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

WE BELIEVE through the ceremonial and sacred use of natural 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 natural 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 love and connection to all things is enhanced and better understood through the sacramental consumption of natural entheogens.More specifically, sacramental consumption of natural entheogens often evokes mystical experiences, which takes us to higher spiritual realms/dimensions where we interact with the Divine Creator and other spiritual entities. This higher spiritual realm can become more accessible for humans through the sacramental use of natural 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 natural entheogens, unite us through love, understanding, and greater connectivity to other beings in the universe.

WE BELIEVE the overarching message we receive from the Divine Creator, through the sacramental consumption of natural entheogens, is that unconditional love is one of the most powerful forces in the universe and is the nature and essence of the Divine Creator.

WE BELIEVE that the sacramental use of natural entheogens teach us and empowers us to become more in tune and/or more related to mother nature. More specifically, we believe that the sacramental use of natural 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 and we are aware that the sacramental use of natural entheogens is a very ancient practice. In regards to To the best of our ability, we adopt and implement sacred practices and ceremonies to be consistent, safe and honor the human traditions.

WE BELIEVE that by engaging in the sacramental use of natural entheogens and entering higher levels of consciousness and higher spiritual realms, we become comfortable in the spiritual realm, thereby allowing us to overcome our fear of death. By overcoming layers of fear and/or anxiety 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, at all times, our members have a moral and ethical obligation to approach every life situations from a place of peace, love, and understanding and in a manner consistent with the general and individual messages innately present within the Divine Creation and the spiritual realm.

WE BELIEVE that other religious texts and teachings, insofar as they are consistent with the Divine Creator 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.

WE INTEND to provide for the transformation and evolution of human beings seeking enlightenment in communion with the Divine Creator through the ceremonial and sacred use of natural entheogens.

OUR PURPOSE is to promote the transformation and evolution of beings who seek enlightenment by communing with the Divine Creator. In order to effectuate our purpose, we shall organize retreats and sacred ceremonies related to the expansion of consciousness through the sacramental consumption of natural entheogens, in addition to other guided relaxation and expansion practices.

OUR ENTHEOGENIC SACRAMENTS

PSILOCYBIN and 5MeODMT as Bufo

Psilocybin mushrooms are perhaps the most ancient and sacred sacrament on planet earth. It is our belief that psilocybin mushrooms have been consumed by man for tens of thousands and perhaps hundreds of thousands of years. We believe that psilocybin mushrooms allowed early man to commune with the spiritual realm, whereby early man received information downloads that allowed him to better survive on planet earth by building communities. There is evidence of ancient use of psilocybin mushrooms spanning the entire globe. Psilocybin mushrooms are found on almost every continent and its ancient use transcends time, geographic location, and culture.

Mushrooms are known as the internet of nature. Social beings, capable of awareness and consciousness. Similar to our brain they build a neurological network with information sharing membranes. Those membranes are able to react to change and collectively have the long-term health of their environment in mind. Of the thousands of mushrooms existing all around the globe our ancestors and modern scientists have identified several dozen that have unique combinations of healing talents, which improve our health. Some of the main benefits are treating depression like PTSD, helping manage smoking, alcohol, cocaine addictions, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cluster headaches, and cancer-related or other end-of-life psychological distress.

The compounds psilocybin and psilocyn have mind altering effects similar in some aspects to mescaline and DMT. The chemicals have a structure very similar to the structure of serotonin, a chemical messenger with important roles in our brains and digestive systems. Because of this similarity, psilocyn can bind to receptors in the brain that are meant for serotonin. Even though still classified as a hallucinogenic drug, the therapeutical and healing long term effects of this miniature pharmaceutical factories are no longer deniable. Moreover, it is our belief that the chemical structure of psilocybin was designed by source in order to allow man to commune directly with it via the serotonin receptors.

The term “mystical experience” has been coined by modern researchers to describe the high dose psilocybin experience. To date, researchers have been unable to pinpoint exactly what causes and/or what exactly is the “mystical experience.” We believe the “mystical experience” is where the person consuming the psilocybin mushrooms communes directly with the spiritual realm, thereby escaping a logical or scientific explanation for the experience.

The factors that help determine whether a ceremonial journey is rewarding or “nightmarish” is the concept of ‘set’ and ‘setting’. A person’s ‘set’ (or mind-set) includes their mood, disposition, thoughts and expectations. A person’s ‘setting’ is the specific place and social situation in which they take this plant medicine. Psilocybin should be taken in a ceremonial setting in a calm and familiar place or being in nature. Our psilocybin ceremonies will comport with other ceremonial traditions surrounding the ingestion of natural entheogens, and will be structured in such a way as to allow the participant with the optimal opportunity for interaction with the spiritual realm. As with all other natural entheogen ceremonies, this ceremony will begin with a prayer and a blessing of the sacraments.5-MEO-DMT (BUFO)

In Central and South America, 5-MeO-DMT is most often sourced from Anadenanthera peregrina (yopo or cohoba) and Virola theiodora. It’s also found in the milky white venom of the Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius/Incilius alvarius), which is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. In keeping with its ceremonial use among indigenous Amazonians, 5-MeO-DMT shows great promise in the treatment of certain medical conditions. A single inhalation of the substance has been shown to greatly improve general well-being andmindfulness as well as reduce the symptoms of psychological disorders. Typically, the experience a person has after ingesting or inhaling 5-MeO-DMT, is described as feeling unified with the universe or some holy, transcendent. The perception of bright colors and recursive patterns are often associated with the experience. Bufo allows the participant to come in direct contact with Source. The Bufo experience is perhaps the most sacred of all natural entheogenic experiences. Bufo opens the participant up both spiritually and energetically, allowing the person to completely cleanse their negative emotional attachments to their past. Subsequent to the ceremony, the crown chakra of the participant will be opened. During the two weeks following the Bufo ceremony, the participant should avoid negative energies and influences to maximize their integration of the experience. An opening prayer and blessing commence the ceremony. The participant then sits on a mat on the ground and recites a prayer tailored for the Bufo experience. Then the participant takes a deep breath and blows out. The participant then inhales the smoke, while the Bufo is lit and pipe held by the practitioner. Once the participant has fully inhaled the volume of Bufo, they are laid down on the mat. It is very important that several other ceremony participants and facilitators watch over the Bufo ceremony participant as sometimes the process can be very intense. However, the upmost attention to safety is always practiced. Once the participant is fully out of the Bufo experience, they are allowed to walk around while monitored by the facilitators

OTHER SACRED SACRAMENTS

CACAO

Cacao is a plant native to Central and South America that has been used historically by the Aztecs and Mayans for medicinal and ritualistic purposes. Itsscientific name Theobroma Cacao actually means “food for the Gods” and it was believed to have been sent from the heavens as a gift to mankind.

Most cacao that you come by today has been processed and roasted in such a way that it loses most of its health and spiritual benefits. Ceremonial cacao however is cultivated and prepared in the traditional way so that it retains the spirit of cacao as well as its remedying properties so that it can be used in ceremony.

Why does Sonora Love use Sacred Cacao?

Cacao can open the heart and allow you to connect with yourself and others in a deeper, more loving way. Very gently the plant enables you to connect with your inner spirit and wisdom, allowing for more profound meditation and to focus more on the present moment: Its remedying properties work on your mind and soul. You will become aware of things that have been keeping you from living the life you love and receive strength in letting them go. This plant will help help you find mental clarity and balance.

KAMBO

Kambô is the secretion of the Giant Green Monkey Tree Frog that has traditionally been used by various indigenous tribes in the Upper Amazon region. It is a powerful cleanser of the body, mind & subtle energetic bodies, detoxing deeply on a cellular level and rejuvenating the entire being.

Through the cleansing; transformative powers that this medicine offers us, old limiting energetic ties and cellular dissonance that you may be holding within can be cleared whilst removing stagnancy and creating a healthy space that is fertile ground for growth, empowerment, and abundance to flow freely. The spirit of Kambo teaches us about consumption and where we may be out of balance in our lives.

SONORA LOVE was founded by Ashley Simran, who also serves as the Lead Minister. While there are no specific teachers or prophets, SONORA LOVE believes that natural entheogens can facilitate and serve as both teacher and prophet to those who engage in their sacramental/ceremonial use.

Gathering Places:

At all times, as approved by the Board of Directors, SONORA LOVE 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, SONORA LOVE 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 SONORA LOVE 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 will impute knowledge regarding ceremonies, safety, and spiritual development to the members and participants at SONORA LOVE. However, due to their extensive knowledge regarding indigenous beliefs and practices and general knowledge regarding the spiritual elements of natural entheogens, the primary keepers of knowledge will be the facilitators conducting sacred ceremonies at SONORA LOVE.

Ceremonies and Rituals:

The sacred ceremonies conducted by SONORA LOVE, shall be conducted in accordance with the dictates of the specific medicine facilitator conducting the specific ceremony. Moreover, all ceremonies shall be conducted in a sacred place. However, the basic structure of sacred ceremonies at SONORA LOVE should be as follows

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

b. Serving of the Sacrament- Should include an offering of the sacrament, receipt of the sacrament, and consumption of the sacrament;

c. Prayer- Should include prayers and chants in accordance with the dictates of the specific facilitator conducting the ceremony.

In conjunction with the ceremonies and rituals, SONORA LOVE will also hold monthly integration meeting, 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.

Preparing for Ceremony:

Before entering a ceremony wherein a natural entheogen will be the sacrament, it is important to prepare yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually with the intention of love, protection, high vibration, positive energy and intimate prayers for healing and transformation. These following guidelines and questions support our members and ceremonial participants in this phase before the actual ceremony. The questions listed here helps members and ceremonial participants reconnect more to themselves and can assist in identifying their intention more clearly.

What does a Sacred ceremony look like?

The way we use any plant medicine at SONORA LOVE is always in a ceremonial setting. We respect the plant as a living being, as medicine, as our teacher, and believe in its sacred properties. Therefore, we create sacred space before we preform our ceremonies. All ceremonies are private unless you have previously sat in the sacrament. The experience is intimate and personal and every ceremony looks a little different. I liken the actual ceremony to a baptism, its for you to face yourself. The wholeness of who you are. Pre-integration form and phone call are required as there are medications and lifestyles which are contraindicated for Bufo as Sacrament and are possibly life threatening.

Setting your intention:

Coming into any ceremony involving the consumption of natural entheogens as a sacred sacrament, it is essential to bring something with you. YOUR intention plays a crucial role in the entire process. Remembering what brought you to explore and heal in the first place can re- center you.

So, what are intentions exactly? They are nothing more than a response to the question you have had coming up within yourself. These intentions are very important for the actual ceremony and in the days, weeks, months and years following to adopt new lifestyle habits that enable you to continue to grow, heal, and thrive.

• What is it I want to realize for myself? What would be my ideal outcome? How would I like to feel?

• What is my main aim or objective? Think about this in terms of what you want (not what you don’t want).

• What is my purpose for wanting to do this work? Be sure that it is an authentic purpose, not simply wanting to check an experience off your bucket list.