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Yes. The Illuminating Co. holds ibogaine ceremonies at our sanctuary in Lakeway, Texas. We are a veteran-founded entheogenic church, and ibogaine is part of our practice as a sacrament, held within a full path of preparation, ceremony and integration, with medical support on site.
Ibogaine, here at home
Most people assume ibogaine means a flight to Mexico. For a long time, that was true. We founded The Illuminating Co. so veterans, first responders and civilians could find this work closer to home.
Our founder, Justin LaPree, is a Marine and former Austin firefighter. After years of carrying what service left behind, his own ceremonial experience changed his life. He built our church so others could walk the same path, with the preparation, care and community he wished he'd had.
Ibogaine is at the center of our Wisdom Ceremony, part of the Rite of Rebirth. We built it around one belief: the ceremony is only one part of the work.
Within our ibogaine ceremonies, on-site clinical oversight supports the spiritual setting. Our team includes a physician and an ER nurse, and screening, cardiac monitoring and medical support are part of every Wisdom Ceremony.
If you don't build new beliefs, new patterns, and new habits, your old programming will eventually take over again.
Justin LaPree, founder
What to look for in any ibogaine provider
Whether you come to us or go somewhere else, ibogaine deserves serious care. It can affect heart rhythm, and screening and monitoring reduce risk but do not remove it. Before you commit anywhere, look for:
A safety checklist
- Heart screening before you arrive, and continuous heart monitoring during the ceremony
- Medical staff on site who can respond to an emergency
- A full review of your medications and supplements. Never stop a prescription without your prescriber.
- Preparation that starts weeks before, not the night before
- Integration support that continues after you get home
- Small groups, and clear answers about who leads each ceremony
- Honesty about risk, and no promises about outcomes
Why people choose to stay in the U.S.
- No international travel. No passports, long flights or border crossings, before or after ceremony.
- Support in your time zone. The weeks after ceremony are when most of the real work happens. Our integration calls and community are a phone call away.
- A community that stays. You leave with people who understand what you went through, not just a memory of a trip.
We wrote more about this in The Challenges of Doing Ibogaine Overseas.
Texas is leading the way
In 2025, Texas passed the Texas Ibogaine Initiative to fund ibogaine research, and members of our team were part of that effort. Interest in ibogaine is growing across the country, especially for veterans. We are proud to be part of that conversation.
Common questions
Can you do ibogaine in the United States?
Yes. We hold ibogaine ceremonies at our sanctuary in Lakeway, Texas, as part of our practice as an entheogenic church. If you have questions about how we operate, we're happy to walk you through it on a call.
Is ibogaine the same as iboga?
No. Iboga is a shrub from Central Africa. Ibogaine is one alkaloid found in its root bark. We explain the difference on our ibogaine and iboga pages.
How long is the Rite of Rebirth?
8 weeks of preparation, a 5-day retreat, and 12 weeks of integration. Upcoming dates are November 16 to 20, 2026 and February 1 to 5, 2027.
Who can attend?
Everyone goes through screening first. Veterans and first responders can join through Illuminating Heroes, and civilians through Illuminating Souls.
Not sure where to start? Talk to us.
A no-pressure call to answer your questions and see whether our practice is right for you.
