Rooted in Sincerity.
Protected by Law.

Pachamama Sanctuary is a living religious community whose sacramental practices are protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

We do not derive our legitimacy from a government checklist. We derive it from something far older: the sincerity of our faith, the depth of our practice, and the constitutional right of every person to freely exercise their religion — even when that religion looks different from what society expects.

Our protection comes from federal constitutional law — not from tax classification or IRS recognition.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (42 U.S.C. § 2000bb), known as RFRA, is the primary federal law protecting sincere religious communities and their right to practice their faith — including the sacramental use of plant medicines.

Under RFRA, the government cannot substantially burden a person’s sincere religious exercise unless it can demonstrate both a compelling government interest and that its restriction employs the least restrictive means possible.

Who We Are

The sincerity of our religious beliefs and practices

Pachamama Sanctuary was founded in 2019 by Pastor Derek Januszewski following a profound personal transformation through sacred Ayahuasca ceremony. What began as one man’s encounter with the divine has grown into a community of over 5,000 registered members — seekers, healers, and spiritual pilgrims drawn not by curiosity, but by calling.

Our faith is not borrowed or constructed for legal convenience. It draws from three of the most ancient living ceremonial traditions in the world: the Shipibo, Cofan, and Yawanawa peoples of the Amazon, whose ceremonial wisdom has been carried in unbroken lineage for thousands of years — including members of the Cofan Nation whose Yagé oral tradition spans more than 5,000 years.

We hold a formally published Statement of Beliefs centered on the Great Spirit, Pachamama (Mother Earth), and the sacramental communion that is the heart of our worship. Our Church Doctrine documents the theological, governance, and ceremonial foundations of our faith. Our primary spiritual text — the Ayahuasca Manifesto — has been formally adopted by resolution of our Board of Directors as canonical religious literature.

These are not legal instruments. They are sincere expressions of who we are.

Referenced Documents:   Statement of Beliefs   Church Doctrine   Our Sacrament   Our Teachers

How We Practice

The structure and consistency of our sacramental use

Ayahuasca is not a drug in our tradition. It is a sacrament — the sacred means by which our members commune with the divine. And like all sacraments, its use is governed by structure, reverence, and accountability.

Our Ceremony

Every sacred ceremony at Pachamama Sanctuary follows a defined liturgical structure, conducted exclusively by ordained ministers and trained ceremonial facilitators:

• Opening prayers to the four directions and a prayer of protection
• The formal offering and reception of the sacrament
• Sacred icaros — ceremonial chants from our Amazonian lineage
• Silent contemplation and spiritual guidance
• Closing prayers and communal reflection

Ceremonies are not open to the public. Participation requires formal membership registration, completed medical screening, and demonstrated alignment with our doctrinal standards.

Our Weekly Congregation

Beyond the ceremony, our community gathers every Tuesday at 7:00 PM ET for our Integration Circle — a structured weekly service of communal prayer, spiritual teaching, and shared reflection, open to all registered members.

Our Sanctuaries

We maintain two established, permanent sanctuaries where sacred ceremonies and communal worship are conducted year-round:

• Maine Sanctuary: 50 Rabbit Run Lane, Casco, Maine 04015
• Florida Sanctuary: 208 Story Partin Rd., Orlando, FL 32833

Our Ordained Leadership

Ordination at Pachamama Sanctuary is not conferred lightly. Candidates must complete a two-year ministerial apprenticeship, demonstrate deep doctrinal knowledge, undergo immersive study with indigenous teachers in traditional Amazonian settings, and embody our faith in every dimension of their lives.

How We Protect

The safety protocols governing every ceremony

The physical and spiritual safety of every member is a non-negotiable dimension of our religious practice. We believe that genuine sacramental ceremony requires rigorous care — and that care is itself an expression of our faith.

Medical Screening

Every participant completes a thorough medical intake and health questionnaire before any ceremony. Participation is subject to review and may be declined on safety grounds. Our publicly available Medical Guidelines reflect the highest standards of harm reduction in the field.

Ceremonial Safety Standards

• All ceremonies are facilitated by trained and ordained ceremonial leaders
• All facilitators are bound by our Code of Ethics — covering informed consent, professional boundaries, confidentiality, harm reduction, cultural respect, and non-discrimination
• Ceremonies are conducted only at our established sanctuaries on private property
• No alcohol or non-sacramental substances are permitted in the ceremonial space
• Detailed documentation of ceremony structure, participant lists, and outcomes is maintained for every service

Integration Support

Our responsibility to members does not end when the ceremony closes. Every ceremony is followed by structured integration programming — our Integration Circle, post-ceremony follow-up, and available integration coaching — because the sacred work of ceremony must be supported, grounded, and made sustainable.

Sacred Sacrament, Controlled Context

Controls preventing diversion of the sacrament outside the religious context

Ayahuasca is used at Pachamama Sanctuary only within our defined religious ceremonies, conducted at our established sanctuaries, under the direct supervision of ordained ceremonial leaders. This is not merely policy — it is doctrinal commitment.

• Membership requirement: The sacrament is accessible only to formally registered members who have completed our intake process, signed our membership agreement, and been approved for participation.
• On-site only: The sacrament is prepared, held, and consumed only within our ceremonial spaces. It is never distributed, sold, transported, or provided outside of the formal ceremonial context.
• Facilitator supervision: Every ceremonial use of the sacrament occurs in the direct presence of ordained ministers and trained facilitators.
• Ceremony documentation: Participant lists, facilitator records, and ceremony logs are maintained for every service.
• No commercial transaction: Participation fees cover retreat costs and operations. The sacrament itself is given as a gift of the church — it is not sold.

These controls exist because we take our responsibilities seriously — to our members, to our sacred lineage, and to the law.

The depth of a religious community is visible in how it governs itself. Here is ours.

Transparency is not a legal strategy for Pachamama Sanctuary — it is a spiritual value. We believe that genuine religious practice has nothing to fear from scrutiny, and everything to gain from honesty. If you have questions about our faith, our legal standing, our practices, or our community, we welcome the conversation.