By Pat Bubb, March 12, 2015
It was about 28 years ago when I first heard about a 110 year old Huichol Indian who was going to be giving a ten-day workshop in Mexico. I still don’t know why I was so attracted to, and drawn to, this man whose name was Don José Matsuwa, but I felt that I needed to meet this person and be a part of the event. I told my husband about the information I had found, and was surprised that he was excited about the adventure as well. I went ahead and made all the arrangements necessary to fly to Mexico, which was scheduled for three months away. About one month before we were to leave on the trip, I received a letter from the “Dance of the Deer Foundation” letting me know that Don José had passed away, but his adopted grandson Brant Secunda would go ahead with the planned workshop. I was very disappointed that I would not be able to meet Don José, but we decided to go to Mexico anyhow. It turns out that we were not disappointed about our decision.
Because both my husband and I grew up in the city, and we had not been exposed to nature, and in particular to American Indian or Huichol Indian cosmology and tradition. The next ten days that we spent in the Sierra Madre Mountains of western Mexico with Brant, were ten incredible days that created memories that we will never forget. We experienced many of the Huichol traditions, arts and crafts, music and drumming, and story-telling, building campfires, sitting around in a circle, sweat lodges, and delicious vegetarian food from Mexico. Because Don José was a well-known healing Shaman, and had passed down his knowledge and gifts to Brant, we were able to experience first–hand, and be a part of many healing ceremonies. Brant also prepared us to go on pilgrimages to powerful places in the area, which were always very interesting, challenging and always memorable.
Because we were able to go on many journeys to many different places throughout the years, and had many ongoing experiences with Brant, memories of our times together with him could easily be continued.…