Matthew Mormello

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.