Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Up to 12 in group
June 9 - 15, 2025
About this Retreat
Jeanae grew up outside of Chicago and from a young age, she struggled with mental health issues and depression. After a toxic and emotionally abusive relationship, Jeanae found herself hopeless and suicidal and used to heroin to numb the pain. After the failure of every traditional treatment program, she turned to plant medicine for help and was finally able to change her life for the better.
Jeanae works alongside her husband, Matthew and together they co-facilitate the ceremonies at New Life Ayahuasca. Jeanae has amassed over a decade's worth of support from many spiritual allies and protectors through her experiences with Ayahuasca and extensive time in the Peruvian Amazon doing master plant dietas. These experiences have taught her how to navigate ceremonial energy, communicate with spirits, sing medicine songs, and hold a safe container for all participants.
Jeanae is fortunate to have learned through a very powerful lineage of healers. In 2014 she became a student of world-renowned shaman Don Ron Wheelock, the 'Gringo Shaman' of Peru. Ron has been living in Iquitos, Peru for nearly 30 years and has amassed a wealth of knowledge on Ayahuasca, spirits, brew making, and Mestizo traditions. He is recognized as being one of the original pioneers of bridging the gap of Ayahuasca accessibility to the West. Don Ron was the student of amed shaman Don Agustin Rivas Vasquez and Don Jose Coral Mori, the teacher of Pablo Amaringo and Eduardo Luna, the authors of “Ayahuasca Visions”.
Jeanae feels privileged to have been passed down Icaros and spiritual wisdom through a long lineage of powerful Peruvian healers.
Matthew was born and raised in Philadelphia. He was confronted with death at the early age of 18 by a rare bone cancer diagnosis. This experience ignited a search for life’s meaning and curiosity with altered states of consciousness and spirituality. Unfortunately, substance abuse created a roadblock on his path to self-discovery until he experienced iboga and ayahuasca. He was treated first on HBO's VICE TV in 2011 and came to Costa Rica in 2014.
Matthew works alongside his wife Jeanae and together they co-facilitate the ceremonies at New Life Ayahuasca. Matthew has amassed over a decade's worth of support from many spiritual allies and protectors through her experiences with Ayahuasca and extensive time in the Peruvian Amazon doing master plant dietas. These experiences have taught him how to navigate ceremonial energy, communicate with spirits, sing medicine songs, and hold a safe container for all participants.
Matthew is fortunate to have learned through a very powerful lineage of healers. In 2014 he became a student of world-renowned shaman Don Ron Wheelock, the 'Gringo Shaman' of Peru. Ron has been living in Iquitos, Peru for nearly 30 years and has amassed a wealth of knowledge on Ayahuasca, spirits, brew making, and Mestizo traditions. He is recognized as being one of the original pioneers of bridging the gap of Ayahuasca accessibility to the West. Don Ron was the student of amed shaman Don Agustin Rivas Vasquez and Don Jose Coral Mori, the teacher of Pablo Amaringo and Eduardo Luna, the authors of “Ayahuasca Visions”.
Matthew feels privileged to have been passed down Icaros and spiritual wisdom through a long lineage of powerful Peruvian healers.
Details of this retreat
Discover the ancient healing power of ayahuasca.
With over 10 years of experience, we have amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise that has enabled us to carefully create a retreat program that encompasses a balance of complimentary healing modalities, time for reflection, and community support. Through the years, we have witnessed the incredible transformations of thousands of guests that have participated in our retreat.
Ayahuasca is a powerful sacred plant medicine that helps us reach our full potential by freeing us from self-limiting beliefs and destructive thought patterns. She invites us to confront and integrate all aspects of ourselves by embracing the light and dark energies within each of us. By acknowledging these contrasting energies, we practice radical self-acceptance that is the catalyst for profound growth and the foundation for self-love.
From our ayahuasca ceremonies guided by Ayahuasqueros trained in the Peruvian Mestizo traditions to Hatha yoga sessions, massage therapy, group sharing circles, nature therapy, nutritional meals, and airport transfers, we have considered every element to best support you on your journey.
We hope you will join us.