The place of ayahuasca in our Sanctuary.

Ayahuasca has Amazonian roots and is present in Indigenous and Brazilian religious traditions. At the Sanctuary, it is part of a ceremony that brings together prayer, silence, medicine music, careful speech and community service.

We do not treat the drink as a product or entertainment. We also do not believe one experience solves everything. Preparation, setting, guidance and what happens afterwards all matter.

Everyone coming to the Sanctuary for the first time completes a health and personal history questionnaire and joins an interview, even if they have experience elsewhere. This conversation helps us understand important circumstances, answer questions and assess participation with care.

The interview is not just a formality and does not guarantee a place. A health condition, medication, a period of vulnerability or another safety concern may lead us to request professional guidance, suggest postponement or decline participation.

• Accurate and complete information is essential.
• Medication or treatment must never be stopped without guidance from the responsible health professional.
• First-time participants also attend an in-person orientation circle before the ceremony.

Ceremonies have limited attendance. Directors and guardians organize the space, keep watch over the setting and offer support throughout the ritual.

In ceremonies where ayahuasca is the central sacrament—described by the Sanctuary as the master medicine—participants who have completed screening freely choose their portion, from a symbolic amount up to the limit established for that ceremony. Other forest medicines remain optional.

We respect each person’s limits, choices and pace. No one is told what their spiritual, emotional or physical experience must mean.

Care does not end with the ceremony. Participants may contact the leadership team if they have questions or want to talk about a more intense experience.

When appropriate, psychologists connected to the Sanctuary may offer initial listening and guidance within the limits of their profession. This support does not turn a religious experience into treatment and does not replace ongoing professional care.