A chilling saga of doomsday beliefs, a ritual sacrifice, and a leader’s tragic end.
Antares de la Luz, born Ramón Gustavo Castillo Gaete on December 20, 1977, in Santiago, Chile, emerged as a controversial figure in the annals of new religious movements and cults. His life and the catastrophic events surrounding his leadership of a doomsday cult encapsulate a narrative marked by delusion, tragedy, and the ultimate demise of a self-proclaimed deity.
Early Life and Formation of the Cult
Educated at the Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Castillo Gaete was a musician by profession before founding his religious sect. He claimed to be the second coming of Christ, adopting the name Antares de la Luz. His cult, which gained notoriety for a gruesome ritual involving the sacrifice of a newborn, was active primarily between 2009 and 2013. Castillo’s transformation from a musician to a cult leader was accompanied by a profound psychological change, attributed in part to his use of ayahuasca, a potent hallucinogenic drug.
The Cult’s Beliefs and Practices
The sect was characterized by its doomsday prophecies, with Castillo Gaete at its center as a divine figure. His followers, numbering around twelve, were drawn into a world of hallucinogenic drug use, mostly ayahuasca-derived substances, and animal sacrifices. Castillo maintained sexual relationships with all the female members, claiming it was part of their religious tradition.
The Tragic Ritual
The cult’s activities culminated in a horrific event in November 2012, when Castillo Gaete decided that his newborn son, whom he fathered with cult member Natalia Guerra Jequier, was the antichrist whose sacrifice would prevent an impending doomsday. The baby, named Jesús Castillo Guerra, was sacrificed in a ritual that involved placing him on a wooden board, taping his mouth, and throwing him onto a lit bonfire, leading to his immediate death. Following the ritual, Castillo rescheduled the “end of the world” and planned to relocate the cult to Ecuador, but the event led to disillusionment among many members.
Downfall and Death
The sacrificial act prompted a manhunt by the Investigations Police of Chile, with international efforts to capture Castillo. He fled to Peru, carrying a significant sum of money from a follower. In May 2013, Castillo was found dead in Cusco, Peru, having committed suicide by hanging. This tragic end marked the dissolution of the cult, with most members declared legally innocent by reason of insanity. Natalia Guerra, the mother of the sacrificed child, was later arrested and sentenced to five years in prison but was released on parole in 2021.
Family Perspectives and Psychological Analysis
Family and friends of Castillo have offered varying perspectives on his mental state and the factors contributing to his actions. While some attribute his behavior to mental illness exacerbated by drug use, others suggest a complex interplay of personal, psychological, and possibly supernatural influences. His family described him as a victim of circumstance, highlighting the drastic change from a music-loving individual to a cult leader capable of orchestrating a fatal ritual. Psychological analyses have emphasized the role of drugs like ayahuasca in altering perceptions and potentially exacerbating underlying mental health issues.
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