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Atmosphere and feature ratings above are based on Best Retreats research (November 2026). They will be updated if Seraphaya Spiritual Center submits its own information.

Seraphaya Spiritual Center: An In-Depth Review for Ayahuasca Ceremonies in Orlando, Florida, USA

Seraphaya Spiritual Center is a self-declared ayahuasca church in the Orlando, Florida area, founded by Lauren Pounds and describing itself as “an LGBTQ-founded ministry devoted to the sacred path of Ayahuasca”, that runs weekend and multi-day ceremonies with hapé, yoga, breathwork and sound baths, plus private ceremonies and a weekly Sunday service, per its website. Its reviews are uniformly positive and it puts real effort into integration. Against that, it operates without any DEA exemption on the basis of a church claim, does not allow refunds, publishes no venue address, names no lineage, facilitator credentials or emergency plan, and its own listings contradict each other on group size and medical staff.

🎯 At a Glance

• Locations: An undisclosed private venue in the Orlando, Florida area; the related corporation is listed in Clearwater, Florida.
• Approach: Ayahuasca as a church sacrament with hapé, yoga, breathwork, sound baths and integration coaching, including LGBTQ and women’s retreats.
• Suitable For: Adults who accept US legal risk and a no-refund policy and want a small, integration-focused group. Not suitable for people taking antidepressants or with heart or psychiatric conditions.
• Costs: No prices are published; discounts for veterans and first responders are mentioned. Its FAQ says “Our refund policy does not allow for refunds”, though rescheduling is possible with notice.
• Overall Assessment: A small church with strong integration support and good reviews, offset by federal legal exposure, a no-refund policy and thin, inconsistent safety information. Directory evaluation: C.

💬 What Guests Are Saying

Its SafeCeremonies listing has eight positive reviews from November 2024 to September 2026 praising safety, warm staff, small groups, food and the integration calls, and its site shows six curated testimonials. No reviews of 3 stars or lower were found, and no Tripadvisor or Google listing was found. If you have attended, we encourage you to share your experience through our submission form.

🚩 Incident Report

We searched review platforms and English-language news for reports involving Seraphaya Spiritual Center and Lauren Pounds.

• Deaths and serious injuries: None found.
• Sexual misconduct: No allegations found.
• Theft and fraud: None found.
• Legal action: None found.

Other staff are known by first name only and were not searched, and court records were not checked directly, so this absence offers limited assurance.

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident with this center, please report it confidentially.

🔍 Critical Notes

Who runs it. Lauren Pounds is named as founder on its about page and has written an integration book and co-hosts a podcast. The site says ceremonies are “guided by trained facilitators” but names none and gives no credentials or lineage.

Screening and medical support. Its FAQ describes an intake interview and medical review and says people with heart issues, severe mental health conditions or medications such as SSRIs may not be eligible. SafeCeremonies says a licensed paramedic is present, but the website names no medical staff and no emergency plan is published. The website caps groups at twelve while SafeCeremonies says six.

Status. Operating, with reviews from retreats as recent as September 2026.

Legal context. DMT is a Schedule I drug in the US and illegal to possess or consume without an exemption, per Wikipedia; Seraphaya relies on religious freedom claims and shows no DEA exemption. In the same county, the unrelated Soul Quest church was denied a DEA exemption in 2023 and a court ordered it to pay $15 million in 2024 over a participant’s 2018 death, per DoubleBlind.

🆘 Screening & Mental Health Risks

Ask for the medication-interaction rules in writing before booking. ICEERS notes that ayahuasca’s MAOI component makes it dangerous with SSRIs and other serotonergic drugs and that it is contraindicated for people prone to psychosis. Never stop a psychiatric medication to qualify for a ceremony without your prescriber’s guidance.

🧪 Brew Substance

Ayahuasca served as a church sacrament; its source is not published. Ayahuasca combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with a DMT-containing leaf, as Erowid explains.

📍 Location, Setting & Style

• Setting: A private venue in the Orlando metro area, described by guests as having beautiful grounds.
• Rooms: Guests describe comfortable, cozy lodging; no room details are published.
• Style: A US church model with an LGBTQ-founded ministry, yoga and a strong integration program.

Practical guidance: Orlando has a major international airport; transfers are not described.

Should You Book?

Possibly, if you understand the legal risk and the no-refund terms. Ask in writing for the venue address, who leads ceremonies and their training, whether a paramedic is present, the emergency plan and hospital route, and the full refund and rescheduling policy. Read our guide to verifying retreat facilitators.

The Team & Story

Seraphaya presents itself as a ministry rooted in its founder’s own journey, offering a safe and loving home for ayahuasca work. We did not independently verify anyone’s training.

Prep & Integration Tips

Before you go: Disclose every medication and condition in writing and plan any change with your own doctor. After you return: Arrange support from a qualified therapist at home. Our guide on how to research ayahuasca incidents can help you check any center.

Pros & Cons

Book Your Ceremony

Retreats are listed on its website. Best Retreats does not take bookings; learn more about our mission.

Last reviewed November 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified medical professional.