1913 – The First Syncretic Ayahuasca Religious Group, “Círculo de Regeneração e Fé” is Formed in the Brazilian Amazon
In 1913, the first syncretic ayahuasca religious group, “Círculo de Regeneração e Fé” (CRF or Circle of Regeneration and Faith) was formed in the state of Acre, Brazil by Raimundo Irineu do Serra, a rubber tapper and army border guard of Afro-Brazilian descent, and two friends, brothers Antonio and Andre Coats.
Later to become known as Mestre Irineu, the founder of the Santo Daime movement, Raimundo Irineu do Serra had been introduced to ayahuasca by indigenous people while tapping rubber around the border region of Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia.
Based on a military model, the CRF had a hierarchy with various ranks, and its doctrines drew from esotericism. It was disbanded in 1916. The CRF was a forerunner of the popular movement Santo Daime. Today, the pockets of the shirts worn with the blue farda by the women of Santo Daime still bear the letters “CRF.”
References
No author given (n.d.) O Círculo de Regeneração e Fé. Santo Daime website.
