Arizona Yagé Assembly
Statement of Ethics
INTRODUCTION
The intent of the Arizona Yagé Assembly (AYA) is to engage in an ethically minded community consistent with the spirit of Divine Love and forgiveness. This requires impeccability for those participating in our community. The tenets and precepts of the AYA call for honesty, humility, personal responsibility, and equitably resolving conflicts as they arise. Mutual respect among everyone participating within the sphere of our church is essential. We seek to maintain healthy boundaries and behavior among practitioners. Our code of ethics is born out of a living moral standard based on love and compassion.
INTENT
Our intention is to bring people to the healing power of Divine Love through the holy sacrament of Ayahuasca. We hold to the right of humanity to engage in their chosen spiritual practice. We honor the Spirit by being impeccable in our word. We seek a fair exchange in our social contracts. We hold true to meeting the world as equals. We hold that God is Love. We are informed by the teachings of the Madre and the divine awareness of Christ.
RESOURCES & FINANCE
We consider ourselves stewards of the Earth, as part of God’s creation. We respect the sacredness of our work in serving our communities, and refrain from placing financial benefit above the freedom of the human spirit. In engaging in societal work, we agree to respect the property and boundaries of others. We seek to be economical and discerning in our expenses. In the interest of maintaining a sustainable organization, we agree to balance the need for donations with the benefit of those who seek to join us in spiritual practice. Agreements are to be simple, clear, and well considered by all parties involved. We will not invest in organizations engaged in social or environmental exploitation. We agree to practice equitable dispute resolution.
HARASSMENT & DISCRIMINATION
We agree to a respectful social environment that recognizes the rights and differences of all participants without prejudice or judgment based on their social role or category. We agree to a professional code of ethic which prohibits sexual advances by facilitators and those participating in ceremony. Healthy boundaries are essential in respecting the personal agency of all practitioners. Conversations between facilitators and practitioners can be candid. Exploitation of the confessional nature of these conversations for personal gain betrays individual and group trust. The intuition and view of participants will be respected and honored. We agree to protect the rights and welfare of all participants. Some people come to ceremony with a personal history of sexual trauma. We do not condone perpetuating cycles of trauma or abuses of power.
PARTICIPANT RIGHTS
We honor the dignity and independence of each ceremonial participant. Practitioner participation is established with their informed and signed consent. AYA’s disclosure includes presentation of the ceremonial form, general guidelines, and religious practices, including potential physical or psychological challenges. Medication and dietary restrictions are to be presented to each participant. We do not make medical claims. Participation in ceremony is not intended to replace crucial medical or psychological treatment. We engage in a religious practice for the purposes of spiritual healing. Reasonable steps will be made to safeguard participant’s health and wellbeing. Our healing practice is a spiritual practice.
INTEGRITY
We agree to practice constructive and effective communication through honest and compassionate expression. We understand that both misunderstandings and conflicts arise. We seek to expand our understanding in the study and practice of dispute resolution. Each practitioner will strive to accept and express personal responsibility for their response to their social climate. We agree to seek personal clarity in the face of both warranted and unwarranted criticism. We disavow the use of communication tactics such as: guilt, shame, gossip, shunning, blaming, people pleasing, finger pointing, and dishonesty. We understand that these kinds of tactics undermine mutual trust. We seek to resolve conflicts as they arise. We agree to seek counsel to establish a remedy in the event of a breach of ethics, or when conflicts escalate or remain sustained.
COMPETENCE
We agree to seek our highest level of competence and ability through continuing education. We agree to seek learning from honored educators in all facets of plant-based medicines. The sharing of knowledge and feedback among peers is crucial for sustained community vibrancy and wellbeing. We seek to both understand and expand the current limits of our abilities. We seek to clear up our own issues as a means to serving others with grace, compassion, and appropriate action. We seek to dispel mediocrity and complacency. As part of the need for personal integrity and responsibility, we recognize the need to learn from the studies and experience of others.
TOLERANCE
Since all systems of belief are fabricated in language, we accept simple love and forgiveness as the universal binding force of humanity. As such, we’re willing to consider the views and beliefs of all peoples with heartfelt tolerance. We recognize the need to respect all people without standing in judgment of their beliefs. We do not practice judgment or intolerance in the proselytizing of our spiritual practice. We seek to bring those of all beliefs into direct contact with Divine Love through the holy sacrament. As such, we do not seek to sway people from their traditional religious beliefs. We don’t stand in judgment of others or mold idols of doctrine or ideology.
SUBSTANCE USE
The use of alcohol or non-medicinal drugs in or around ceremony is forbidden.