Casa de la Luz

A place to DREAM.
 

We emerged amidst the twilight's crepuscular rays. Life is poetry, and we want to encourage others to find their purpose and enjoy with less anguish this dance that we all call life. 

"By harnessing the potency of plant medicines and incorporating alternative art therapies, we are establishing a nurturing space in a natural setting. Here, you can embark on a journey to elevate your inner self, attaining higher levels of consciousness and heightened awareness.

Our vision is to establish an environment devoted to facilitating diverse personal journeys, providing robust support throughout, and ensuring seamless integration.

Our ultimate goal is to explore life to its fullest and most profound depths.

OUR STAFF

Established in 2018 in Alajuela, our original location, Casa de la Luz, has always been defined by its core values of simplicity, care, and vision. These values are now the pillars of our organization.

Our ceremony leader and founder, Andrés Campos Agüero, underwent initiation into the Ayahuasca tradition through a Peruvian shaman native to the Amazon Jungle. For many years, he exclusively drank the medicine with Kuyay until he felt called to become a ceremony facilitator under her guidance. This calling led him to open his retreat center and launch this project. Andrés has participated in numerous ceremonies since the age of 23 and has been dedicated solely to sharing ceremonies since 2017.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when plant material became scarce, we discovered the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine and Chacruna plants here in Costa Rica. These plants have been thriving since 1983, enabling us to produce our own medicine. The presence of the vine in our country has significantly contributed to our project, thanks to ethnobotanist Tim Plowman, a former student of Richard Evans Schultes, author of the book ¨Plants of the Gods¨. Tim introduced the plants to Sarapiquí, Costa Rica, with the guidance of Amazonian shaman Don Elias Ávila from Tarapoto, Peru.

Andrés emphasizes that an Ayahuasquero must possess the skill to prepare the medicine accurately to better serve it and gain a deeper understanding of its spirit. Being a Costa Rican fluent in English, Andrés facilitates direct communication with an Ayahuascaquero who comprehends the language.

Jean Sergio Rivera, Lariza Rodríguez, Ingrid Holistic, and Viviana González, all from Costa Rica, serve as our holistic therapists and musicians. Depending on our groups, they take turns coming to Casa de la Luz to facilitate various parts of the experience.

Our team is constantly enriched by volunteers from around the world, who always bring new perspectives and surprises.

Education is a crucial aspect of the Casa de la Luz experience. Our volunteering program equips people with the skills to understand medicine, the art of shamanism, and how to integrate these ancient practices with modern therapies.

Invitation from our Ceremony Leader, Andrés.

Life bestowed upon me the gift of this plant, and I embraced it wholeheartedly. I now bear the profound responsibility of stewarding its mission. To me, Ayahuasca is an art—a profound art of navigating the depths of one's spirit, traversing the world and its myriad contrasts, and engaging in introspection.

The vision of Casa de la Luz revealed itself to me, echoing in my mind after a transformative experience. It was then that I felt compelled to create a haven for those interested in experiencing Ayahuasca in a Costa Rican context, within the boundaries of my capabilities. This endeavor is my life's project. The plant, in its wisdom, selects the places I journey to; I have no control over it, just as it chooses to work with me. While I don't possess any magical powers, the deep connection I've forged with this master plant has enriched my life immensely. Now, I can share my perspective and experiences with others.

I do not claim the title of a shaman, as true shamans are born in the heart of the jungle and belong to an ancient lineage. I represent a new generation of Ayahuasqueros, a lineage I can sense forming as I work with the plant. I've developed the ability to understand her language and intelligence.

In my sacred work, I pay homage to all my ancestors, family, teachers, and master plants. My mission is to serve those seeking the medicine, and this, to me, is a sacred calling.

-Andrés