About Us
OUR MISSION
Agape Sanctuary, a church based in San Diego California, USA, seeks to empower the individual to directly experience their divine nature through the ceremonial use of Earth’s sacraments: Ayahuasca, Bufo (5-MeO-DMT), and Psilocybin Mushrooms.
Metaphorically: Ayahuasca is divine blood, coursing through us and connecting us to the lifeblood of the universe.
Metaphorically: Mushrooms are the body of the divine, grounding cosmic truths into flesh and heart.
Metaphorically: Bufo is divine breath, inhaling the infinite and exhaling clarity, revealing the essence of who we are.
All human beings deserve access to the Earth’s Sacraments when they are ready.
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Earth’s sacraments are teachers. It’s up to the student to interpret and act.
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Agape’s role is to optimize set, setting, and assist with integration.
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You are the healer and the medicine.
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Ayahuasca, Psilocybin Mushrooms, and Bufo (5-MeO-DMT) uniquely
facilitate insight to subtle dimensions and vibrations within us.
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Love is the key to everything.
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Beliefs can evolve.
(November 16, 1993)
Our church and spiritual practice is protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (“RFRA”) and further bolstered by the Supreme Court Ruling Gonzales v. O Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal, 546 U.S. 418 (2006).
This ruling, which involved an Ayahuasca Church, stated that the United States government is required to demonstrate a compelling interest in a court of law in order to interfere with an individual’s sincere free exercise of religion. With regards to our sacraments, these compelling interests are participant safety and prevention of diversion of the sacraments. As long as our sacraments are served in a sincere religious context, with measures to ensure safety and prevent diversion, it cannot be interfered with by any government agency.
Since this ruling, many entheogenic churches have formed across the USA and have operated publicly for many years. Subsequent rulings from lower courts have conformed to the Supreme Court Ruling. Also since the 2006 ruling, the safety profile for our sacraments has been further bolstered and is widely considered to be safe given certain parameters.
We are deeply grateful to those who have fought the legal battles necessary for it possible for us to serve our sacraments, specifically the NAC (Native American Church), the UDV (União do Vegetal), the Holy Light of the Queen Church.
If you are interested, here is more reading on the relevant law:
Congress House Bill, Freedom Restoration Act
Court case: Gonzales v. O Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal
Court case: Church of the Holy Light of the Queen v. Mukasey
Please consult with your physician for medically-related questions and concerns.
Select a Sacrament below to view guidelines from current research.
We Have Dreams
For a kinder world, a deeper community, and a living connection to the Earth.
Our dream is simple: to reunite people, land, and Spirit. To support our team and their families, offer scholarships for those in need, and one day create a permanent home for the Agape Tribe.
Every contribution matters, big or small. If you have a specific wish for your donation, let us know. We are a non-profit and can provide tax documentation upon request.
Much love,
The Agape Team
Q. Who can join?
A. Most people with sincere spiritual intent are eligible for our sacrament ceremonies. If you aren’t sure if you can participate in our ceremonies, look at our Medical Guidelines above. Most people are medically eligible for our Psilocybin Mushroom retreats. Certain medications and medical conditions are not compatible with Ayahuasca and 5-MeO-DMT. If you're unsure about any medications, physical or mental diagnoses, or your general intent/mindset, we welcome you to email us and our loving screening committee will be in touch to provide support and guidance.
Q. What is the cost of a public retreat?
A. Retreat pricing reflects the depth and length of the experience. One-night Mushroom Ceremonies begin at $750, mid-tier options such as multi-day Mushroom or 5-MeO-DMT retreats range from $1,600–$2,400, and our Ayahuasca retreats can range up to $3,200 depending on that particular retreat's additional offerings. Participants can also book 1:1 preparation or integration sessions, as well as private or shared rooms, for an additional cost. For exact pricing and upcoming retreat details, we invite you to join our email list.
Q. Are there discounts or ways to make retreats more accessible?
A. Yes! Returning participants receive 15% off after one retreat and 30% off after three for all future gatherings. Early bird discounts are available, and a limited number of work-trade positions in the kitchen provide a discount depending on the retreat's length. Scholarships are also offered on a case-by-case basis, supported by the generosity of donations.
Q. What are the benefits of attending a U.S.-based retreat?
A. By joining a retreat in the U.S., you don’t need to arrange airfare, visas, or accommodations abroad. Our convenient location allows us to provide comfortable, high-quality spaces, small group sizes, and ensures fair compensation for our team, creating a safe, well-supported, and heart-centered experience.
Q. How many people would I be in ceremony with?
A. At our multi-day retreats, we're currently we’re serving a maximum of 18 people per ceremony. This allows for around a 1:3 facilitator to participant ratio.
Q. What is your refund policy?
A. You can view our cancellation policy here. This policy reflects the challenge of filling spots on short notice. If believe you have special circumstances, please email us at love@agapeayahuasca.com.
A. We aim to schedule retreats about every other month. They are announced through our email list. You can sign up for it here.
Q: Can I book a private ceremony?
A: Yes! You can find more information about our private ceremonies here.
Q: Which sacrament is right for me?
A: If you’ve done your research and you’re called to one of our sacraments, then sign up for our email list to receive ceremony invitations. If you are not sure and have no experience with psychedelics then we usually recommend our Psilocybin Mushroom retreats. For further inquiry, join one of our Q&A sessions or email us at love@agapeayahuasca.com.
Q: Where are your retreats located?
A: The location of our retreats varies depending on the season, group size, and the particular experience we are crafting. All of our retreats are in the USA within a 2 hour radius of San Diego. The details are emailed to those on our email list. Sign up here.
Q. Is this a church/religion?
A. Yes we are a church, but our approach does not require or ask you to convert to any specific religious practice. Our ceremonies focus on creating space for your own direct mystical experiences, allowing you to discover your own answers.
Q. Is Agape Sanctuary related to any form of Christianity?
A. The word "Agape" appears in the Bible, but it originally comes from ancient Greek, where it means spiritual love or unconditional love. While the term is used in Christian texts, its meaning for us extends beyond any single religion or tradition.
Q. Will I have a “bad trip”?
A. We tend to avoid the term “bad trip” because it suggests a failure or something to be avoided, which oversimplifies the depth and complexity of the psychedelic experience. Each journey, whether blissful or challenging, holds valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. The shadow is a natural part of the process, and often where the most profound transformation occurs. While these experiences can be ineffably beautiful, they may also bring up difficult and even terrifying emotions. We understand this deeply, having been there ourselves. Trust is our anchor throughout these experiences.
Much like the cycles of light and darkness, contraction and expansion, that we observe in nature, these cycles are also at work within you. Navigating fear and suffering can lead to deeper understanding and transformation. To reveal the light, we must be brave through the shadows. We are all on this journey together, facing these moments with courage and openness. This is the power of ceremony.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that" – MLK, Jr.
Proper preparation and integration are key. We all have personal fears, insecurities, or repressed memories. Our approach is to embrace these challenges rather than avoid them, as this is where true growth happens. Can you face your fears with curiosity and love? Strength and courage? While blissful experiences are valuable, working through challenges helps us develop tools for a more integrated and empowered life.
During the ceremony, while we encourage you to allow music and your inner landscape to guide you, remember that you can always ask for direct help from a facilitator if needed. If you need help please ask. Our ceremonies are designed to support you through an "inward journey," but we do not practice a removed or completely stoic approach. We balance reverence with compassion. Our trained and experienced team is here to provide loving guidance and personal care, ensuring you feel supported throughout. If you encounter intense emotions, breathe deeply and trust that we are equipped to help you navigate through them. We will discuss these aspects in more depth during our orientation on the first day of the retreat and provide further information during our Q&As. For additional support before or after the ceremony, our loving team offers one-on-one preparation and integration calls. Email love@agapeayahuasca.com to inquire.
Q. What does it mean that your ceremonies are “non-shamanic”?
A: A shaman is typically understood as a healer or someone initiated into a specific lineage. Although we've studied with them, we do not identify as healers or shamans, nor do we follow any single lineage –– we follow many. Our belief is that true healing comes from within, through the proper integration of insights gained during your journey. While our ceremonies are guided by icaros, music, and prayers, honoring and asking guidance from various traditions, the invitation is for you to learn from the wisdom of your direct experience. We view ourselves and all the sacred traditions as a finger pointing to the moon.
Q: Can your sacraments help me with my disease or medical condition.
A: We do not give medical advice. As evidenced by high quality research, our spiritual sacraments in the right setting can be very powerful healing tools. This is because much spiritual dis-ease manifests also as physical dis-ease. When spiritual dis-ease is discovered and addressed, many transformations happen downstream.
More Questions?
San Diego Ayahuasca Retreats | 5-MeO-DMT Ceremonies | Psilocybin Mushroom Ceremonies in Southern California.
Email: love@agapeayahuasca.com
Instagram: @agape.sanctuary