If you've read the first two posts on this blog, you know roughly what San Pedro is and why this church exists. So let's get practical: what actually happens if you come to one of our gatherings?
I get this question a lot, usually from people who are curious but nervous — which, honestly, is the correct response. Let's walk through it.
Before Anything Starts
You won't show up to a ceremony as a stranger. By the time you're attending, you'll have gone through our membership process — which means you've filled out an application, reviewed our Statement of Faith and Membership Covenant, and signed a liability waiver. This isn't bureaucratic box-checking for its own sake. It means everyone in the circle has made a deliberate, informed choice to be there. That matters more than people sometimes expect.
We'll also typically ask about your health history, current medications, and any conditions that might interact with the medicine. This isn't us being nosy — certain medications and conditions genuinely don't mix well with San Pedro, and we take that seriously. If something in your health history is a concern, we'll tell you directly, and we might ask you to sit out a ceremony or speak with a doctor first. That's not a rejection. It's us doing our job.
The Setting
Ceremonies happen outdoors, typically around fire. There's a reason for this beyond aesthetics — fire has been part of this tradition for as long as the tradition has existed, and it does something to the quality of a gathering that's hard to replicate indoors. We meet in all seasons, which means sometimes it's cold, sometimes it's warm, and you should dress accordingly. We'll give you specific guidance ahead of time.
The space is intentional. There's usually an altar or central focal point — what's sometimes called a *mesa* in this tradition — with objects that hold meaning for the practice. You don't need to understand what everything means right away. You're not being tested.
The Ceremony Itself
The medicine is prepared and offered, typically early in the gathering. After that, what happens is mostly... waiting, and being present. San Pedro tends to come on gradually rather than hitting all at once. Over the following hours, people generally experience a mix of physical sensation, emotional movement, and a kind of expanded awareness — though everyone's experience is genuinely their own. Some people feel called to move, some to sit quietly, some to talk, some to be completely silent.
Throughout the ceremony, rapé may also be available. Rapé — pronounced ha-PAY — is a finely ground sacred tobacco preparation used in many South American traditions. It's administered through the nostrils and is known for its grounding and clearing qualities, often used as a way to reset or refocus during ceremony. Participation is always optional.
Throughout, there are people present whose job is to hold the space — to make sure everyone is safe, to help anyone who needs it, and to keep the overall energy of the gathering steady. You are not on your own out there.
Conduct in Circle
Ceremony is a shared space, and everyone in it has a responsibility to the people around them. Here's what we ask:
**Arrival**
Come on time — ideally a little early. Late arrivals disrupt the opening of the circle and aren't fair to people who showed up ready. Arrive sober, with no alcohol or other substances in your system. On the day of ceremony, a light breakfast is fine; avoid heavy meals.
**Phones**
Phones will be turned off and held by the facilitator for the duration of the ceremony. This isn't about distraction — it's about safety. The medicine is active for many hours, and we want to make sure no one gets behind the wheel before they're ready. Your phone will be returned to you when the ceremony closes.
**In the Circle**
Respect the space of others. If someone is deep in their process, give them room — unsolicited physical contact is not appropriate. Stay within the ceremony space and don't wander off alone. If you need support at any point, ask for it. Don't try to manage a difficult experience in silence when there are people there to help.
What happens in circle stays in circle. The experiences of the people around you are not yours to share.
**Photography**
Photography and recording of any kind are not permitted during ceremony unless explicitly granted by every participant present.
What It's Not
It's not a guided meditation with a script. It's not a lecture. It's not a performance you're watching. If you want intensity without depth, there are other options. This isn't one of them.
It's also not something that ends the moment the "effects" wear off. Integration — making sense of what came up, in the days and weeks after — is part of the process too, and something we talk about as a community.
Afterward
Ceremonies run until around midnight, slowly fading into the early morning hours as the medicine settles and the circle winds down. There's usually music, quiet conversation, time to breathe. Snacks and refreshments are available throughout.
People sleep on site afterward. In the morning, everyone wakes up to breakfast together, followed by a closing circle — a chance to share, reflect, and land before heading home. That morning time is part of the ceremony too, in its own way. Don't be in a rush to leave.
The Honest Summary
If I had to compress all of this into one sentence: it's slower, quieter, and more ordinary than people expect — and also, somehow, not ordinary at all.
If you're a member and haven't yet attended a gathering, reach out and we'll get you the specifics for the next one. If you're not yet a member and this description made you more curious rather than less, that's usually a good sign — head over to our [Join] page when you're ready.