Veterans have been finding their way to ceremonial healing for years, mostly alone and mostly in the dark. The Aya Mission makes that path safe and open. Thorough screening. Expert preparation. Integration support that outlasts the weekend.
Access shouldn't depend on luck.
The Aya Mission supports Veterans on the path to healing and wholeness. Through ceremony, community, and connection, we help Veterans work through the invisible wounds of service. We walk alongside you from preparation, through ceremony weekends in the Arizona desert, and into a Peer Support Group where healing continues long after.
Veterans are 5x more likely to experience major depression, and 50% of veterans with PTSD never seek treatment. Veterans deserve access to every effective healing option available.
Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD.
They went alone because they felt they had to.
We built this so they never have to again.
110 veterans have completed the program. We screen every participant before ceremony and again three months after, using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, the same depression and anxiety assessments used in clinical practice.
Among the participants who completed both screenings, moderate-or-greater anxiety fell from 64% to 0%. Moderate-or-greater depression fell from 50% to 22%.
This is observational data from our own cohorts, not a controlled trial. Our research team is building toward study designs that can answer the harder questions.
"The Aya Mission opened doors for me so that I could unpack all the trauma from combat."
SGT Michael Telles
"I felt the weight of the world leaving my shoulders. Although the pain still lingers, I am hopeful for the future."
SSG Ulises Lopez, Co-Founder & Executive Director, on his own first ceremony
"I feel that I can love my family more deeply. I feel like a new man."
SGT Andrew "Doc" Lunsford
This isn't just a weekend. Preparation starts months before you arrive and support continues months after you leave.
Virtual therapy, peer coaching, and preparation in the months ahead. You'll know your cohort before you arrive.
Grounding therapy, yoga, group coaching, meals, and peer support surrounding independently held ceremonies.
Integration sessions, follow-up, and ongoing cohort meetings. Most of what changes people happens in the months after, not during the weekend.
Honest, evidence-based education about entheogenic healing: benefits, risks, and how to prepare.
Learn MoreVeterans, families, caregivers, and survivors: learn how the program works and apply for support.
Apply for SupportReal stories of lasting relief: testimonials, podcast conversations, and measured outcomes.
Veteran VoicesThat's okay. One email a month with ceremony dates, stories, and ways to help, whenever you're ready.
Get the Monthly UpdateLive availability; applications reviewed by our team.
See upcoming ceremony weekends and begin your application on our secure intake portal.
Open the Application PortalThe Aya Mission is an IRS-certified 501(c)(3) veteran harm reduction nonprofit · EIN 86-3391298 · Candid Silver Transparency 2026 · 100% of donations fund the mission
Contributions to The Aya Mission fund preparation coaching and integration support, cover veterans' travel and meals at ceremony weekends, and build the research base that expands access to healing. We fundraise with Zeffy, so 100% of your donation goes to the mission.
Donate TodayOne email a month. Ceremony dates, veteran stories, education, and updates from TAM. Unsubscribe anytime.
