Founder
The Church of the Celestial Heart was founded by Kai Karrel, who also serves as the lead Padrinho or pastor. Kai has been a keen student of religion and spirituality for over 30 years. Dedicating his life to the exploration of spirit and teaching on the path to awakening. The church also has a spiritual council which consists of the teachers we follow within our lineage, especially Sergio Negri of Fraternidade do Coração (São Paulo, Brazil) and Philippe Bandeira de Mello of Arca da Montanha Azul (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
The Church of Celestial Heart also believes that the Daime, Ayahuasca herself, serves as a teacher and prophet to those who engage in its sacramental, ceremonial use. The Daime awakens the inner-knowing of the heart, connecting us to an ocean of wisdom and a profound understanding of human nature and innermost being. As we participate in the ceremonies and commune with the sacrament, we begin to see ourselves in a different light, lovingly, with forgiveness and compassion. These new perspectives guide us and empower our journey of awakening and healing.
Our Lineage
The Church of the Celestial Heart primarily follows two lines of Daime. The first, is the line of Santo Daime and Mestre Irineu. The church is connected and instructed within this line under the Santo Daime church of Fraternidade do Coração (Fraternity of the Heart), lead by Padrinho Sergio Negri and his beloved wife, Madrinha Michele Negri. Kai Karrel has received his first Santo Daime star and became an official member of the church in 2016, from Jonathan Goldman of the Church of the Holy Light of the Queen, in Ashland, Oregon. He has received his current affiliation to Fraternidade do Coração and his second star in December 2020. Kai has been consecrating the sacrament for over ten years at the time.
The second line is the line of Barquinha through the multi-disciplinary teachings of Arca da Montanha Azul, led by Mestre Philippe Bandeira de Mello. Karrel is one of the first non-Brazilians to be initiated within this order and has been an active, initiated member of this church since July 2018, studying with the church since 2017. The methodology of Arca da Montanha Azul and the profound teachings which come from this church have been leading our work and the understanding of how to guide participants within the context of using a state and mind-altering sacrament.
The church is also strongly connected to the Huni Kuin tribe and especially Ninawa Pai da Mata of Novo Futuro, Acre, Brazil. We take effort to support the indigenous tribes and bring forth their wisdom, their sacraments and teach from their wealth of knowledge and ancient traditions.
Though we have many sources of inspiration and study with a few other lines, we consider Fraternidade do Coração and Arca da Montanha Azul as our mother churches. Our spiritual council consists of members of these two churches, as we follow their guidance and direction in the works and facilitation of our ceremonies.
Spiritual Council
The Church of the Celestial Heart has a spiritual council that consists of a few of our Brazilian teachers, holding the spiritual mantle of furthering the teachings and study of the different lines they carry – Santo Daime, Barquinha, Umbandaime and Umbanda, Christ Consciousness, the development of human consciousness and the psychological aspects of working with our sacrament.
- Padrinho and Mentor Sergio Negri
- Madrinha Michelle Negri
- Mestre Philippe Bandeira de Mello
- Sônia Terra
- João Martins Pires
Initiated Members - Blue Stars
After being a part of the ceremonial work for at least one year, members who ask to be initiated into the linage will go through a special initiation ceremony where they will be asked to make four commitments to the faith. The first is the commitment to the previous masters, which means a commitment to study the teachings or the different masters of our line, for example, the Santo Daime hymns of Mestre Irineu and Padrinho Sebastião, the Spiritist doctrine of Alan Kardec, the writings of Chico Xavier and others. The second commitment is to the Daime, Ayahuasca. This commitment is to continue to drink the sacrament within the church, officially taking the Daime as your teacher and religion of choice. The third commitment is to the current – your brothers and sisters within the church. This commitment is to service, putting others’ needs before your own, and living a life of example and inspiration to others. The final commitment is to the church, which means that you are choosing the Church of the Celestial Heart as your primary church and holding true to its faith and doctrine.
Initiated Members have gone through our extensive training, and, as such, are authorized to serve the sacrament within ceremonies alongside a Padrinho or a Madrinha, they may offer healing, guidance, and support to other members and participants.
Guardians
Members who are participating in the training program who have yet to receive their official Blue Star initiation. These are members who have been approved by the Padrinho or Madrinha to be able to offer support and guidance to other members within the work. Guardians are asked to offer support to the setup and facilitation of ceremonies. They must represent the church in their appearance, action, and demeanor.
Keepers of Knowledge
The practice and knowledge contained within our faith are attributed to the pastoral leadership team and the initiated (“Starred”) members who have completed their extensive training and have taken the mantle of spiritual teaching within the work.
Due to their extensive knowledge regarding the practice of the Church and its practice, the primary keepers of knowledge will be the ceremonial leaders and padrinhos/madrinhas conducting the sacred ceremonies in service to the church.