Matt and Jeanae are the founders of New Life Rising. They first met in Costa Rica in 2014 while seeking treatment for their respective opiate dependencies using another plant medicine called iboga. Shortly after, they started a small retreat to help others find healing through psychedelic therapy. During that time, they had the opportunity to experience the power of ayahuasca. There was a magnetic pull guiding them, and every step in their journey led them closer her. While their retreat initially focused on iboga treatments, it quickly became clear that they were connected to ayahuasca in a profound way, so they followed the call and slowly transitioned to working with ayahuasca.

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To deepen their understanding of plant medicine and the spiritual realm, they sought out a teacher in Peru and were introduced to Ron Wheelock, also known as the 'Gringo Shaman of the Amazon'. This marked the beginning of their lifelong journey of doing plant medicine dietas, learning ceremonial songs called Icaros, and learning to heal others.

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At New Life Rising, we have taken great care in creating our ayahuasca retreat program. We have grown in unexpected and beautiful ways since our humble beginnings and every year has been a unique opportunity for us to grow both professionally and personally.  Using guest feedback from the last decade, we’ve modified our retreat to encompass a balance of complimentary healing modalities, time for reflection, and community support. We invite you to disengage from the fast pace of the world and fully retreat into a deeper connection with yourself and nature.