Mama Monica Vasquez was born in Miami, FL to Colombian parents. She spent most of her early years in Bogota and after completing high school she moved back to South Florida, where she has lived all her adult life. For over the last two decades she has been working at the University of Miami, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2007.

In 2005 she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder thus starting her quest for healing.   Her passion for knowledge about alternative natural medicine and desire for spiritual development, opened her path to becoming an advocate for holistic health practices and guided her to the plant medicine ways. From her first experience with Ayahuasca-Yage in summer 2012, she knew that she had found her tribe and felt the personal calling to support these indigenous gatherings in any way possible. Becoming heavily involved with the conscious community of South Florida, she started volunteering her time, energy and skills to support these sacred medicine circles; first as a participant, then as a translator, and very soon as part of the supporting and organizing team.

After suffering from chronic pain for over a decade and unsuccessful innumerable invasive treatments, she has been in remission, medication and symptom free since 2016 thanks to the deep dive with plant medicine. The sacred ways of the Ayahuasca-Yage have allowed her to grasp a deeper understanding of the connection between mind, body and spirit and the physical manifestation of disease. In addition to the physical healing, she has experienced in her journey with these ancient traditions, she has also been able to rebuild her connection with God, reconnect with her faith and discover the purpose of life, to be of service to humanity in any possible manner.

Being a firsthand witness to the meaningful impact and the significant shifts of those who partake in these sacred practices, inspired her to make a deeper commitment to this path and to the sacred medicine of Ayahuasca-Yage. In 2018, she accepted the call of the Great Spirit and became a disciple of sacred medicine yage. During this ongoing and lifelong apprenticeship, she has been learning more in depth about this millennial culture and the traditional ways of the Kamentsa Biya and Inga communities from Putumayo, Colombia. In February 2025, she was ordained as a Mama by Taita Hector Ortiz. Currently, she supports the mission and vision of the Kamentsa Inga Church, The Soul of the Hummingbird and is part of the organizing team in Florida and Georgia ceremonies.