Shaleesa Mize, who’s married to Church of Gaia founder Connor Mize and assists with operations, participates in a rapé (ha-peh) ritual, using a tepi pipe to prepare sacred tobacco snuff for prayer.
Photographer: Damien Maloney/BloombergInside the Tiny Church Where Psychedelics Are Totally Legal
The 65-member Church of Gaia believes taking ayahuasca is a key part of its faith. This year, the US Drug Enforcement Administration gave the organization its blessing.
Inside a rented yurt on 50 acres of rural land in Washington, the Church of Gaia is preparing to hold its first ayahuasca ceremonies – a psychedelic ritual that’s been years in the making.
Ayahuasca contains a hallucinogenic compound that is classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the US, the same status as banned substances such cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. Inside the Church of Gaia, it’s completely legal.