Information about the Sanctuary for media and research.

Santuário Céu de Aparecida is maintained by Organização Céu de Aparecida, a nonprofit religious organization registered in Brazil under CNPJ 54.594.413/0001-70. The community was founded on June 24, 2023 and legally constituted in 2024 in Matão, São Paulo, Brazil.

The Sanctuary follows a universalist shamanic path. It has its own ritual practice, shared leadership and activities involving study, community life and ceremony. It is not a clinic or therapeutic retreat and does not represent other ayahuasca religions.

Bruno Luz, Michael Pereira, Giovana Luz Negro and Luciana Luz share the daily responsibilities. Having four directors reflects the principle of non-specialism: no one is treated as the sole holder of spiritual knowledge.

Directors and guardians have different duties, but all remain part of the same community path. Care with words, listening, free will, spiritual humility and respect for each participant’s choices guide the work.

Ayahuasca is used exclusively within a religious and ceremonial context. First-time participants complete a health and personal history form, attend an individual interview and take part in an in-person orientation. Confirmation depends on individual assessment, safety criteria and the temple's capacity.

Ceremonies have limited attendance and are supported by directors and guardians. Listening and integration support are available afterward. The Sanctuary makes no healing claim, does not diagnose, does not replace medical or psychological care and does not advise people to discontinue medication or treatment.

The Sanctuary recognizes the diversity of peoples, communities, religions and names associated with ayahuasca — including caapi, daime, vegetal, yagé, nixi pae and uni — and seeks to situate them within their cultural and historical contexts.

The directors’ encounters with Indigenous peoples are shared as personal experiences, with clear attribution and authorization where applicable. These encounters do not make the Sanctuary part of an Indigenous lineage and do not give it permission to speak for any people, community or tradition. The Sanctuary has its own ritual practice.

The Sanctuary considers requests for interviews, institutional visits, academic dialogue, event participation and access to institutional materials. We look at the purpose of each request, what is practical, the consent of everyone involved and the need to protect participant privacy.

When relevant, we may share our registered bylaws, internal rules, safety guidelines, activity records and other institutional information with researchers, journalists or organizations. This page does not give permission to reproduce images, statements or documents outside their original context.

• Interviews with institutional representatives by prior arrangement.
• Visits by researchers, journalists and organizations after prior assessment.
• Information about governance, safety, participation and religious practice.
• Protection of participants' identities, images, health information and spiritual experiences.
• No request implies endorsement, automatic access or publication permission.

Institutional requests may be sent to ceudeaparecida.matao@gmail.com. Please state your name, organization, purpose, intended format, deadline and how the material will be used. The Sanctuary is located on Washington Luiz Highway, km 314, in rural Matão; all visits must be arranged in advance.