A qualitative study of long-term members of ayahuasca spiritual communities in the United States: Motivations, practices, experiences and beliefs
Journal of Psychedelic Studies November 18, 2025 Joseph T. la Torre, Ariana Kam, Todd Youngs et al.
Long-term participants in ayahuasca spiritual communities in the United States describe these groups as spaces for healing trauma, addiction, and psychological distress, offering belonging and cultural identity. These communities blend Western biomedical views of psychedelics with entheogenic spiritual frameworks, creating a hybrid healing paradigm centered on ritual, music, and shared intention. Members often move from self-focused healing toward relational growth and altruistic action, becoming facilitators and stewards. They navigate interpersonal tensions that foster emotional growth and operate in a legal grey zone, balancing risks of practice and identity. Joining such a community requires careful discernment regarding values, group dynamics, and safety. U.S. ayahuasca communities differ from individualized clinical psychedelic models by emphasizing community, spirituality, and mutual transformation.