Closer Look: A Remote Arizona Church Offers Followers Peyote-Induced Psychedelic Trips

Take a visual journey to Peyote Way Church of God. Although not a house of worship in the traditional sense -- there's no steeple, no ornate architecture, no flowing robes or pulpit -- Peyote Way is, in fact, a church. It was founded based on the beliefs of Peyotism, a Native American religion that uses the hallucinogen peyote as a sacrament and combines the teachings of various other mainstream organized religions -- including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Mormonism, Hinduism, and Islam -- in its doctrine. Read the full story on Peyote Way here.

Photos by Andrew Pielage
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Peyote takes years to grow and is considered an endangered plant by some.
Andrew Pielage
Peyote takes years to grow and is considered an endangered plant by some.
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Peyote takes years to grow and is considered an endangered plant by some.
Andrew Pielage
Peyote takes years to grow and is considered an endangered plant by some.
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Closer Look: A Remote Arizona Church Offers Followers Peyote-Induced Psychedelic Trips
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Peyote takes years to grow and is considered an endangered plant by some.
Andrew Pielage
Peyote takes years to grow and is considered an endangered plant by some.
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Zapf prepares peyote for sacramental use. First she cuts the tops of the peyote (buttons), then dries them, and measures out 20 grams for the final gruel-type mixture church members imbibe.
Andrew Pielage
Zapf prepares peyote for sacramental use. First she cuts the tops of the peyote (buttons), then dries them, and measures out 20 grams for the final gruel-type mixture church members imbibe.
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Zapf prepares peyote for sacramental use. First she cuts the tops of the peyote (buttons), then dries them, and measures out 20 grams for the final gruel-type mixture church members imbibe.
Andrew Pielage
Zapf prepares peyote for sacramental use. First she cuts the tops of the peyote (buttons), then dries them, and measures out 20 grams for the final gruel-type mixture church members imbibe.
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Once the correct weight of peyote is measured, the dried peyote is put into a coffee grinder.
Andrew Pielage
Once the correct weight of peyote is measured, the dried peyote is put into a coffee grinder.
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The peyote is ground up into a fine powder.
Andrew Pielage
The peyote is ground up into a fine powder.
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The powder is screened to take out the larger pieces to be reground and then put into a pot of hot water.
Andrew Pielage
The powder is screened to take out the larger pieces to be reground and then put into a pot of hot water.
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The peyote powder is left to steep in the water.
Andrew Pielage
The peyote powder is left to steep in the water.
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Zapf then mixes the tea before pouring it into a pint-sized jar.
Andrew Pielage
Zapf then mixes the tea before pouring it into a pint-sized jar.
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Zapf then mixes the tea before pouring it into a pint-sized jar.
Andrew Pielage
Zapf then mixes the tea before pouring it into a pint-sized jar.
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Zapf then mixes the tea before pouring it into a pint-sized jar.
Andrew Pielage
Zapf then mixes the tea before pouring it into a pint-sized jar.
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The sacramental tea is now ready to be consumed on the spirit walk by church members. Instructions are also provided.
Andrew Pielage
The sacramental tea is now ready to be consumed on the spirit walk by church members. Instructions are also provided.
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Rabbi Matthew Kent and Reverend Zapf work in their Mana Pottery shop creating ceramics and paintings.
Andrew Pielage
Rabbi Matthew Kent and Reverend Zapf work in their Mana Pottery shop creating ceramics and paintings.
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Kent prepares the Mana Pottery mold.
Andrew Pielage
Kent prepares the Mana Pottery mold.
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Inside Peyote Way's Mana Pottery small gift shop.
Andrew Pielage
Inside Peyote Way's Mana Pottery small gift shop.
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Mana pottery items on display.
Andrew Pielage
Mana pottery items on display.
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A painting by Peyote Way founder Immanuel Trujillo.
Andrew Pielage
A painting by Peyote Way founder Immanuel Trujillo.
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A painting by Peyote Way founder Immanuel Trujillo.
Andrew Pielage
A painting by Peyote Way founder Immanuel Trujillo.
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