Since Ayahuasca Recipe has been receiving many questions about the possibility to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony in the United States, we’ve done some research and uncovered an opportunity with the UDV in Kentucky.
Here’s a letter from their Chief Minister, Steve Hupp, with the details:
I am Chief Minister/Shaman Steve Hupp and I thank you for looking into Ayahuasca in the USA. Please allow me to tell you about our beloved religion and plant spirit and how we have come about from the beginning in the USA.
União do Vegetal (UDV) literally means “the union of the plants.” Adherents drink a tea within their religious services that is made from two plants indigenous to the Brazilian Amazon.
The tea, known as Ayahuasca or Hoasca, is revered as sacred by UDV members. It is a sacrament serving to heighten spiritual understanding and perception, and brings the practitioners closer to God and the Divine.
The UDV is a Christian Spiritist religion that originated in Brazil and is now practiced by over 17,000 people in six countries. The UDV has received numerous civic awards for its community and environmental service and is recognized as a church under the laws of the United States.
Aya Quest-UDV/USA-KY is a sect of the Brazilian based UDV religion. Similar to the way the Catholic Religion has different sects from the Roman Catholics, Jesuits and the Knights Templars — Aya Quest is a branch of the UDV Religion unto itself.
Traditional UDV Churches in the US and Brazil have not openly sought new members and are difficult to locate or contact, Aya Quest in its American created Doctrine actively seeks members and advertises via the internet to spread this unique spiritual sacrement and medicine in the USA from our base in Kentucky.
We seek to bring the Medicine of the rainforest to the homes of the USA.
In 2006 the US Supreme Court ruled that UDV is a Religion by US legal standards and UDV Churches in the US have the same rights as all other Churches. Therefore UDV Churches may use Ayahausca/Horsca as its Sacrament in Religious Ceremonies. This ruling only applied to the Federal Government. States were free to act as they chose (for further details, refernce Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal for more info).
Under the Federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) the Government must show a compelling reason to prohibit the sacrements use which it failed to do.
In 2013 Kentucky made into Law its own RFRA law that mirrored the Federal Law:
Screenshot courtesy of ReligiousFreedom.org
Which is why Aya Quest is stepping out of the shadows and actively seeking members cautiously.
Aya Quest is different from Traditional UDV Churches in we are American created and orientated in regards to our Ceremonies and practices. Our Ayahuasca is brewed here from ingredients hand selected in Brazil and Peru and shipped to the USA. We use only natural spring water, B Cappi Vine that is mature, and P Viridis leaves with an acid base to aid extraction.
Our Shamans or Ministers test the ingredients and use the Ayahuasca (a.k.a. Hoasca) brew first before ever giving a drop to someone. With our brew many do not purge, but some do.
Aya Quest believes it is best to experience Ayahausca, Hoasca, your first few times in a small group setting as to have a relaxed atmosphere and to have more focused attention from our Shaman Minister.
Aya Quest screens initiates for medical history and medications over the phone that may pose a dangerous interaction. We ask iniates to follow a simple diet a week before the ceremony for the best results and experience.
After your successful initation we will work with you on how to brew Ayahuasca using our tested ingredients at home.
Aya Quest keeps no records and your privacy is fiercely protected, all our Shamans are Ordained Ministers and Chaplains so as to invoke “privliged communications” under Federal and State laws. In other words, we can not be compelled to testify or bear witness.
We also seek other brave souls to help Ayaquest to expand by starting their own “gatherings” after you are trained and Ordained.
Ayaquest is also seeking investors/contributors who maybe interested in looking over a very unique business plan that just may change many peoples worlds in a very positive way.
I invite you to contact me to arrange a phone consultation and if you desire to move forward we will take the next step.
Chief Minister and Shaman,
Steve Hupp
*Contact Chief Minister Hupp and participate in a ceremony in the USA click here.
