Legal Notice

Our religious context

AyaWaken ceremonies are held as religious observances and spiritual practice. Our community centers prayer, preparation, reflection and integration. Information on this website describes our ministry and does not provide individualized legal or medical advice.

Our sacrament and retreat expenses

Ayahuasca is Ayawaken's primary religious sacrament. As such, Ayawaken donates ayahuasca, free of charge, SOLELY to those who have been approved to participate in the Church's sincere, religious, and highly circumscribed religious ceremonies. Ayawaken considers the consumption and/or distribution of ayahuasca outside its highly circumscribed religious ceremonies to be both sacrilegious and unsafe.

Retreat charges support operating expenses, ceremonial space, preparation and integration. The full retreat also includes lodging and meals. Charges for these services and expenses are separate from the sacrament.

Our religious practice and ceremonial guidelines

Ayawaken's sacramental consumption of ayahuasca is consummated solely in furtherance of the church's sincere religious practice and within its highly circumscribed religious ceremonies. The Church places great value on both participant safety and sacrament security. To these ends, the Church devotes considerable time and resources. As such, the Church asks all members and participants to both respect and abide by its ceremonial rules and guidelines.

Controlled substances and religious freedom

Religious-freedom questions involving controlled substances require a specific legal assessment. DEA guidance describes a process for requesting religious exemptions under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and explains that other federal and state laws still apply. Church identity or nonprofit status should not be treated as proof of a controlled-substance exemption.

This notice does not assert that a particular DEA exemption or court order has been granted to AyaWaken. Questions about the legal basis of an organization’s activities should be addressed with qualified counsel and the relevant supporting documentation.

Participation and website information

Participation requires intake review, acceptance and confirmed booking arrangements. Ceremonies are not medical treatment, and no particular outcome is guaranteed. Please review our privacy policy and cancellation policy.

Questions

contact@aya-waken.com · (940) 977-4796

Official reference

DEA guidance regarding religious-exemption petitions. Website references should be checked for updates before relying on them.