History
The Wasiwaska project was conceived in 1996 while
Dr. Luis Eduardo Luna was teaching in the Department
of Anthropology at the Federal University of Santa
Catarina (UFSC) in Florianópolis, Brazil
(1994-1998), first as a Visiting and then as an
Associate Professor. During those years, he had
the opportunity for much closer contact with ayahuasca
as a Brazilian phenomenon, visiting centres all
over the country of the three main organized religions
that use ayahuasca as a sacrament. It was a complement
to his previous work of many years in Colombia
and Peru among indigenous and mestizo shamans.
The vision is the creation of a centre open to
the public where all the materials collected by
Luna through the years on ayahuasca and other
psychointegrator plants (photographs, audio and
video tapes, books, artwork) may be preserved
and studied. The centre will also include a specialized
library, an ethnobotanical garden with as many
different species of sacred plants as possible
(especially varieties of Banisteriopsis caapi
and the many admixture plants), and facilities
where serious studies, particularly on ayahuasca,
can be carried out. It is conceived as a beautiful
place where researchers on ayahuasca, scientists,
therapists, artists, writers and other people
seriously interested in psychointegrator plants
can meet.
Wasiwaska is situated on a hill overlooking the
ocean and the forest hills. It has six rooms for
guests, all with wonderful views. The house combines
stone, brick and wood, avoiding right angles as
much as possible. The serpent motif is present
in different ways in the architecture and decoration.
Ritual space and a site for the future library
are still under planning. A beautiful garden with
an increasing number of sacred, medicinal and
ornamental plants surrounds the house, mostly
planned by Adriana Rosa, Luis Eduardo’s
wife. An orchard is gradually providing more of
the vegetables consumed. All organic materials
are recycled. Three dogs and two cats are permanent
residents. Additional kitchen and maintenance
staff are hired when needed.
During seminars, a few times per year, meals at
Wasiwaska are rich in fruits and vegetables. No
salt, refined sugar, alcohol or red meat is consumed.
Fish, seafood and poultry are however served.
Special dietary necessities are taken into consideration.
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