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Yes. The Illuminating Co. holds psilocybin ceremonies at our sanctuary in Lakeway, Texas, as part of the Rite of Remembrance. We are a veteran-founded entheogenic church, and psilocybin is part of our practice as a sacrament, held within weeks of preparation before and integration after.
Psilocybin, here in Texas
Psilocybin is found in certain species of mushrooms, and sacred mushroom traditions go back centuries. Within our practice, we approach it as a sacrament of inquiry and connection: a way to look at the stories we carry, our relationships, and the parts of ourselves that need attention.
In the Rite of Remembrance, psilocybin is shared alongside MDMA in our Unity Ceremony, and the retreat closes with the Light Ceremony (5-MeO-DMT). Each sacrament plays a different role, taking you through the work in stages: opening up, going deeper, then clearing the way for a fresh start.
Psilocybin: a new perspective
Psilocybin can shift how you see yourself, your relationships and the life you're building. It often brings up imagery, memories and insight that are hard to reach any other way.
MDMA: meeting it with compassion
MDMA is associated with emotional openness, warmth and connection. Paired with psilocybin in the Unity Ceremony, it can make difficult memories and feelings easier to face with honesty and tenderness, instead of fear.
5-MeO-DMT: a reset at the end
The retreat closes with the Light Ceremony. The Unity Ceremony brings things to the surface. 5-MeO-DMT, a brief and powerful experience, follows to quiet the noise. Researchers link it to a temporary softening of the sense of self, and many people describe it as a reset, or a fresh start.
Each sacrament has distinct effects, and research on combining them is still developing. No combination guarantees a particular experience.
Daily breathwork, bodywork, immersive sound journeys and chef-prepared whole food meals are part of every Rite of Remembrance.
Why the weeks around the ceremony matter
Psilocybin can bring up wonder, grief, memories and emotions you haven't touched in years. How you meet that depends a lot on your mindset going in and the setting around you. We wrote more about this in Set and Setting: Why the Container Is Everything.
Preparation helps you arrive grounded, with clear intentions. Integration helps you bring what you learned into your relationships, choices and daily life, so it doesn't fade once the retreat is over.
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 anywhere you go
A checklist
- Careful screening, including your mental health history and every medication and supplement you take
- Preparation that starts weeks before, not the morning of
- Experienced guides in the room, and clear answers about who they are
- A calm, private, intentional setting
- Integration support that continues after you get home
- Small groups, so no one gets lost in the crowd
- Honesty about what to expect, and no promises about outcomes
Common questions
Can you do psilocybin in the United States?
Yes. We hold psilocybin ceremonies at our sanctuary in Lakeway, Texas, as part of our practice as an entheogenic church.
Is the Rite of Remembrance only psilocybin?
No. The Unity Ceremony combines psilocybin and MDMA, and the retreat closes with the Light Ceremony (5-MeO-DMT). Learn more on our psilocybin and MDMA pages.
Do I need experience with psilocybin?
No. Many people come to us with no prior experience. Eight weeks of one-on-one preparation are there to help you feel ready.
When is the next Rite of Remembrance?
January 18 to 22, 2027, at our sanctuary in Lakeway, Texas.
Who can attend?
Everyone goes through screening first. Veterans and first responders can join through Illuminating Heroes, and civilians through Illuminating Souls.
Curious about psilocybin? Talk to us.
A no-pressure call to answer your questions and see whether our practice is right for you.
