Ayahuasca in Chicago, Illinois
Traditional Healing Retreats in USA
AYAHUASCA RETREAT IN ILLINOIS
Finding the right setting for Healing and Transformation
If you've been considering attending an ayahuasca retreat in Chicago, Illinois, there are a few things you must know to ensure you have an authentic, supportive, safe, and transformational experience. Here’s how to navigate the ayahuasca in Chicago safely and with respect for tradition.
New Life Rising will begin offering ayahuasca retreats in the United States in early 2026. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to receive updates on our new offerings and locations.
New Life Rising in the United States
For those in Chicago and across Illinois, it is essential to choose a trusted retreat center to ensure your ayahuasca experience is both safe and truly transformative. The set, setting, and quality of ceremonial guidance play the most important role in determining whether the journey supports deep healing or becomes overwhelming.
At New Life Rising, we have been honored to guide thousands of participants through authentic ayahuasca retreats for more than a decade. Our ceremonies are rooted in tradition and supported by trauma-informed facilitators who prioritize safety, care, and respect for the medicine. As we expand into the United States, we look forward to welcoming guests from Chicago and beyond who feel called to experience this sacred work with integrity and intention.
What is Ayahuasca? – Benefits & Risks
Ayahuasca is a sacred Amazonian plant medicine that has been used for centuries in indigenous ceremonies for healing and spiritual growth. Documentaries, podcasts, and even celebrity testimonials have helped bring ayahuasca into mainstream awareness, with many crediting it as a catalyst for profound personal change. As a result, curiosity and searches for ayahuasca in Chicago and across Illinois continue to grow.
This growing interest also brings risks. Anyone considering ayahuasca in Chicago should thoroughly research facilitators, ask important questions, and ensure that strong safety protocols are in place. It is equally important that the ceremony space respects the sacred nature of the medicine and offers proper preparation as well as integration support.
Legal Considerations for Ayahuasca in Chicago, Illinois
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) provides a pathway for legal use, allowing certain religious organizations to gain exemptions to use ayahuasca in ceremonies. Some groups have already gained DEA approval to use psychedelics in their services.
Some states have decriminalized or legalized entheogens and psychedelics for recreational or therapeutic use; however, Illinois has not passed any legislation that permits or decriminalizes ayahuasca. Still, the broader landscape is shifting. With states like Oregon and Colorado pioneering decriminalization and cities such as Oakland and Washington, D.C. passing local reforms, the cultural momentum toward acceptance of plant medicine is growing. For those in Chicago considering ayahuasca, understanding these legal nuances is a crucial step.
A SAFE, INTIMATE & TRAUMA-INFORMED HEALING EXPERIENCE
This is deep work, done right with experienced facilitators, small groups, and real support.
New Life Rising is honored to be recognized as one of the top-rated ayahuasca retreats in the world. After hosting transformative retreats in Costa Rica for over a decade, we are now bringing our ayahuasca retreat to the United States to share this medicine with those seeking profound healing and growth.
In exploring ayahuasca offerings across the U.S., one thing stood out: most events are condensed into a single weekend, often squeezing two or even three ceremonies into just a couple of nights! Then, before there’s even time to process, participants are sent back home, expected to jump straight into work on Monday. This model leaves little room for reflection, integration, or genuine support.
That is not how ayahuasca was ever meant to be experienced, nor is it the structure that brings the greatest healing or benefit. It was shocking to see the prevalence of these weekend retreats, and while we understand the temptation to squeeze in a ceremony without disrupting the flow of daily life, cutting corners ultimately does a disservice to your healing process.
With ayahuasca, more does not always equal better, whether in the number of ceremonies or the dosing itself. What matters most is preparation, intention, tradition, time, commitment, and integration. Most important is being held in a safe, ethical container by experienced guides who can lovingly support you through the transformative journey.
Recognizing the need for deeper & supportive healing opportunities, we've decided to bring our signature 6 and 8-day ayahuasca retreats to the United States. These immersions are more than a retreat, it's an experience in reflection, healing, and community.
Join us at New Life Rising Ayahuasca Retreat Costa Rica for traditional ayahuasca ceremonies. It's an opportunity to deeply connect with yourself and heal in a serene environment.
OUR MISSION & VALUES
SINCE 2014
Sharing the magic of this medicine is a great honor and a great responsibility. Ayahuasca has been the catalyst for every great transformation in our lives, and we are committed to guiding others on their journey to healing. We accept people from all walks of life in a non-judgmental environment.
As individuals who have had trauma experiences, we understand the importance of having a safe space that encourages vulnerability for authentic self-reflection and discovery. Healing can be painful, and we are here to support our guests so that they feel seen and held throughout the process.
For more than a decade, we have committed ourselves to this path, and we respect the Peruvian Mestizo traditions that have been handed down from our teacher and his teacher before him. As part of that tradition, we complete master plant dietas that give us the tools necessary to create a protected sacred ceremonial space.
We hope to help you find a renewed sense of peace and joy in your life as you embark on a beautiful journey to uncover your full potential.
THE SHAMAN
Matt and Jeanae have been working with plant medicine since 2014. It was through ceremonial work that they met and where their love was forged.
Together they have been trained through a powerful lineage of healers in the Peruvian Mestizo traditions going back generations. Matthew and Jeanae are deeply dedicated to their path and continue to grow in their work by traveling to the Amazon every year and completing master plant dietas. These dietas allow them to connect with the great spirits and receive insightful teachings and medicine songs called Icaros. They use these tools and songs in the ceremonies to guide the participants through the ayahuasca experience.
Matthew possesses a strong intuition and is highly sensitive to energetic subtleties. These skills allow him to adapt the songs of the ceremony to meet the energy needs of the room. Jeanae has a very gentle and nurturing energy. Her singing and flute playing invite softness into the space. Matthew brings a grounded masculine energy while Jeanae brings a motherly feminine energy, creating a perfect balance and play between the two polarities.
To provide responsible ceremonies, we limit our ayahuasca retreat size to 14 participants so that the energetic space is maintained with respect to each individual's experience. We offer our ayahuasca Costa Rica retreat ceremonies in darkness, promoting an inward journey to heal the soul. Jeanae and Matthew are passionate about this work and lead each ceremony with love, compassion, and a desire to share the beauty of the sacred medicine with all who seek healing.
Your physical and emotional safety are our highest priority.
While ayahuasca is safe when used properly, there are a few medical conditions and medications that are contraindicated with ayahuasca. Every participant is asked to complete a medical questionnaire over the phone to ensure the safety of our ayahuasca retreats. In case of emergency, Matt and Jeanae are certified in CPR and have training with the use of our AED (Automated External Defibrillator). We are 25 minutes from a medical center.
Our small groups enable us to provide quality service and attention to every guest. Each ceremony is supported by 4 team members : Our ayahuasqueros, Matthew and Jeanae, who drink ayahuasca with each group to help guide the experience and 2 additional helpers, who do not drink during the ceremony and are there to assist any participant that may require attention. A male responds to the men and a female responds to the women, ensuring that everyone feels safe and comfortable during such a vulnerable and emotional experience.