NEW YORK
Ayahuasca Retreat
Traditional Healing Retreats in USA
FINDING THE RIGHT HEALING ENVIORNMENT
If you're considering attending an ayahausca ceremony or retreat in New York, there a few things you must know to have a safe and healing experience. Here’s how to navigate the ayahuasca scene in New York safely, legally, 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 - Ayahuasca Retreat in the United Sates:
Recognizing the need for deeper & supportive healing opportunities in New York, 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. Operating since 2014, our depth of experience has afforded us the unique opportunity to fine-tune our program to encompass a balance of complementary healing modalities, time for reflection, integration, and community support. Our ayahuasca retreat honors the brilliance of plant medicine while respecting indigenous healing traditions and blending ancient knowledge with modern complementary therapeutic practices.
What is Ayahuasca? - Benefits & Risks
Ayahuasca is a powerful sacred plant medicine that has been gaining popularity across the globe, particularly in New York, for its profound healing and spiritual properties. Ayahuasca has recently been featured in numerous TV shows, movies, and other pop culture references, bringing awareness of this sacred medicine to millions. Additionally, many celebrities have credited ayahuasca for being the catalyst for significant growth and improvement in their lives. As a result, interest and demand for Ayahuasca in New York and across the globe has grown significantly.
While it is encouraging that more people are discovering the transformative potential of ayahuasca, the rapid growth in interest also brings significant risks. For those seeking genuine healing, the challenge lies in discerning trustworthy settings that honor the cultural roots of the medicine, uphold high standards of safety, and provide the proper preparation and integration support that are essential for lasting transformation.
Legal Considerations:
In the United States, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) provides a pathway for exemptions, allowing individuals and groups to practice sincere religious beliefs involving ayahuasca without undue government burden. Several organizations and churches have already been granted exemptions, and most recently, in May 2025, a church in the United States received DEA approval to use ayahuasca in ceremonies. The tides are indeed changing, with growing acceptance of the healing potential of psychedelics and plant medicines in medical and scientific communities, leading to decriminalization efforts in states across the USA.
AYAHUASCA IN NEW YORK
New Life Rising
BUILT ON LOVE SINCE 2014
Matthew and I have been partners in this work for over a decade. Plant medicine brought us together in 2014 and we've been dedicated to this path ever since. Everything in our lives has been shaped by Ayahuasca. Not only did she lift us from 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 ayahuasca retreat Costa Rica program is designed to give you a curated balance of support and space.
Thank you for letting us share the magic.
Ayahuasca Costa Rica has been a gift to us through the years and we will forever be indebted for all the gifs we have received.
OUR MISSION & VALUES
ACCESSABLE HEALING FOR ALL
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 12 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.