Core Religious Creed & Declaration of Faith

Bona Fide Religious Practice Under Federal & Pastoral Ministry

Preamble

The Ayahuasca Community Fellowship (ACF) hereby sets forth its core doctrine as a sacred creed, affirming the beliefs and practices that define our church. We present this doctrinal statement in a spirit of reverence and sincerity, to articulate the spiritual foundation of our fellowship. Centered on the sacrament of Ayahuasca, our doctrine draws from ancient Amazonian wisdom and genuine personal faith, demonstrating the bona fide religious nature of our community.

I. Sacred Sacrament: Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca as Divine Gift: We proclaim Ayahuasca as our sole sacred sacrament and a divine gift for humanity’s healing and enlightenment. This holy brew—traditionally prepared from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves—is revered as “Spirit of the Vine,” a living vessel of profound wisdom. We believe Ayahuasca carries the spirit and intelligence of the rainforest, serving as a direct conduit to the Divine and a gateway to deeper consciousness. In our faith, Ayahuasca is far more than a plant or potion; it is a sacred teacher through which the Creator (or Great Spirit) speaks to us in visions, insights, and deep healing experiences.

Sacred Use, Not Recreational: ACF holds that Ayahuasca must be approached with utmost reverence. Ayahuasca is not a recreational substance nor a hallucinogenic indulgence—it is a holy sacrament to be used only in sacred ceremony and prayerful intent. We regard the Ayahuasca ceremony as analogous to communion in other faiths: a solemn act of communion with the Divine. The sacrament is administered by experienced spiritual facilitators, and participants partake in a state of respect, humility, and prayer. The brew’s effects are understood as sacred visions and purifications granted by the Ayahuasca spirit; they are to be honored, not taken lightly. In ACF practice, the sacrament is never used outside a religious context and never for casual purposes, underscoring our commitment to the sanctity of Ayahuasca.

II. Sacred Plant Teachers as Supporting Allies

Role of Supplementary Plant Teachers: In addition to Ayahuasca, our fellowship honors a circle of other sacred plant teachers which serve as supplementary allies in our spiritual practice. These plants are revered as wise counselors and healers that support the Ayahuasca ceremony, but they are not sacraments themselves in our doctrine. ACF teaches that these plant spirits work in harmony with Ayahuasca, preparing, guiding, and deepening the overall healing experience. We approach each with respect and clear intention, seeing them as helpers that point back toward the primary sacrament of Ayahuasca.

(In all cases, ACF emphasizes that Ayahuasca remains the primary sacrament and core of our religious practice. All other plant medicines and traditions are integrated as ancillary aids—important and sacred in their own right, yet fundamentally in service to Ayahuasca’s work of divine communion.)

III. Ceremonial Practice and Ancestral Tradition

Sacred Ceremony: Our fellowship conducts Ayahuasca ceremonies as holy rites, with a structure and atmosphere befitting a church sacrament. Each ceremony takes place in a consecrated space set apart for spiritual work. We begin with prayers of invocation, calling for divine guidance and protection. Trained facilitators (ministering Ayahuasqueros) lead the service, ensuring that every step is done in accordance with sacred tradition and safety. The ceremony is accompanied by ritual music and prayer: we employ icaros (sacred shamanic songs), hymns, drumming, and incense or smudging (often using Mapacho) to sanctify the space. These elements create a prayerful container in which the spirit of Ayahuasca can manifest and work freely. The tone is one of deep reverence, focus, and surrender to the plant’s teaching; this is a communion with the Divine through the plant sacrament, and it is treated as the holiest of services in our church.

Ancestral and Inclusive Traditions: ACF is rooted in the ancestral wisdom of the Amazon, and we honor the indigenous cultures that have safeguarded Ayahuasca ceremonies for millennia. Our practice is inherently syncretic and non-denominational: we weave together ritual elements from multiple tribal and spiritual traditions in a respectful manner. For example, our ceremonies may incorporate the healing songs of the Shipibo-Conibo people, the Quechua-Lamista prayers of the upper Amazon, and the cleansing rituals common among many Amazonian tribes. We do not elevate one lineage above another; instead, we embrace a tapestry of sacred knowledge, allowing each tradition’s beauty to shine within our fellowship. By uniting diverse spiritual traditions around Ayahuasca, ACF creates an inclusive worship experience where all participants—regardless of background—can feel the universal truth and love conveyed by the sacrament.

IV. Spiritual Healing and Transformation

Purification of Body and Spirit: Central to our doctrine is the belief that Ayahuasca ceremonies facilitate profound healing and inner transformation by the grace of the Divine. In the Ayahuasca journey, participants undergo what we call a sacred purgation. On the physical level, the sacrament’s purgative effect cleanses the body of toxins and negative energies, a process often accompanied by vomiting or crying which we regard as holy cleansing. On the spiritual and emotional level, Ayahuasca brings buried thoughts, traumas, and sins (inner impurities) to the surface, allowing them to be confronted and released. This cathartic release is not seen as mere symptom or side effect, but as a sacramental act of purification—an act of divine healing on the soul.

Visionary Revelation and Divine Communion: We believe that in the altered state induced by Ayahuasca (often called mareación in Amazonian terms), the veil between the material and spiritual worlds is lifted by divine grace. Practitioners frequently enter a profound visionary state in which they may encounter spiritual beings, receive messages from the Ayahuasca spirit, and gain insight into themselves and the universe. These visions and intuitive realizations are regarded as sacred revelation—comparable to a form of prophecy or direct mystical communion. Often, participants describe a feeling of undergoing death and rebirth of the ego during the ceremony. We understand this as a holy transformation in which one’s ordinary sense of self is temporarily dissolved by the Spirit, allowing the practitioner to be “reborn” in awareness, humility, and connection to the Divine.

V. Spiritual Wholeness and Ethical Living

Integration and Wholeness: The ultimate goal of our sacramental practice is the attainment of what we call “completeness of spirit,” a state of harmony with oneself, with others, and with the natural world. Ayahuasca’s teachings do not end when the ceremony closes; rather, we are called to integrate the insights and lessons into our daily lives. ACF members are encouraged and guided to reflect, pray, and share in community circles after ceremonies, so that the divine messages received are understood and applied. We hold that true spiritual growth is evidenced by positive change in one’s life. By integrating Ayahuasca’s guidance, individuals gradually overcome fear, anger, and selfishness, and instead cultivate compassion, courage, and clarity in their everyday conduct.

Compassionate Service – “Healing People to Heal the Planet”: Our doctrine affirms that personal healing and enlightenment naturally blossom into service and compassion for others. As we heal our own spirits through the Ayahuasca sacrament, we become instruments of healing in the wider world. This is encapsulated in ACF’s guiding motto: “Healing people to heal the planet.” We believe that every individual who finds peace and purpose through Ayahuasca will subsequently contribute to the peace and well-being of society and the Earth. In practical terms, our members are taught that a genuine relationship with the Divine and the plant teachers will inspire them to act with love and integrity in all aspects of life.

VI. Affirmation of Sincerity

We, the Ayahuasca Community Fellowship, solemnly affirm that the above tenets constitute the core of our religious doctrine. This creed is the heart of our church, sincerely held and faithfully practiced by our ministers and members. In declaring Ayahuasca as our sacred sacrament and embracing the accompanying beliefs and disciplines, we assert our identity as a bona fide religious organization devoted to spiritual growth and communion with the Divine. We submit this doctrinal statement with humility and reverence, as a true and honest representation of our faith. It is our prayer that through living this doctrine, we honor the sacred trust given to us by the Creator, the spirit of Ayahuasca, and the ancestors of the Amazon who shared these blessings—so that we may walk the path of healing and light, in service to the Divine and all creation.

Preparation Guide

Dieta protocols, medical safety contraindications, and intention setting.

Integration Support

Facilitated sharing circles, grounding tools, and ongoing pastoral care.

Member Testimonials

Firsthand accounts of healing, community safety, and spiritual renewal.