Gaia Sagrada Shamanic Retreat Center

Via a Llayzhatan Bajo, Ecuador

4.9 (338 reviews)

Room Features

Property Features

Overview
Reviews
Add Review

Gaia Sagrada is a non-profit (rare among retreat centers) keeping prices as low and close to expenses as possible. Even the directors of Gaia earn close to minimum wage in Ecuador each month, as their priority is helping people awaken in a changing world.

Gaia Sagrada is nestled in the Magical Andes Mountains on 55 acres (22 hectares) with hundreds of miles of beautiful country roads and trails to hike. Most centers are in cramped quarters on a small piece of land, but Gaia Sagrada is expansive, open and free. You can see the Milky Way at night with clearer stars in the sky than you’ve ever seen, with fireflies in the fields. In the daytime there are beautiful mountain vistas in every direction and miles and miles of country roads and hikes to take. There is even a waterfall nearby to hike to!

Gaia = Mother Nature, Mother Earth
Sagrada = Sacred

This is a magical journey through consciousness that will change your life forever. Gaia Sagrada is sponsored by University of Metaphysical Sciences and founder is Christine Breese, PhD.

This is a chance to overhaul your system through shamanic healing and realize your full potential. Much healing will take place during these 12, 7 or 6 days in mind, body and spirit during this Ayahuasca retreat and San Pedro retreat.

Why did we choose Ecuador instead of Peru?

We chose Ecuador because shamans have to be certified and authorized to practice their trade. It is important to us that everyone has a safe experience with skilled shamans who are approved by the government to practice their trade with integrity, skill and a proper education in this particular healing practice. Ecuador has more regulations for shamans than any other country.

Ecuador was also picked for the ease of entry for visitors (no shots or visas required, only your passport), and also for its gorgeous, magical, and natural settings (very lush and green!).

Ecuadorian people are very friendly and helpful, and we have become quite a part of the Ecuadorian community around us. Your money helps to support them.

Where is Gaia Sagrada?

Gaia Sagrada is nestled in a small community called Llayzhatan (Yah-zuh-tan) in the Andes Mountains on 55 acres, about 45 minutes outside of the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. We are very near to Jadan (Hah-don) which means “Close to Heaven.” What a perfect place for Gaia Sagrada!

Why both Ayahuasca and San Pedro Ceremonies?

We feel that offering both is very important because one without the other is not a balanced experience. The shamans say Ayahuasca shows you what you need to change or heal, and San Pedro gives you the power to do it.

We offer both Ayahuasca ceremonies and San Pedro ceremonies because the Ayahuasca is considered the feminine aspect of the medicines; San Pedro is the masculine aspect of the medicines. In this era, it is all about balancing the masculine and feminine aspects in each of us to attain true wisdom. These two very different medicines help with that in every individual. The shamans also say that Ayahuasca shows you what to heal and San Pedro gives you the power to make the changes.

Modern, Comfortable Facilities

, sauna and modern housing with electric, 24/7 hot water, and WiFi make it easier to concentrate on your inner journey, yet stay in touch with the outside world if you wish.

We are practically bug free, (NO mosquitoes!) the air is clean, never too hot or humid, and you can see the milky way at night in the sky with fireflies all around you. During the day is T-shirt weather, with sunny gardens to sit in, and hummingbirds to watch.

Description of Retreats – 12, 6 and 7 day Ayahuasca Retreats

12-day Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats are offered. During these 12-day retreats, 5 ceremonies are offered: 2 Ayahuasca, 2 San Pedro, and 1 mixed with a powerful sweat lodge experience. There is the possibility of 7 ceremonies if you are interested in doing the extra Ayahuasca ceremonies for an extra charge. There is one extra Ayahuasca ceremony in the middle of the retreat and a 2nd extra Ayahuasca ceremony at the end of the retreat and you would stay for an extra day making it a 13 day ceremony.

7-day Ayahuasca and San Pedro retreats entail coming for the first 7 days of a 12-day retreat. This includes 3 ceremonies – 1 Ayahuasca, 1 San Pedro and 1 mixed with the powerful sweat lodge experience. There are no extra ceremonies available for this retreat unless there are openings in the 6 day retreat (which is rare, we are usually completely booked).

6 day Ayahuasca & San Pedro retreats have 3 ceremonies: 2 Ayahuasca and 1 San Pedro with the option of 1 extra Ayahuasca ceremony if you opt for the extra ceremony on the day of your arrival. This gives you the possibility of 4 ceremonies in a 6-7 day span. You can also come a day early and settle in (recommended) so you aren’t getting off the plane and going straight into ceremony, making it a 7 day retreat.

You can see all our retreat dates here.

Ayahuasca Ceremonies

The Ayahuasca ceremonies take place in our beautiful maloka near the forest with the sounds of nature and the twinkling stars outside. During the Ayahuasca ceremonies we always have a few sober helpers standing by to help light your way to the bathroom, empty your purge bucket, and get you anything you need during the ceremony.

Some centers have people express loudly and be dramatic, but our ceremonies are quiet and inwardly focused, with our expert shamans holding space, using music and Icaros at the proper moments to carry the energy. If someone needs to make noise, we move them to another place outside the maloka so everyone can stay focused on their journey.

The shaman is there for your individual healing as you need it from beginning to end. Between ceremonies you are supported with experienced staff to talk with about your experiences if you need any help.

San Pedro Ceremonies

The San Pedro ceremonies give you a completely different experience. These ceremonies take place during the day and go into the night under our beautiful ceremonial gazebo patio (maloka), on the edge of a beautiful forest with a view overlooking the mountains, completely connected with nature in every way. Some San Pedro ceremonies are done walking through nature on Gaia’s incredibly beautiful land, with beautiful vistas in every direction.

While Ayahuasca takes you to your inner dimensions, San Pedro opens your and shows you how the dimensions intertwine and overlap with each other.

Sweat Lodge Ceremony

The sweat lodge ceremony, with both medicines mixed, takes place outdoors in a beautiful field, with the birds chirping all around you.

Connect with the Earth while you go through this deep, cleansing experience, a traditional shamanic offering as part of your healing and awakening. After the sweat lodge we sit under the stars and enjoy time around the fire, connecting with the shamans in a heart felt way with laughter, music and love!

In this ceremony, the San Pedro is given first, then if you want to take the Ayahausca you can later in the ceremony. It is optional, but don’t miss this exquisite experience of both the masculine and the feminine medicines together. It is like having both grandfather and grandmother holding your hand in this journey.

This is often everyone’s favorite ceremony, as it brings everything together, the male and female aspects of the medicines, and a balance to the experience. Places that tell you not to mix the medicines are usually ones that don’t offer one or the other, but we have found that this is the most healing experience of them all and there are always good results!

Each ceremony is different

In total, there are five ceremonies in a 12 day retreat with the option of 2 extras if you choose to partake, and the 6 and 7 day ceremonies have 3 ceremonies each with extra ceremonies (6 day only) if you would like to partake as well.

Each one is a different kind of ceremony with different shamans so you can experience all the ways that shamans work with these traditions. There are many ways to experience shamanic ceremonies and we offer them all!

Prices

12-Day, 6 Day and 7 Day Ayahuasca & San Pedro Retreats include everything – steam room, , wifi, food, several workshops and meetings, yoga, meditation and all the ceremonies with a day of rest between each ceremony. It is very important, not to rush through the medicines. You can see our Retreat Prices here.

Be careful with retreats that offer back to back ceremonies each day or squeeze too many into a retreat. It is important to process the changes happening for you, and get plenty of rest so you aren’t tired for the next ceremony. Better to spend a couple extra days in retreat than to rush through the medicines.

12 (or 13) Day Retreats: This retreat includes 5 ceremonies with the possibility of an extra ceremony in the middle of the retreat and even another for the possibility of 7 ceremonies if you stay for a total of 13 days.

7-Day Retreat: Come for the first 7 days of a 12 day retreat. There are limited spaces for the 7 day retreat option, as it is mostly filled by those who want to stay for the full 12 days. We encourage you to go for the 12 day retreat though because you will find that 7 days is not enough! If all you have is 7 days though, we are here to accommodate your needs.

6 (or 7) Day Retreat: Come for the second half of the 12 day retreat, last 6 days, everything included. Possibility of extra Ayahuasca ceremony on day of arrival, first day.

Our Retreats Are At-Cost, Non-Profit

Gaia Sagrada is a non profit retreat center, rare among Ayahuasca retreats. We are not in this for money, we are in it for the awakening of humanity! Our expenses cost 5 – 6 times more in Ecuador than Peru, and yet our prices are even more affordable than most places in Peru. We operate at the edge of expenses because we care about everyone of all income levels to have the opportunity to have this experience. Even the directors make only minimum wage, which is unheard of. This is a labor of love!

Who are Gaia Sagrada’s shamans?

Our shamans are true Ecuadorian shamans, so you are getting the real thing! Our shamans bridge both the Ancient and Modern worlds so they understand the issues you are coming to heal or understand. Scroll below to see pictures of our shamans and meet your guides on your inner journeys with the medicine!

Why Gaia Sagrada Is Highest Rated Ayahuasca Center

People who have been to other Ayahuasca centers tell us all the time that Gaia Sagrada is the best place out of all the centers they have been to and that Gaia Sagrada sets the standard for what an Ayahuasca retreat center should be, even outshining the famous and super well known ones.

Our shamans are around before and after ceremonies for people to talk to, spend time with people outside the ceremonies, and our shamans stay with the people from the beginning to the end of the ceremony.

At most centers the shaman sings for a little while and then disappears, never to be seen again until the next ceremony. If you see them around you are supposed to not talk to them or bother them. Our shamans are approachable and happy to talk with you.

Our shamans spend time with everyone and give individual attention to each person not only during the ceremonies but also between the ceremonies. You can actually talk with them at breakfast or sit by the fire and enjoy their company! This is one of the things that makes our center unique.

Our Shamans

Mauricio has been in documentaries of South American Shamanism. He is guide with power plants for 30 years, plays many instruments, plays shamanic music for events, and makes wind instruments and stringed instruments. He composes Andean and shamanic music. He is very famous for his music! He is a descendant of the Diaguita ethnic group from northern Chile.

Mauricio is an elder, which is very unusual and lucky to have as your guide in these Ayahuasca ceremonies. He is very skilled, well respected and well known in Ecuador for his work. You will be so blessed with a real, authentic and safe Ayahuasca ceremony guided by a true master Shaman!

Veronica’s motivation is serving others in their existential search in relationship with nature, and personal balance. She runs sweat lodge and creates a beautiful, transformative and authentic experience, carrying the traditions of the native people. She is a spiritual energizer who carries the sacred pipe (Chanupa), blessed by the elders of the Sacred Fire of Itzhachilatlan.

She is a Medicine Woman, Sun Dancer, Star Dancer, and has completed the vision quests. She is an Andean Agricultural student of University of Hatun Yachak Wasi, as well. She is also a biorhythm trainer.

Namur descends from a family of Shuar tribe shamans, a native culture of the Ecuadorian Amazon. He is a born shamans, so to speak! He experienced and connected for the first time with the medicine of Natem (Ayahuasca) when he was only 5 years old. The shamans of his community have shared with him their knowledge, wisdom, songs and prayers throughout all his life and he took part in many ancient rituals.

An elder Shuar shaman passed down to Namur the Uwishin practices. He has also received the instructions and teachings of the ancestral practices of other native cultures.

Christine holds space in ceremony with a combination of strength, gentleness and kindness that is quite rare. She touches the hearts of those she works with in her ceremonies. She is a shaman who has a way of calming any person who needs it and can help each person take their power back from the places they lost it.

Born and raised in La Amazonia (Ecuador), Santiago’s first memories are of the medicine, the ancestors, and his first limpia (shamanic cleansing) when he was 7 years old from his mom (Alicia). His Mother was his first and most important teacher. She taught him how to do limpias with the Sacred Plants such as: Tobacco, Santa Maria, Aji and many others. Another Master from his village was Don Juanito, who works with medicine plants doing limpias of all sorts and healing bones.

Male and Female Facilitators At Each Ceremony

We have both a male and a female facilitators at each ceremony. This keeps everything safe and in balance.

Women Are Truly Safe at Gaia Sagrada

Women are truly safe at Gaia Sagrada, particularly given that the founder of Gaia Sagrada is a woman.

You will love every single one of our shamans. Feel free to look on our shaman bio page for their history and photos.

We spent years looking for just the right shamans to offer ceremonies here. We bring the best of the best to you here in Ecuador!

Safe Medicine!

Whenever there are problems with Ayahuasca or any other shamanic medicine ceremonies, it’s because the shamans mix something into the medicine that shouldn’t be there. Sometimes shamans mix in Datura (Toe), Nicotine, or other ingredients to make the experience more intense.

However, ingredients mixed in is not true Ayahuasca and can become a nightmarish experience rather than a healing experience. When people have a terrible experience with Ayahuasca, it is usually because ingredients are mixed into Ayahuasca that shouldn’t be there (or the person is taking pharmaceutical or recreational drugs that should not be mixed with Ayahuasca.) Gaia Sagrada’s medicine is absolutely pure.

We use only the vine and the leaves for Ayahuasca. Nothing else!

For the San Pedro medicine, only the cactus. Nothing else!

Our shamans are under contract to make only the purest medicine with nothing else in it that could cause harm to anyone. Our medicine is the safest possible medicine that can be made, strong and pure.

Why Choose Gaia Sagrada?

At Cost, Low, Non-Profit Prices, good karmic use of your money. This center is not about commercialism or making money and that is why we offer everything AT COST. Things in Peru cost a fifth or sixth of what things cost in Ecuador, so this truly is our rock bottom cost! No one is getting rich at Gaia Sagrada. Even the directors make only Ecuador’s minimum wage, and get housing and food. This is about service to humanity, NO Ayahuasca commercialism here!
Modern Housing And Facilities. Comfort allows you to focus more on your inner journey. Electric, hot water, modern toilets and hot showers, wifi internet… LUXURIOUS HOT TUBS and SAUNA. No mosquitoes or bugs. Big thick, comfy mattresses in a real bed in a modern room. No other Ayahuasca center has this level of comfort and amenities. Be comfortable while you journey into the universe within!
Shamans Are Registered, Trained, Skilled, And Evaluated. Shamans are examined by Ecuadorian government agencies for their ability to practice their trade, instead of countries where anyone can call themselves a shaman.
Ease Of Access for travelers, no vaccines or shots required, Cuenca airport only 45 minutes away.
There have never been any medical emergencies, but if there was one, a fully equipped modern hospital is only 35 minutes away by car. No walking through bogs, hiking, motorcyles or boats required to reach help if needed. Even a clinic is only 15 minutes away, yet you are in a pristine 55 acre country setting under the stars with no lights or buildings interfering with the view. You would never know you were close to civilization. This makes our center one of the safest to experience these medicine journeys.
Not Hot Or Humid, pleasant weather all year round. No screeching animals or insects all night long, like in the jungle! Being near Cuenca and being in the Andes Mountains makes Gaia Sagrada’s temperature and climate like an eternal spring. It’s warm T-shirt weather during a sunny day and it’s cool at night. You won’t be dying of sweat and heat (or mosquitos!) at Gaia Sagrada while trying to sleep.
Medicine Is Safe, Strong, Pure And Unadulterated. NO additives or mixtures that could be dangerous to your health. We only use pure traditional ingredients, only the vine and the leaves for Ayahuasca, and only the Cactus for San Pedro. Nothing else! Period! Our medicine is safer than places where they mix things that shouldn’t be included.
Sponsored By University Of Metaphysical Sciences, a leader in metaphysics and spiritual teachings, with credibility and tens of thousands of students all over the world.
Instead of large, overpriced and commercial, we keep ceremonies Small And Intimate so each participant gets individual attention.
We Offer Both Medicines, Ayahuasca (feminine) and San Pedro (masculine) medicines in order to provide a balanced experience. One without the other is not balanced. Not all centers offer both medicines, and both are so necessary. You will see!
Our Shamans Stay With You From Beginning To End, never leaving prematurely before the medicines are finished doing their work with you. At a lot of centers the shamans sing for just an hour or so, and then they end the ceremony and leave you on your own just when you are needing their guidance the most. It is not good if the shamans leave when the medicine is at its strongest heights! Our shamans stay with you for every part of your journey, until the medicine is finished doing its work with you. They are with you to guide you every step of the way.
55 Acres To Hike On, plus miles and miles and miles of country roads to wander in wilderness and small, authentic, indigenous Ecuadorian villages, with the women wearing their normal indigenous clothing, walking sheep, cows and goats. You will never run out of beautiful vistas and places to explore. Here you will get a taste of what the REAL Andes Mountains of Ecuador are like, far from tourist traps.

Transformation with love!

You are supported in your Ayahuasca healing journey with love and kindness. You will have a true adventure in consciousness during these days of Ayahuasca ceremonies and San Pedro ceremonies.

This is a life-changing event – a healing retreat that will change how you see yourself and life. You will see the evidence of this in our more than 600+ reviews.

Be ready to meet yourself at levels you never thought possible! Meet the master within you and explore the universe that you are.

Reviews (338)

4.9 out of 5

Overall 4.9

heavenly.bohemian
April 24, 2023 at 2:48 pm

Gaia Sagrada was such an incredible experience, it is hard to put into words the profound and life changing experience I had while at the retreat center. I came to Gaia thinking I was going to take plant medicine in order to find healing from circumstances in my life and got so much more than I expected as the people who come to participate and the volunteers, staff, and shaman are the heart and soul of this beautiful place. Their kindness and love for me facilities my healing in ways I could have never expected but am so grateful for.

As someone who has never taken psychedelics, I was a little apprehensive about the medicines but my fear quickly dissipated after the first ceremony. The ability to tap into a higher level of consciousness was truly incredible and being able to connect with others about their experiences after the ceremonies was such a special experience to be able to debrief and process what came up for each of us.

Gaia Sagrada is truly a special place for those who come with open hearts and minds. It is a place of retreat, reflection, love, growth, healing, connection and spirituality for those who seek it. I will never forget the lessons this magical place taught me and I am so thankful for my experience there.

On a practical note, as mentioned by many the food is amazing! Although there is a bit of fasting on days when taking the plant medicine, I thoroughly enjoyed all the meals I had and appreciated all the hard work from the kitchen staff and volunteers to produce delicious meals such as homemade pizza and lasagna in the remote mountains of Ecuador. As mentioned in their overview, it does get chilly in the mountains so be sure to pack warm items despite what the weather forecast states. I so wish I would brought a couple extra layers and left a few pairs of shorts/tank tops at home! The altitude is also something to keep in mind. While it didn’t bother me too much, it was humbling that I couldn’t breeze up stairs or walk up hill with my normal ease. That being said, this is something I experienced throughout Ecuador as it is a high elevation destination with lots and lots of mountains so don’t be surprised by the need for a bit of physical exertion needed.

Overall, if you are looking for a loving place with a caring community to heal yourself, connect with your consciousness, and grow spiritually while maintaining an open heart and mind, this could very well be the perfect place for you!
Teal
April 24, 2023 at 11:53 am

I’ll start with the downside for me. There was a lot of hiking involved. Aside from voluntary waterfall hikes and the such, to get from the private rooms to the main activities was a hike and an even further hike to the hot tubs, sauna, and cold plunge. Add in the altitude and it made for an active 12 days. It’s just a product of how the location is laid out and not really something I was aware of before picking my room. I believe there are other room options (apartments) that would mitigate this issue. Everything else was uphill from there (pun intended).

Stair climbing in the mountains aside, this place provided an amazing experience for me. I had no previous experience with any sort of drugs, hallucinogens, or medicine plants. They emphasized their purpose of keeping our bodies safe so that our brains may explore and heal. While I was a little thrown off at first with how much hugging there was when I arrived, I grew to understand it by the end. By the time I left, I felt closer to many of these people than I do to my biological family.

The ceremonies are definitely a little longer than I was originally expecting, but I basically lost track of time while under the medicine. You are asked to stay in the ceremony space until the ceremony is complete, but you are by no means required to remain awake. In some of the longer ceremonies I definitely fell asleep and while I personally felt bad the first time (for not showing support for my fellow members) nobody made me feel bad about it and many other fell asleep as well. The retreat had many offerings, from yoga to meditation, family meetings, and multiple ceremonies, but you were never forced to attend any of them. They provide a plethora of tools, but it is really upon you to take a hand in guiding your own healing. Gaia Sagrada and all of the people there (Staff, volunteers, guests, and Shaman alike) helped hold space for me to allow myself to release the death grip that I’ve had on my emotions for a long time and not just release the death grip, but not feel angry at myself for showing said emotions.

This place is honest in telling you that they and the medicines are by no means a quick fix pill. This experience is but a stepping stone for all of the work that each of us needs to continue after we leave. Gaia Sagrada focuses on gratitude, patience, and a little bit of history behind their ceremonies. Even so, if you ask any of the locals that come to assist with the ceremonies, they will be the first to tell you that these ceremonies are much more toned down compared to how the indigenous people conduct some of their own ceremonies.

Ultimately, this was a life changing experience for me and it is just the beginning. Gaia Sagrada was the fun and nerve wracking first step where you are surrounded by a bubble of love and support. The slightly convoluted journey back home (airport troubles) started the true tests of what I learned while at the retreat and now that I’m back home its time to roll up my sleeves and get to work on those things I learned. It sure was quite a journey and I definitely plan on going back.
SatyaLex
April 24, 2023 at 10:57 am

Gaia Sagrada helped me to remember who I am. This experience reminded me of my strength to heal and my capacity to love. I am reminded and empowered to be at peace with life in so many ways. I have so much respect for this experience, for the staff and volunteers, for the Shamans, and for Christine for creating this paradise where we can all connect with each other and with spirit in our own healing.

There is no short way to express my gratitude and praise for Gaia Sagrada so, here goes….

Firstly, I’d like to mention that photos just simply don’t do justice for the 55-acre property that the center sits on in the Andes Mountains. There is something so magical about this place and I felt it the moment I stepped foot from my transport shuttle. As if being welcomed home, welcomed to the most beautiful safe container I could ever hope for. The sight of the property is something out of a storybook, full of lush green vegetation, beautiful trees in every direction, the most precious wildflower assortment throughout the entire property, and a very active and lively variety of animal life as well – beautiful bird songs throughout the day, cows grazing in the fields, butterflies and even beautiful moths like you’ve never seen before. Not to mention, the furry, friendly residents of Gaia Sagrada – the sweet dogs who love pets and walks around the property, and a frisky kitty who will remind you not to take things so seriously. Also a huge bonus: the food is AMAZING! Gaia Sagrada is growing heaps in their gardens to incorporate into the meals and you also have the opportunity to help out with gardening which I loved. There are workshops just about everyday that you have the option of joining when it feels right to do so – yoga, meditation, breathwork, and more.

This retreat center is a very special place organized in such a way to hold space for your healing on a truly quantum, cosmic level. The ceremonies are kept to a more traditional manner in many ways with the songs and prayer conducted, the teachings and connection shown to the guests throughout. I am so inspired by and in awe of the ways that Christine, the Shamans, and the staff pour their hearts into the ceremonies and the experience of Gaia Sagrada. I truly felt this with all that I am. I feel that my healing began the moment I chose to follow this medicine journey with Gaia Sagrada and that the momentum purely picked up speed and strength from there when I arrived at the center.

I am so grateful for the wisdom shared by the shamans, for the ways they lead by example and guide us to what true connection feels like; the ways they support our healing, and the ways they helped me to come back to myself and my purpose. This is the greatest gift I ever could have hoped for. For me, the ceremonies themselves were so much part of the healing and the medicine, not just the Ayahuasca and Huachuma. I felt appropriately prepared by the staff at Gaia Sagrada for what to expect from the ceremonies (as much as possible – expect the unexpected here too, people) and appreciated the reminders of holding to my intention throughout ceremony.

The Temazcal/Sweat Lodge was also an experience I will never forget. For me, this was an incredibly empowering ceremony. The ways that we all came together to support one another truly strengthened our bond, I feel, and reminded each of us that we can persevere through any obstacle that life puts in our paths.

Each person who contributes their time and wisdom to Gaia Sagrada is in service to the healing of others in a way that I feel is so beautiful, that it deserves immense respect and recognition. I also admire and appreciate the ways the other guests shared their own willingness to heal; the vulnerability shared between us all gave me strength and hope. What a lovely way to meet and connect with really special people also on a path of immense healing and purpose.

At Gaia Sagrada, I remembered who I am, I became empowered to follow my path of purpose, and I was guided in breaking free of these mental bars that I have kept myself locked behind for so many years. I feel at peace with so much that brought me pain in the past. I feel at peace within my heart for the first time since very early childhood, I feel capable of leading with so much more love and gratitude that I have ever known, I feel empowered to carry these teachings with me, and I look forward to the ways that I can also be in service to the healing of others because of the ways that Gaia Sagrada Retreat Center has inspired me and guided me. I will certainly be back to Gaia Sagrada for my own healing and hope to pursue the honor of being in service to the healing of others here as well.
Christine is a true light warrior, a powerhouse at that. As are all on her team who are part of facilitating the ceremonies – shamans, volunteers, and staff alike.

With every part of me, thank you all. What a profoundly beautiful, loving, and POWERFUL experience.
Owner
April 24, 2023 at 9:24 am

Thank you for your review and supporting Gaia Sagrada with your words! We are glad you enjoyed your experience here! Thank you for your clarity and clear seeing! We appreciate that you took the time to write a review and express how changed your life has been from your experiences here. Thank you for enjoying what we have to offer! And thank you using this opportunity to make a response to the following review.
george85
April 23, 2023 at 10:01 am

After reading many glowing reviews here, I decided to book with Gaia Sagrada. Booking was easy and straight forward, with good communication from the get go. Airport transfer was seamless. Arrived at Gaia to be greeted by numerous individuals who all proceeded to come up and hug while introducing themselves with big smiles. This is the first time I though “wow, this has a cult feel to it”. To be clear, I’m not saying that it is, but certainly got that vibe from the start.

Then came the introduction to Christine. All the guests were seated in a circle around her while she talked endlessly for a couple of hours about her “abilities”, with all the self-assuredness of a season politician, complete with repeating sentences 2-3 times for effect. It should always cause alarm when a spiritual leader says that they know with absolute certainty that they have a complete understanding of our reality. Statements like “if you were abused as a child, you chose that” were off-putting, to say the least.

The ceremonies themselves were incredibly disappointing. Firstly, far too many people in the spaces. I believe their literature says something like “we’ve found x number of people is the optimal amount”. As it turns out, x just happens to be the maximum number of people the maloka can hold, thus maximizing revenue. I mean, the beds are literally touching each other. Secondly – the chanting is very distracting. I mean no disrespect to the shamans, the culture and their process, however, having been to several ayahuasca retreats in the past, I can tell you (as can anyone who understands the power of the medicine); if you really want to go deep and do the work, you need some silence (or as close to it as possible). The other ceremonies are too long (the mescaline along was 25+ hours). Again, I mean no disrespect to the shamans, but the endless thanking of everything and everyone (this extended to the person that grows the food, the person that delivers the food, the car manufacturer that makes the car that delivers the food, etc. etc.) was really frustrating.

I think the biggest issue is that Christine is essentially taking credit while the medicine was doing the heaving lifting. Again, anyone who has experiences with these medicines knows how powerful and transformative they can be. The unfortunate part here is that I witnessed her flip flop several times when going down a path of offering advice when guests pushed back, or questioned her reasoning. She also completely dismissed a guest who called her out on something that was factually incorrect. Here, instead of taking a humble approach and admitting her shortcomings, she doubled down and bragged about her intellect and breadth of knowledge – when it was clear she was incorrect. It’s this kind of intellectual dishonesty that is concerning.

In talking to another guest, he did say that if he’d seen the videos of her online, he would never have gone to Gaia Sagrada. I didn’t know about these videos either, but having watched them once I returned home, I certainly agree. A little more exploring also revealed that Christine apparently has a Doctorate – from a school she founded. Reading the site, it states that “no curriculum is involved”, you only need to “write a specifically structured 10,000 word dissertation”. It sounds like she wrote a dissertation to herself, and awarded herself a Doctorate – nice. Perhaps this is what the lawsuits that she kept going on about are related to.

The reason I am giving 2 out of 5 stars is because the volunteers were really great, and the food was incredible. I am not a vegan or vegetarian, however I had no issues at all with the food that was served. But I will say that if you’re serious about working with the medicines, look for somewhere that has an accredited psychologist on hand, or at least somewhere that respects the power of the medicines, but doesn’t need all the accompanying theater – you’ll get a lot more out of it. I know people talked about the prices of other retreats, and how Gaia was very affordable, but like everything else in life – you get what you paid for.
- Owner
  April 24, 2023 at 11:15 am
  
  Thank you for your review and how you enjoyed the volunteers and the food, how even if you weren’t a vegan or vegetarian you totally enjoyed it. Thank you for pointing out that communications before coming here were seamless and clear, and how getting from the airport to here was also seamless. We do our best to make it comfortable and easy for people to get here!
  
  It sounds like you simply didn’t like Christine. We are sorry you left after only 2 days and 1 ceremony. For anyone reading, Christine is not around that much so if you don’t like her you won’t have to see her much. Most people absolutely love her. Here are some of the nice things said about Christine in reviews https://gaiasagrada.com/good-things-they-say-in-reviews-about-christine/
  
  We do have a “meet the founder” page on our site and it points to her videos, so anyone can check them out any time they like. If you want to get a feel for who she is, http://www.youtube.com/ChristineBreese.
  
  Sorry if you didn’t like Christine’s introduction to the medicines. She covers a lot of subjects in the orientation. One thing she says is that the medicine opened up some of her abilities, that participants may notice their own abilities open up in ceremonies, and how to handle that, so maybe you misperceived what she was talking about.
  
  Also, one would HOPE that anyone who is running an orientation would be confident about what they are talking about. She doesn’t claim to know everything about reality, no one can claim that, but she certainly does know a lot about what a person can expect in the medicine ceremonies after more than a decade of experience with running retreats.
  
  Everyone else loves her presentation and feels much more comfortable about their venture into the medicines after she explains what they can expect. Two hours is not “endlessly,” but it does take that long to do the one hour presentation and then answer everyone’s questions (because they have a lot!), which she does readily, happily and doesn’t hold back from answering. No staff holds back. We are here to answer everyone’s questions!
  
  Yes, if a person takes a lot of San Pedro, it can last for up to 25 hours, so don’t take a lot in the ceremony if you don’t want it to last that long. It is hard to sleep if you take too much. Christine warns people about that, as they could be journeying long after the ceremony is over if they take a lot.
  
  This doesn’t sound like Christine to brag about intellect, take credit for the medicines, or reject facts. She is always open to facts and I have heard her several times say “thank you for educating me on that.” She always honors other people’s perspectives and says that everyone’s perspective is valid, whether it is backed by facts or not. She doesn’t flip flop on advice or dismiss other people’s perspectives.
  
  She herself says the medicines do the heavy lifting and “we are just facilitators to help you find your own truth with the medicines as a tool for self introspection.” She is very humble and tells everyone she is learning along with them in every ceremony, and never claims to know more than anyone else. She explains that everyone has a master within themselves and the medicines are here to help put them in touch with that. She also asks all participants to honor everyone’s perspective because everyone’s truth is their truth.
  
  As for repeated sentances, there is only one, “Do not trust an ayahuasca fart!” Everyone laughs at that, takes it to heart, and doesn’t wait to go to the bathroom when they feel it coming on. That sentence is repeated so they don’t forget. That has helped many people avoid accidents!
  
  The statement about childhood abuse isn’t exactly how Christine talks about childhood experiences. What she says is that “if you were abused as a child you have chosen to heal that in this life.” This is absolutely true and many people who come here are dealing with exactly that. They appreciate the acknowledgement and encouragement she gives about that. Some people haven’t come for that, and are simply looking for purpose and direction. That is addressed and supported too in this orientation.
  
  We are sorry you didn’t like the ceremonies. First, Icaros (sacred songs) are part of traditional ceremonies and most people find them wonderful on their journey, guiding the energy of the medicines. There are many periods of silence, but to have an entirely silent ceremony is for people who have been with the medicines for a long time. For those who are new to medicines, they can get lost in dark places. We are pretty certain a totally silent ceremony would not go over well and people expect to hear the Icaros when they come here. If a person doesn’t want to listen, they are welcome to sit outside the maloka as long as we know where they are and they are nearby so we can make sure they are safe.
  
  Second, there is a lot of talk these days about infusing psychologists and western medicine into these ancient traditions. That is not what we present. We are giving you the chance to experience these traditions the way the shamans have done them for thousands of years, not a distorted, westernized, psychology version which does not capture what these ceremonies are really about. If a clinical, westernized retreat with psychologists is what you are looking for, this is not the place.
  
  These are the ancient traditions of South American shamans, these ceremonies are close to the Earth, and done with the love and compassion that is needed for this experience to unfold safely. We do add the modern facilities aspect so you are very comfortable while you take this journey in consciousness, and we have a lot of help during the ceremonies to get you back and forth to the bathroom and have all your other needs covered, even a shoulder to cry on if you need it, but other than that, this is how it was done 1000 years ago.
  
  Third, gratitude is a huge teaching that is done with these medicines in the prayers of the shamans. Many times people email us after a retreat and are very grateful for this teaching because they are much more attentive to their great luck to have clean food and water. It is a privilege for only 1/6th of the world’s population, and we are in that category, those of us who come from western societies. They never see water and food as something to be taken for granted anymore, and this brings them into a closer place of gratitude in their lives. You will see this echoed many times in the reviews.
  
  Thankfulness for the manufacturer who made the car that delivered the food is a new one, we never heard that before, but probably was said with humor!
  
  There are some people who are very impatient and just want the water or food already, but that isn’t the right approach if you are coming here to experience the ancient South American traditions. We ask people to please honor the traditions as the shamans deliver them, and be patient with the prayers of gratitude. We come from societies of instant gratification and not having to wait for anything. Yes, the food and water are there, and there are some prayers of gratitude around it, but the wait isn’t long. All we ask is that you please honor the traditions, even if you are hungry and want the food NOW. It’s just a short time of being grateful first, please.
  
  Back in ancient times they had to work very hard for water and food. These ceremonies were often done around harvest times, rites of passage, important moments in life, and gratitude for the life giving substances of water and food was a very big part of their traditions.
  
  Fourth, all the mats are in a circle. Only the foot of the bed is touching others, not the part where the person is actually sitting. There is plenty of space between each person and rarely are they ever using the foot of the bed.
  
  As for maximizing profit, that is not the case either, as Gaia is a non profit and doesn’t make money. Even the director only makes Ecuadorian minimum wage, along with all staff, rare among retreat centers, which shows that everyone here is far from being motivated by money.
  
  It is very heavenly here and the love in the community is hard to hold back! This is why lots of hugs do indeed happen here! For a person who doesn’t like hugs, maybe this could be a challenge, but as another reviewer said, there were lots of handshakes too, not always hugs.
  
  People who don’t want to be hugged don’t have to get hugged. For most people this makes them feel immediately at ease and happy they finally made it after a long journey. Most people like this welcome, as you will see in other reviews. The work exchangers and staff do get a little excited about welcoming guests when they arrive in the taxi. They do like to hug people! It’s not a rule or policy here, they just do it naturally! If you don’t want to be hugged, though, just say “no hugs please” and they are happy to comply with what you want. We respect everyone’s space. We suggest you try it though if you’re not used to hugs, though. You might like it!
  
  Speaking of which, there is no cult just because there are hugs and joyful people here who love what they do. If you look at the definition of cult, Gaia is far from it. Cults try to talk you out of connection to your family and friends, give all your money to the cult, and might even try to rename you. Gaia doesn’t do any of this, and in fact does the opposite, suggesting that you make peace with your past, your family and ex friends or connections, create abundance for yourself, charges rock bottom prices so every person can do this no matter what their income is, and honoring you in every way including your individuality and name. People are here for 1-2 weeks and that’s it. There is no further connection. Far from the definition of cult.
  
  Christine’s Doctorate is from another school. She did not like the previous school so created one that actually does have quite an extensive curriculum, so that people receive a real education in metaphysics, rather than the diploma mills that are out there. The board of directors granted her an honorary degree for creating the school, which was a massive, Herculean effort that took many years to complete. If there was ever a Doctorate project, that would have surpassed any that exist. She did not give it to herself, the board of directors granted it. She didn’t ask for it either. They simply gave it because there was great respect for what she created and how hard it was to manifest into the world. It was no easy task.
  
  People have to work hard for these degrees from her school and become well versed in everything spiritual, even paths that are not their own, so they can better work with all kinds of people. Ethics are taught as well, which is something no other metaphysics school teaches. If you would like to check it out, University of Metaphysical Sciences, http://www.MetaphysicsUniversity.com
  
  As for Doctorate degrees, look at ANY Doctorate program from any university, secular or religious, and you will see that all Doctorates are granted when a person applies what they learned to a thesis or a research project. No Doctorate program has a curriculum in any university. That is not how Doctorates are given. A lot of people don’t understand that Doctorates are not based on taking more and more classes. At the end of a Masters program, the curriculum part of an education is over. A Doctorate is given when the student has displayed applied knowledge to research projects. That is how a Doctorate program works.
  
  If you want to know what the lawsuit is about, it is jealousy from another metaphysics university for creating a better school. They had a monopoly on the market before UMS existed, and could not find any way to put UMS out of business nor could they find any fault to sue UMS for. Finally, they came up with framing UMS for ads it never ran using their name.
  
  UMS has proven its innocence in three lawsuits already, and what is happening is called “predatory litigation.” This is when a larger company tries to make a smaller company go broke fighting false accusations. The point is not to win, but to cost the smaller company a lot of money it cannot afford. This is unfortunately an ever-increasing strategy larger companies use to put their competition out of business instead of improving their product and acting with integrity in a free market.
  
  Thank you for listening to our perspective, and again, we encourage you to read the 1000+ rave reviews we have on this and other review sites. This review is a very rare take on what Gaia Sagrada offers and will most likely not be your view of it. Most people love what we offer here, the authenticity of the South American shamans and their ceremonies, and most people love Christine. Again, read the nice things people say about her (link is above) and you will see a much different picture.
  
  While we respectfully disagree with some of the things said in this review, we wish this reviewer well and we hope that he finds what he is looking for in his life journey. Perhaps a session with a psychologist that dispenses medicine in a more medical and clinical setting would be more appropriate for some people, and we respect that. Again, that is not what we are offering, so if that is what you are looking for, this is not the place for that.
  
  If you are looking for authentic ceremonies from real shamans in a natural setting, though, while having all the modern facilities like comfortable beds, 24/7 hot showers, no mosquitos, wifi, and hot tubs, this is the place! There are some wonderful views in every direction, and doggies to boot if you’re looking for some nature and dog love! A couple office cats too! It’s not just the people who are happy here! You’ll even see some cows and horses here now and then. We are in the true magical Andes mountains of Ecuador with the Milky Way and stars clear as a bell at night! Come to South America if you want to experience the real traditions of the shamans.
  
  Blessed be.

« Previous 1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 68 Next »

Ayahuasca Retreat Reviews — Helping You Stay Safe with 5,000+ Independent Reviews