Statement of Beliefs

Key Tenets Summarized

1. Each individual creates and experiences their subjective reality.

2. No one person’s experience is more or less real than another’s.

3. Truth is subjective. One’s Inner Truth purifies as one sheds their ego’s protective layers.

4. Truth is also objective. This is experienced as unconditional love, creation, peace, joy, and gratitude.

5. Every human being contains within themselves the power to awaken, heal, and manifest wholly and completely. No substance, person, or external entity facilitates transformation directly other than the individual themselves. Externalities can only accelerate the process.

6. One experiences God in a non-dual state of the God Immanent (the Divine within) and God Transcendent (the Divine in all things) in the enlightened state.

7. Sacraments of Psilocybin and Ayahuasca are given by God to accelerate communion with the Divine.

God & Enlightenment

WE BELIEVE that the experience of God, Source, Divinity, Higher Power, or one’s Highest Self (hereby referred to as “God”) is an experience that can be shared with all human beings, regardless of religion, race, sex, or gender.

WE BELIEVE that God is not necessarily a particular name or identity, but rather a Higher Power experienced as Truth. We believe that Truth is purely subjective and when it is experienced purely and fully, it is experienced as Love and Joy.

WE BELIEVE that within many spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity, there is a God Transcendent and a God Immanent. In Hinduism, this is Atman and Brahman. In Christianity, this is the Holy Spirit and God. We believe that the idea of God contains the God Immanent and God Transcendent in a non-dual state.

WE BELIEVE that God Immanent is Divinity within oneself. We refer to this as the Higher Self, Highest Self, Inner Self, or Inner Truth.

WE BELIEVE that God Transcendent is the God in all things including all beings and all objects, both seen and unseen, which provides interconnectedness and Oneness.

WE BELIEVE that experiencing God Transcendent requires experiencing God Immanent, as they are one and the same. Thus, the path to experience God in its divine fullness is to connect with one’s Highest Self, which is enlightenment.

WE BELIEVE that all of life is experienced through consciousness and the journey of life is to ascertain enlightenment, the peak state of consciousness.

WE BELIEVE that everything exists in Unity and Oneness. We believe that enlightenment contains the felt-sense of experiencing love within, through, and for all things in consciousness.

WE BELIEVE that God exists underneath all of the protective layers of the mind and exists underneath all the suppressed energies stored in the body.

WE BELIEVE that enlightenment is ascertained by shedding all egoic beliefs and attachments from protective layers of the psyche, which inhibit us from fully experiencing ourselves. These safety mechanisms develop in early childhood through developmental trauma are reinforced through life’s suffering.

WE BELIEVE that the state of enlightenment is reached by fully feeling our feelings in totality without judgment, expectation, or desire to feel differently. This can only be done when one feels safe to be with, acknowledge, and honor their feelings.

WE BELIEVE that one can let go of trapped energy that exists in the body as suppressed and repressed emotions. This can be done through spiritual readings, meditation, and ceremonial use of entheogenic sacraments, and surrender. This allows us to disempower resistance created by the mind in its seeking of safety, which blocks the experience of God and keeps us in suffering.

WE BELIEVE that, at all times, our members have a moral and ethical obligation to approach every life situation from a place of peace, love, and understanding and in a manner consistent with the general and individual messages innately present within God.

WE BELIEVE that other religious texts and teachings, insofar as they are consistent with God and the spiritual realm, provide guidance for how we should live our lives and in how we should love and be tolerant of other beings.

Sacraments & Entheogens

WE INTEND to provide for the transformation and evolution of human beings seeking enlightenment in communion with God through the ceremonial and sacred use of entheogens, otherwise known as psychedelics, psychedelic medicines, or plant medicines.

OUR PURPOSE is to promote the transformation and evolution of beings who seek enlightenment by communing with God.  In order to effectuate our purpose, we shall organize retreats, sacred ceremonies, coaching, ministering, and other related practices aimed at the expansion of consciousness through the sacramental consumption of entheogens.

WE BELIEVE that entheogens were manifested through God in order for all humans, regardless of religion, race, sex, or gender, to facilitate communion with God.

WE BELIEVE through the ceremonial and sacred use of entheogens our members are able to access their divinity from within.

WE BELIEVE that many of our experiences has shown us that the sacramental use of entheogens within an appropriate spiritual context, far from being a dissociative experience for the mind and detrimental to the health of the individual or of society, is, on the contrary, an activity beneficial for the expansion of consciousness, and in turn, positive for the purposes of our individual spiritual quests.

WE BELIEVE our experience of Unity, love, and connection to all things is enhanced and better understood through the sacramental consumption of entheogens.  More specifically, sacramental consumption of entheogens often evokes mystical experiences, which help us interact with God and other beings in transpersonal ways. These experiences can become more accessible for humans through the sacramental use of entheogens.

WE BELIEVE that through mystical experiences, we seek and receive answers and guidance to specific and ultimate life questions. Additionally, we believe that mystical experiences, induced by the sacramental consumption of entheogens, unite us through love, understanding, and greater connectivity to other beings in the universe.

WE BELIEVE the overarching message we receive from God, through the sacramental consumption of entheogens, is that Unconditional Love, Truth, and Creation are the most powerful forces in the universe. We believe that these are the nature and essence of God.

WE BELIEVE that the sacramental use of entheogens teaches us and empowers us to become more in tune and/or more related to nature. More specifically, we believe that the sacramental use of entheogens restores us to a more symbiotic relationship with nature.  As such, we believe that, to the best of our ability and as practicable, we are to conduct ourselves in such a way as to respect and preserve mother nature and encourage others to do the same when feasible.

WE BELIEVE that the sacramental use of entheogens is an ancient practice, perhaps dating back to more than 100,000 years ago. To the best of our ability, we adopt and implement these ancient, sacred practices and ceremonies to be consistent with and honor our ancestors.

WE BELIEVE that at death, our spirits return to Pure Consciousness, which can be accessed through the sacramental use of entheogens.

WE BELIEVE that by engaging in the sacramental use of entheogens and entering higher states of consciousness, we become comfortable in the spiritual realm, thereby allowing us to overcome our fear of death, which we believe is the source of all fear. By overcoming layers of fear relating to death, we are better able to focus our efforts on loving other beings and making the universe a better place for all living beings.

WE BELIEVE that sacramental use of entheogens provides a reference experience whereby the experience of being closer to or within their Highest Self and Unity/Oneness, allows for more accessible spiritual pursuit in daily life. In other words, this provides a felt-sense of Knowing God, which supports deeper spiritual pursuits in waking life.

Click here to view our sacraments and beliefs related to them.

Psychology & Spirituality

WE BELIEVE that psychology and psychotherapy, in conjunction with the sacramental use of entheogens, provide useful frameworks to identify, understand, and surrender egoic layers in pursuit of Enlightenment and Oneness with God and all beings.

WE BELIEVE that the optimal method to escalate towards Enlightenment with the least suffering is through a synthesis of psychology, spirituality, and ceremonial use of sacramental entheogens. This includes leveraging the wisdom, frameworks, and tools that have been developed over centuries of scientific research in psychology. These tools help one’s mind become aware of its own beliefs, question them, and surrender them in service of releasing the suffering and separateness that they may generate.

WE SUPPORT the work of spiritual teacher, psychiatrist, and neuroscientist Sir/Dr. David R. Hawkins, specifically the Map of Consciousness, which charts the energies of emotions, ranging from the lowest energies of shame, guilt and apathy, to the highest energies of peace, love, joy and enlightenment.

WE SUPPORT the work of spiritual teacher Byron Katie, who shares “The Work” founded in repeatedly questioning beliefs to shed all attachment to beliefs.

WE SUPPORT the work of psychospiritual philosopher Ken Wilber, who shares Integral Theory and Integral Psychology as a path to ascend towards non-dual states of consciousness.

WE SUPPORT the work of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, specifically the idea that the body stores repressed and suppressed emotions which can ultimately translate into disease and into permanent health conditions. The body holds wisdom and using this wisdom is conveyed through the body as impulse through the nervous system.

WE BELIEVE that there are three pathways to Enlightenment, also referred to as Central Channels, and that is through the mind, body, and spirit.

WE BELIEVE that the Way of the Mind, explored through psychotherapy, ultimately leads people to the place of separating themselves from their own identity, thus attaining the state of “becoming nobody” espoused by the spiritual teacher, Ram Dass (formerly Dr. Richard Alpert). This begins with questioning one’s beliefs under the premise that “It's not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering”, as spiritual teacher Byron Katie shares. This pathway further supports the work of Sir/Dr. David Hawkins, specifically his belief that escalating the ladder of consciousness is by giving up trapped or held energies to God.

WE BELIEVE that the Way of the Body, explored through some forms of psychotherapy like gestalt therapy, psychodrama, tantra, and somatic modalities, enables people to feel their feelings with greater depth, truthfulness, and responsibility. This begins by tuning in to information that is present in the body as feelings or intuition. It is through this mechanism of the body that trapped energy can be released to create space for higher levels of consciousness.

WE BELIEVE that the Way of the Spirit, explored through meditation, breathwork, communion with nature, cold plunge, contrast therapy, and use of entheogenic sacraments, explores being present with what is without avoidance or suppression. This includes the presence with and acceptance of all experience, including the lower energies on Sir/Dr. David Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness of shame, guilt, apathy, grief, fear, anger, and pride.

WE BELIEVE that entheogenic sacraments accelerate the quieting of the mind’s safety-seeking patterns & protective mechanisms, which allows one’s Divinity to shine through. This creates a reference experience, or compass, to be able to follow to continuously pursue spiritual development in service of communing with, knowing, and embodying God.

WE BELIEVE that continued use of entheogenic sacraments in minimal doses, otherwise known as “microdoses”, supports deeper spiritual pursuits in service of greater connection with God.

Ceremony & Facilitation

WE INTEND to provide guidance in all three pathways to Enlightenment to accelerate one’s path to Enlightenment, reduce unnecessary suffering, and further quicken the movement of the planet towards Unity and Pure Consciousness.

WE INTEND to skillfully facilitate the path of the Mind, Body, and Spirit to support the awareness and surrender of limiting beliefs of the mind and suppressed energies in the body, and being with what is in the present.

WE BELIEVE that the tools of psychotherapy and psychodrama, teachings of psychospirituality, meditation, somatic modalities, breathwork, and other techniques support the ability for one to feel safe to be with their feelings and let go of trapped energies.

WE BELIEVE that safety and surrender are essential components of providing the most effective, safe, and powerful experience of using entheogenic sacraments in ceremony. Thus, we believe that the tools outlined above are essential to working with our sacraments.

WE BELIEVE that extended, experiential, in-person gatherings, otherwise known as “retreats”, enable our ministers to facilitate the aforementioned modalities with greater safety, effectiveness, and efficiency. We believe that this provides the most supportive environment for our members to connect with their Highest Selves, or God, within.

WE BELIEVE that integration work supports individuals to adopt all that they have learned through Ceremonia’s experiences into the waking life through meditation, psychotherapy, and somatic techniques.

Accouterments

Founder, Prophet, or Teacher

Ceremonia was founded by Austin Mao, who also serves as the Head Minister, and Chuchu Wang, who serves as Steward. While there are no specific teachers or prophets, Ceremonia believes that entheogens can facilitate and serve as both teacher and prophet to those who engage in their sacramental/ceremonial use.

Important Writings

Sir/Dr. David R. Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness, which is elucidated in Power vs. Force and Letting Go, outlines the guiding principles of Ceremonia. Our beliefs, purpose, and guidelines are given to us in this sacred writing, which provides instructions on the following topics:

• States of consciousness;

• Non-linear modes of Being;

• Descriptions of Enlightenment, Joy, Peace, and Love;

• Process to let go in service of escalating the ladder of consciousness towards Enlightenment; and

• Oneness and love for all beings.

Gathering Places

At all times, as approved by the Board of Directors, Ceremonia will retain at least one retreat center where all sacred ceremonies will be held, business of the organization will be conducted, and sacraments will be securely maintained. However, Ceremonia will be conducting ceremonies and retreats at various other properties throughout the United States as approved by the Head Minister. In the event the membership and participation in Ceremonia continues to grow, the organization may acquire additional retreat centers, as approved by the Board of Directors, so as to provide maximum healing, spiritual development, and safety to its members and participants.

Keepers of Knowledge

Insofar as they are knowledgeable on certain matters, the ministerial leadership team impart knowledge regarding ceremonies, safety, and spiritual development to the members and participants at Ceremonia. However, due to their extensive knowledge regarding indigenous beliefs and practices and general knowledge regarding the spiritual elements of entheogens, the primary keepers of knowledge will be the medicine men/women and shamans conducting sacred ceremonies at Ceremonia.

Ceremonies and Rituals

The sacred ceremonies conducted by Ceremonia, shall be conducted in accordance with the dictates of the specific medicine man/woman or shaman conducting the specific ceremony.  Moreover, all ceremonies shall be conducted in a sacred place.  However, the basic structure of sacred ceremonies at Ceremonia should be as follows:

1. Opening Prayer: Should include a prayer to the directions and a prayer of protection;

2. Serving of the Sacrament: Should include an offering of the sacrament, receipt of the sacrament, and consumption of the sacrament;

3. Prayer: Should include prayers and chants in accordance with the dictates of the specific medicine man/woman or shaman conducting the ceremony.

In conjunction with the ceremonies and rituals, Ceremonia will also hold regular integration meetings, the purpose of which is to assist members and participants in integrating the spiritual insights gained during ceremony into their everyday lives.  This practice assists members and participants in effectuating positive changes in their lives and consequently raise the vibrational frequency of the world at large.

Structure of Organization

Ceremonia has the following structure to its organization: 

Head Minister

The Head Minister is responsible for general oversight of the organization as a whole, oversight of individual sanctuaries, and oversight of safety guidelines and standards.

Steward

The Steward is responsible for oversight of rituals, ceremonial spaces, retreat centers, and spiritual practices.

Associate Minister

In order to be an Associate Minister, an individual must have a deep understanding of the principles and beliefs of Ceremonia, a deep and wide understanding of the sacred use of entheogens, have strong knowledge of the world within, have an intimate understanding of the spiritual teachings of entheogens and live by those principles, and shall maintain integrity in all areas of life to the highest standard possible.

An associate minister is required to live in a way that inspires the community at Ceremonia.  They must also embody the highest standards within all areas of their personal and spiritual lives.  Finally, an associate minister must represent Ceremonia in a manner that maintains trust, honor, and respect from everyone inside and outside the community.

Associate ministers are responsible to lead group service with prayer, meditation, and teachings from various approved texts or writings and teachings that are in line with Ceremonia’s foundational principles.  They are also responsible for seeking out and creating deep connections with members and participants.  Associate ministers must also continue to educate themselves through prayer, meditation and ceremony as well as texts, classes, and connection with spiritual leaders, participants, members. Lastly, an Associate minister is responsible for assisting the founder(s) with in house integration work.

Associate ministers are expected to further their education through traditional means, as well as learning from the sacraments themselves, such as participating in a dieta with a traditional healer.

Council and Senior Facilitators

The Council consists of the ministerial leadership team and is responsible for organizing and overseeing community outreach and fundraising for local and regional populations.  They are also responsible for assisting and co-creating programs that are in line with the principles and vision of Ceremonia.  Lastly, they are responsible for inspiring in others what it means to be a good neighbor and respectful resident of Mother Earth, as well as maintaining a loving soul towards the Great Spirit.

Due to their intimate knowledge of and experience with conducting ceremonies, Senior Facilitators are responsible for holding space during ceremony and providing assistance and/or guidance to members and participants during ceremony.

Honorary Members

Honorary members are individuals that have been nominated by the ministerial leadership team and confirmed by a vote of the majority of the Board of Directors, as dictated by the by-laws.  These members are responsible for assisting the ministerial leadership team as directed. These honorary members will also be expected to uphold the values of teachings of Ceremonia in all of their affairs, to the best of their ability.  Honorary members are subject to removal at any time for failure to participate and/or failing to uphold the values and teachings of Ceremonia.

Holidays

Ceremonia honors Mother Earth and acknowledges the quarterly solstice with reverence.  As all holidays are times of celebration and promote unity within a community, members are encouraged to participate in all other holidays which their consciousness dictates they participate in.

Appearance and Clothing

During the ceremony, members/participants should utilize a special dress code reflecting unity and respecting the sanctity of the sacred ceremony.  

Propagation

Ceremonia engages in some online marketing and community outreach in an effort to make people aware of our retreats and our mission.  To that end, Ceremonia will maintain a website and social media pages.  In no event should anyone affiliated with Ceremonia make concerted efforts to convince others that our beliefs or way of living is superior to or better than anyone else’s.  Ceremonia prefers to acquire members and participants by attraction rather than promotion.  To that end, we believe that the greatest attraction to Ceremonia are the healing and positive changes that occur within those who are members and participants in our sacred ceremonies.

Substance Handling and Records

Ceremonia shall maintain very strict requirements as it relates to substance handling and records keeping.  The requirements shall be promulgated with the goal of preventing controlled substances being diverted from religious to non-religious use.  To this end, only the Head Minister and one Associate Minister are to have authority to handle substances at any given time.  Additionally, the Board of Directors will enact an appropriate record keeping system whereby all controlled substances are accounted for at all times.