Participants gathered together in the AyaWaken ceremony hall near Dallas
✦ Shipibo-Conibo Lineage ✦ ✦ Held in Prayer ✦ ✦ Near Dallas, Texas ✦

Begin Your Ayahuasca Retreat

Prayer-led weekend ceremonies near Dallas, Texas. Welcoming to every background, with preparation and integration support.

★★★★★  5.0 from 62 Google reviews
A 501(c)(3) church, open to all backgrounds
Shipibo-Conibo tradition, trained in Peru
Every participant screened
Who comes to ceremony

At one point or another…

Most people arrive carrying something they could not put down alone.

  • You have done the work, and still feel stuck.
  • Something from your past still shapes how you live.
  • You feel disconnected from yourself, your people, or your purpose.
  • You are seeking clarity on a decision, or a grief.

Not for recreation. This is a sacrament, held in prayer.

Altar with candles, flowers and Shipibo textiles
Mark with the Shipibo Maestro in the maloca during ceremony
Participants together outdoors at dusk on the ranch
Held in prayer, in the Shipibo tradition

The sacred is not far away. It lives within you.

A weekend held in prayer, for you to:

  • See yourself clearly, often for the first time in years.
  • Set down grief, anger or shame carried too long.
  • Renew your spirit, and reconnect with something greater.
  • Reconnect with the Earth, and the people you love.

We can promise care and preparation - never a result.

Your weekend

What's included

The altar with candles, textiles and a framed prayer

Preparation & screening

A careful intake, a free discovery call and clear guidance before you arrive.

The ceremony space on the ranch, set with mats and the altar

Two nights of ceremony

Friday and Saturday evenings, held in prayer in the Shipibo-Conibo tradition.

Integration corner with Shipibo-inspired artwork and a shelf of books

Integration support

Maria Lopez helps you carry the experience into daily life.

The shared kitchen and dining table in the ranch house

Stay & meals

Shared lodging on our Texas ranch, men and women separate, with all meals provided.

2nights of ceremony
10beds - small groups
5.0from 62 Google reviews
~4years under Shipibo Maestros
Who holds your weekend

Held by people who walk this path

Mark Lorello Jr in an embroidered ceremonial shirt

Mark Lorello Jr

Founder, lead facilitator

Chloe Lorello in a Shipibo-patterned garment

Chloe Lorello

Co-facilitator

Maria Lopez outdoors by a stream

Maria Lopez

Integration Specialist

Guided by Shipibo Maestros Gaspar Rengifo (Xawn Sany) and Domer Hoyos (Saken Sina).

Candlelit ceremony space with the altar, held in the Shipibo tradition
“AyaWaken Church has truly changed my life. Mark and Chloe have created a safe, welcoming space.”
★★★★★  Brandon P. · Google review

Why people choose AyaWaken

Six reasons

✦ A Real Church ✦

501(c)(3), EIN 33-1321805. A sacrament, never recreation.

✦ A Lineage We Can Name ✦

Nearly four years under Shipibo Maestro Gaspar Rengifo.

✦ Everyone Is Screened ✦

Medical, medications, mental health. Some are turned away.

✦ Small Groups ✦

Individual attention for every participant, every weekend.

✦ Near Dallas ✦

Two-night weekends, ranch lodging and meals included.

✦ Integration Support ✦

Maria Lopez helps you carry it into daily life.

The candlelit ceremony hall near Dallas
Dallas, Texas · 2026

Upcoming ceremony weekends

Small groups, so every participant receives individual attention.

LocationDatesStatus
Dallas, TexasOctober 2-3Accepting applications
Dallas, TexasOctober 16-17Accepting applications
Dallas, TexasNovember 6-7Accepting applications
Dallas, TexasNovember 20-21Accepting applications
Dallas, TexasDecember 4-5Accepting applications
Dallas, TexasDecember 18-19Accepting applications

If a weekend fills, begin your intake anyway.

Find Out More About Joining
Voices

What participants say

5.0
★★★★★
from 62 Google reviews
★★★★★
“An incredible experience, truly hard to put into words. My connection with God has grown so much.”
Joanna H. · Google review
★★★★★
“AyaWaken Church has truly changed my life. Mark and Chloe have created a safe, welcoming space.”
Brandon P. · Google review
★★★★★
“A truly special place led by two amazing people. I have sat in 14 ceremonies with them.”
James G. · Google review
★★★★★
“…All walks of life in one beautiful space. We laughed together, we cried together, we shared stories together. By the time Sunday came, our tribe became ONE.…”
Sherri B. · Google review
★★★★★
“I went in unsure but Mark and Chloe hold the space and the ceremonies felt safe and contained.”
Renee M. · Google review
★★★★★
“…Thankfully, Mark and Chloe were so welcoming and made me feel right at home. They held the space with confidence and understanding.…”
Danny G. · Google review
★★★★★
“…There is always someone available for one on one guidance and genuine connection. Mark makes himself available to participants in person and by text or phone call before, during and after.…”
Wendy K. · Google review
★★★★★
“…As for the ceremonies, I was again throughly impressed by how well they held the container and were able to safely manage and assist all the participants.…”
Ryne V. · Google review
★★★★★
“Mark and Chloe are the best! What a great experience my ceremony was.… Explaining the process with detail and comfort. They take time to hangout personally with everyone.…”
Jeremy J. · Google review
Three steps

How to attend

  1. 1

    Apply

    Complete the intake, which takes about 10 minutes. We screen every participant carefully.

  2. 2

    Speak with us

    A free discovery call. Ask anything. No obligation.

  3. 3

    Prepare & attend

    Clear preparation guidance, then two nights of ceremony near Dallas.

The ranch house near Dallas
Bunk-bed sleeping room, freshly made
Homely living room in the ranch house
A glimpse of the weekend

Where you'll stay

Ten beds on our Texas ranch, men and women separate. Shared kitchen. All meals provided.

Two ways to join

Full Retreat

Two nights of ceremony, ranch lodging, all meals.

Ceremonies Only

Both nights of ceremony; stay at a nearby hotel.

We talk through both, and what they cost, on your free discovery call.

Guests with a Shipibo family under a palm-thatch roof in evening light
“We are not here to build followers. We are here to help you walk your own path.”
The AyaWaken ministry
FAQ

Common questions

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is the term we use for a traditional Amazonian ceremony. It is rooted in the ancestral practices of the Shipibo-Conibo people of Peru. Within our religious observances it is received as a sacred sacrament. It is a part of prayer and ceremony. We hold it only within the ceremonies of our church, with screening, preparation, and reverence.

Do I need to be religious?

No. People of every faith, and none, sit with us. We ask only that you respect the ceremony as sacred.

Is AyaWaken really a church?

Yes. AyaWaken is Ayawaken, Inc., a 501(c)(3) church and registered Texas nonprofit. We have bylaws, a ministry structure, and a congregation. Our ceremonies are religious observances, built on prayer and the Shipibo-Conibo traditions of the Peruvian Amazon.

Is ceremony safe? How do you screen?

Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Every participant completes a detailed intake application before attending. We carefully review medical history, current medications, mental health history, and personal circumstances. If ceremony is not right for someone, we say so honestly.

What happens during a ceremony weekend?

We gather for two-night weekends near Dallas, Texas. Ayahuasca ceremony is held on Friday and Saturday evenings, in prayer and the Shipibo tradition. The days are for rest, reflection, community, and preparation. The weekend closes with integration guidance.

How do I reserve my place?

Begin with the intake application. It takes about 10 minutes. We review every application carefully. Then we invite you to a free discovery call to talk, answer your questions, and confirm your weekend. Spaces are limited, and we confirm them in the order applications come in.

Anything else? Call (940) 977-4796 - a real conversation, no pressure.

Single-file walk through tall green jungle in Peru

When you are ready, we are here.

Begin with the intake. No pressure, only an open door.

★★★★★ 5.0 from 62 Google reviews

“I went in unsure but Mark and Chloe hold the space and the ceremonies felt safe and contained.” Renee M.

What is calling you to this work? Tap one to begin.

See If You're a Fit

Not ready for the questions yet? Call or text Mark on (940) 977-4796. It is just a chat, no commitment.

See If You're a Fit