AYAHUASCA IN THE UK
*NOTE - We do not offer ceremonies or retreats in UK United Kingdom, this page is for informational purposes only.*
The UK is a progressive country yet it has not made many strides in adopting psychedelic therapy for its residents. Plant medicines like ayahuasca, psilocybin, and ibogaine are illegal with no accepted therapeutic use. With more worldwide psychedelic studies underway, it is hopeful that in the coming years as we see an even greater shift in the view of plant medicine and more opportunities for the application of psychedelic therapy in countries where it is currently illegal, like the UK.
There are some countries like Portugal and Spain that have decriminalized status for most psychedelics that may offer retreats or ceremonies, and you can even find ayahuasca ceremonies in the UK if you know where to look but you need to be careful and be informed about who is running the ceremonies and who you will be drinking with.
Ayahuasca is an extremely powerful medicine and should be approached with great respect. While some ceremonies are led by facilitators who are properly trained, many are hosted by inexperienced enthusiasts hoping to spread the message of the plants. This notion is admirable in principle but irresponsible in practice.
If you find an ayahuasca ceremony in the UK it is important to ask some of the following questions to ensure you have a safe and therapeutic experience with the medicine :
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Who is facilitating the ceremony?
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How much experience do they have?
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Where will the ceremony be held?
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How many people typically attend?
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Are there 'sitters' or 'helpers' beside the ayahauscquero/shaman to assist if someone needs help and if yes, how many are available, and if there is at least 1 female present
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Where does the brew come from and what does it contain?
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Do you need to provide any medical information before participating (you should, as ayahuasca has medical contraindications with other drugs, see our safety page)
New Life Ayahuasca has been providing ayahuasca retreats in Costa Rica since 2015. We understand that it may be difficult to leave the UK to attend an ayahuasca retreat, but getting away from your environment and committing to an immersive retreat experience has unparalleled therapeutic value. There comes a great reward from investing in your healing. If you are interested in attending an ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica, please contact us.
Powerful ayahuasca ceremonies expertly led by traditionally trained facilitators.
Stress-free transition to the retreat with Liberia Airport Transfers at designated times.
Beach Trips
Located in one of five famous Blue Zones, we visit Costa Rica's pristine Coastline.
Matthew and I have been partners in this work since 2014.
Everything in our lives has been shaped by Ayahuasca. Not only did she lift us up in our darkest moments after years of battling addiction, but she gave us the purest gift of love in finding each other.
We've had our share of ups and downs. Things haven't always been easy. It's been a long road and we've had to navigate many personal and professional challenges over the years. But at the end of the day, ayahuasca has helped us cultivate a deep love rooted in mutual respect, support, and admiration.
We've turned to her to help us through trials of marriage and personal doubt. It's because of this work that we've been able to grow stronger as individuals and as partners, lovers, and best friends.
We hear all the time from guests that they don't understand how we can do this work, and while we love to help others, the truth is that it's just a happy by-product of helping ourselves. It's our hope that as we continue to heal we are able to better support you in your own healing.
Working with ayahuasca is truly humbling. It's not a responsibility we take lightly. Our program is designed to give you a curated balance of support and space.
Thank you for letting us share the magic.
QUALITY RETREATS
Since 2015
Over the years we have worked hard to develop quality ayahuasca retreats that encompass a range of healing modalities for the highest therapeutic value without feeling overwhelming or rushing too much into a short amount of time. Our belief in QUALITY over QUANTITY can be seen in many different aspects of our retreats. We have had the opportunity to observe what works and what doesn't in our programs and with that knowledge we have developed our retreats with some key factors that make us stand out against the crowd.
FACILITY - AYAHUASQUERO - BREW - SAFETY
From offering intimate groups of 14 or fewer, to serving potent brew with a skilled and qualified ayahausquero, we have considered every detail. skilled and qualified ayahausquero, we have considered every detail.
BEACH RETREAT
We are located less than a mile from one of Costa Rica's gorgeous beaches on the Pacific Coast. Nestled on the hillside, we have incredible ocean views and picturesque sunsets visible from every room.
Our expansive facility offers a comfortable environment for such an intense process. We offer both private and shared accommodations. We have communal areas to socialize, a large pool, a fire pit, a lounge area, an outdoor kitchen, and miles of hiking trails.
All meals are prepared with care by Jeanae using locally grown and sourced ingredients. We follow a relaxed ayahuasca diet, providing food that is vegan, nutritious, colorful, and flavorful.
WiFi is available although we discourage the use of electronics prior to the ceremony to focus on the intention for the journey ahead.
We limit our ayahuasca retreat groups to 14 so we can provide individualized attention and support.
THE SHAMAN
The goal of our ceremonies is to create a safe and therapeutic atmosphere that encourages each participant to explore and journey within themselves, to confront the darkness, and embrace the light. It is only through this duality and embracing all parts of ourselves that we can truly know ourselves and find balance.
Our ayahuasquero Matthew leads all of our ceremonies. Matthew has been involved with plant medicine since 2011, first with Ibogaine in Mexico on HBO's VICE and then again in Costa Rica. In 2014 he felt called to work more intimately with ayahuasca and started traveling to Peru, completing plant medicine dietas under the guidance of his teacher, famed shaman Don Ron Wheelock.
Matthew has completed many master plant dietas, has facilitated hundreds of ceremonies, and has evolved into a strong and compassionate ceremonial leader. He strives to create a safe healing environment for all our participants.
Our ceremonies are performed in darkness and are guided by Icaros, or medicine songs. Each ceremony begins with cleansing rituals to prepare the space. From there, the night is guided through Matthew's powerful Icaros along accompanied by a variety of other instruments.
Matthew drinks the brew at every ceremony so he can navigate and guide the energy of the room. Jeanae and a minimum of 2 additional helpers are always there to assist as needed.
AYAHUASCA BREW
The brew is the most important aspect of any ayahuasca retreat but it is often over looked. It is assumed that at any retreat you will receive high quality and potent brew, unfortunately this is not always the case. Our medicine is made by Ron Wheelock, the gringo shaman of the amazon, in Iquito Peru. He selects his plant materials at a precise level of maturity to contribute to the potency of the medicine.
Our brew is made with only b. caapi and chaliponga. No additives or fillers are used in any way. Each plant used contributes to ayahuasca and if any ingredient were missing, the medicine would lack in its effects. We do not use any datura (toe) in our brew to ensure the safety of all participants.
SAFETY
To ensure the safety of all our guests, we require each potential participant complete a medical screening over the phone with Matt. The medical screening will give us an idea of your overall health and will help us determine if you are a safe candidate for ayahuasca therapy. It also gives Matt, our ayahuasquero, a chance to speak with each participant personally, to develop a relationship and answer any questions you may have.
In addition to conducting a thorough medical screening, Matt and Jeanae are both trained in CPR. New Life Ayahuasca is equipped with an AED machine, which our staff is trained to use.