with salad bar to find your healthy greens.
Nourish Your Body & Soul
We believe that a great retreat must be accompanied by delicious food. The chefs at Menla Mountain prepare mouth-watering dishes daily.
3 meals each day
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included in the retreat. Meal times present a time for stimulating conversation or a quiet space to watch the lake. Vegetarian options are standard. Please notify us if you would prefer non-vegetarian options .
Retreat Details and Travel Information
Find retreat organizational details and travel information below
Registration Prices
| Registration Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard Registration | $450 |
| Adult (18+) | $450 |
| Senior (62+) | $405 |
| Student | $405 |
| Youth (4-17) | $225 |
| Child (0-3) | Free |
Lodging Choices Offered
| Lodging Choice | Type | Price | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Queen, Private Bath | Private Room | $200.00 | Yes |
| 3 Twin Beds per Room | 3 people / room | $50.00 | Yes |
| 2 Twin Beds per Room | 2 people / room | $75.00 | Yes |
| Private Queen, Shared Bath | Private Room | $150.00 | Yes |
| Semi-Private Queen Sofa-Bed in living room alcove | Private Room | $25.00 | Yes |
| Camping | camping | (Included) | Yes |
Getting to the Retreat
The retreat will be held near Phoenicia, New York at the exquisite Menla Mountain Retreat Center. The area is known for its natural beauty, rivers and enchanting forests. Detailed directions to the retreat center will be sent upon registration.
Location
Menla Mountain Retreat & Conference Center is 1500 feet above sea level and set on a 320-acre private nature reserve. It is located in a region of the Catskills renowned for its unspoiled beauty, variety of wildlife, abundance of rushing streams and rivers, and mountains. Aside from its natural splendor, the area offers such activities as canoeing, biking, horseback riding, and cross country skiing. For avid downhill skiers, the noted Bellayre and Hunter Mountain resorts are within easy reach. For cultural pursuits, Menla is located near the famous town of Woodstock, New York, noted for its art galleries, music, and shopping.
Menla is conveniently located near major Northeast metropolitan areas, yet feels like a world away:
Travel and Transportation
BY CAR FROM NEW YORK CITY:
Cross George Washington Bridge (upper level); take an immediate right onto the Palisades Parkway; continue to exit 9 West (NYS Thruway Albany 87). Drive for about 1 hour to exit 19 (Kingston exit); after toll booth take first right at traffic circle onto Route 28 West toward Pine Hill. Continue about 22 miles to Phoenicia. Continue approximately 1/2 mile beyond the Phoenicia sign and make a left onto Woodland Valley Road. At the T, make a right, continuing on Woodland Valley Road for about 1/2 mile. Immediately after the "Dangerous Intersection" sign, make a right onto Pantherkill Road.Continue to end of road and enter gates of Menla Mountain Retreat. Go through the gates into Menla, bearing slightly right uphill to the main parking area. Go into the building in front of you (Delos Inn, yellow with a blue staircase), and check in at the front desk.
BY CAR FROM NYS THRUWAY SOUTH:
Take exit 19 (follow directions above).
Taxi & Car Service:
To Menla from the Phoenicia bus drop-off: Call the Front Desk ahead of time to arrange for our $5 shuttle service to Menla 845-688-6897 ext.0 Car services to/from the Rhinecliff, NY Amtrak station and Albany, Stewart (Newburgh, NY) and New York City airports: Blue Mountain Limo 845-246-4404 Catskills Comfort Travel 845-254-6105
BY BUS:
Call Adirondack Trailways, 800-776-7548 or visit http://www.trailwaysny.com/html/english/fares_pdf/phoennyc.pdf, for information and departure times to and from Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City to Phoenicia, NY. The trip takes about 3 hours. With advance notice, Menla provides a shuttle to and from Phoenicia up until 8 p.m. Please call 845-688-6897 to arrange for pick-up.
BY TRAIN:
The Amtrak Rhinecliff train station is approximately 50 minutes from Menla. Call Amtrak, 800-872-7245, for information and train schedules to Rhinecliff, N.Y. Train ride is less than two hours from New York City. Taxi service is generally available at the Rhinecliff station but is very expensive (up to $200). We therefore recommend travelling by bus instead.
BY AIR:
The closest airports are Stewart Airport in Newburgh, NY and Albany International Airport in Albany, NY. The Trailways bus in Albany can take you to Phoenicia. You may also fly into any of the major New York City airports and take a bus from New York City. All New York City airports connect to Port Authority Bus Terminal (for the Trailways bus).
TAXI AND CAR SERVICES:
Catskills Comfort Travel
845/254/6105
Local and Airport
Woodstock Transportation
845/679/8294
Local and Airport
Kingston Kabs
845/331/8294
Local and Airport
Blue Mountain Limo
845/246/4404
Local and Airport
New Cabs
845/336/2400
Local and Airport
Town Car Taxi Service
718/392/9191
Airport Transportation
518/374/4840
518/441/1523
To all NYC Airports plus Newark, Stewart,
Plattsburg Area, Logan (Boston) and Montreal.
$150-$200 from Albany to Menla
