I’ve visited Caya multiple times both to sit in ceremony with the medicine and to offer some assistance in building out this incredible space. I also visited a different retreat prior to my first visit to Caya.

Before my first Aya ceremony, I under-appreciated multiple aspects of the experience: the music, the “space”, the integration, and certainly the facilitators. It is crucial to feel trust in everyone involved, and I can’t imagine trusting anyone more than Damian and Crystal to create a safe and productive space for healing. They bring so much love and compassion while also challenging everyone to examine their intentions and post-retreat integration work. There are people in this “business” who develop a know-it-all, ivory tower mindset over time, but Damian and Crystal sit in the same circle as everyone else and assume no moral or spiritual high ground.

During my first Ayahuasca ceremony before I discovered Caya, I felt my basic needs were cared for, but I kinda had to manage myself and align to their agenda. We’re very vulnerable while on the medicine, and dealing with ordinary tactical problems or uncertainty can negatively affect the experience. I always felt like the guardians at Caya knew what I was going through and what I needed, which allowed me to focus on my journey.

Before Caya moved to the Pacific Northwest, I attended a retreat at its previous location on the outskirts of Orlando. That was an amazing, life-changing experience for me, and it was in a house on a small-ish residential lot. Caya now sits on an expansive, beautiful location in the forest surrounded by hills and a river. While it has all the modern amenities such as electricity, running water (with bidets!), and wifi, it allows you to feel rather disconnected from modern society. It was a great time to be within myself, my Caya family, and where we fit within the natural world.

I never outright recommend Ayahuasca to anyone as it is a very personal decision, but for those considering it, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Caya Sanctuary. There is no dogmatic belief system pushed, no timeshares peddled, no cult to pledge. Crystal and Damian do not float around the woods in robes speaking only in sage-like riddles. They are very normal people who have built an extraordinary community through their selfless work. If your beliefs make room for compassion, gratitude, respect, and love (or you want them to make more room), you will feel at home at Caya.