COCT MINISTRY
CHURCH OF COGNITIVE THERAPY
The Church Of Cognitive Therapy (COCT) aligns with global entheogenic spiritual communities that explore the sacred use of psychoactive substances beyond recreational contexts. The church emphasizes safety, ethical guidelines, and holistic mental and spiritual well-being while integrating traditional plant-based sacraments with therapeutic and spiritual objectives.
COCT Ministry is a modern entheogenic secular, religious, and spiritual movement that blends cognitive psychology, shamanic wisdom, and ceremonial plant medicine, offering a structured yet flexible path toward personal enlightenment, spiritual connection, and introduction to a global community of participation.
COCT Ministry is a pastoral trauma healing platform originally organized to heal veterans with PTSD, cancer, and addiction in 2003. Its origin was constructed using cognitive therapy, neuroplasticity, ancient ceremonial indigenous practices, and aligning with the animist belief in a Universal Divine Life Force that animates all things. These practices and beliefs were instrumental in curing a long period of depression and trauma for the organizer. The ministry's lineage is heavily rooted in veteran-to-veteran-led religious and spiritual practices.
En·theo·gen [god within; god- or spirit-facilitating] a psychoactive sacramental; a plant or chemical substance taken to occasion primary religious experience. Entheogens provide human beings with a doorway to the Divine for personal enlightenment, which directly affects one's own religiosity (religious devotion) through mental, physical, and spiritual development. These holy sacraments have assisted indigenous peoples and other human beings with Divine healing for thousands of years.
Overview of COCT
The Church of Cognitive Therapy is a global, multi-worship community bringing together practitioners from diverse religious and spiritual paths
Central to its philosophy is the belief in a universal "Divine Life Force" that animates all things, reflecting an animist worldview where everything possesses spiritual essence
This core belief unites members while allowing substantial flexibility in personal spiritual practices, making the church inclusive and pluralistic
Entheogenic Practices
Entheogens—the term meaning "generating the divine within"—form the cornerstone of COCT’s spiritual practice. These are naturally occurring or plant-based substances used sacramentally to foster direct experiences of the Divine and deepen personal insight, self-discovery, and healing
COCT recognizes entheogenic sacraments as spiritual teachers that guide mental, physical, and spiritual development, often in ceremonial contexts inspired by shamanic traditions
Integration with Cognitive Therapy and Shamanism
COCT combines spiritual exploration with principles of cognitive therapy. This “spiritual cognitive therapy” approach helps members process trauma, cultivate mental resilience, and pursue holistic healing through guided introspection and entheogenic experiences
The church also draws on indigenous shamanic practices—rituals, music, and guided journeys into consciousness—to facilitate insight and personal transformation
Spiritual Philosophy and Goals
The COCT framework emphasizes enlightenment, personal growth, and connection with the universe. Members aim to establish a spiritual relationship with the Divine and themselves using a combination of documented spiritual resources, traditional wisdom, and ceremonial entheogenic practice
The church promotes unity, inclusivity, and non-dogmatic approaches, welcoming practitioners without restricting them to a rigid doctrine
Place Within the Broader Entheogenic Movement
In summary, COCT represents a modern entheogenic religious movement that merges cognitive psychology, shamanic wisdom, and ceremonial plant medicine, offering a structured yet flexible path toward personal enlightenment, spiritual connection, and global spiritual community participation
COCT adheres to these practices while emphasizing safety, ethical guidelines, and holistic mental and spiritual wellbeing
In summary, COCT represents a modern entheogenic religious movement that merges cognitive psychology, shamanic wisdom, and ceremonial plant medicine, offering a structured yet flexible path toward personal enlightenment, spiritual connection, and global spiritual community participation
Entheogenic:―The term means literally 'becoming divine within', and can be seen as the user realizing that the divine infuses all of the creation, or specifically that the entheogenic plant is itself infused with the divine.
The Church of Cognitive Therapy affirms the sacred shamanic use of entheogenic sacraments as pathways to personal enlightenment and holistic healing. Through these divinely infused plants, practitioners seek restoration of the mind, body, and soul, awakening a deeper connection to the Divine Life Force that animates all existence.
Shamanism and Animism are among humanity’s oldest spiritual traditions, rooted in the understanding that the universe is alive, conscious, and interconnected. These traditions teach that every being — human, animal, plant, stone, river, star — carries a spark of the Divine Life Force.
Animism
Animism recognizes that spirit infuses all things. Nothing is inert or meaningless; everything participates in a living web of relationships. This worldview aligns directly with your belief that entheogenic plants are animistic — vessels of Divine presence that communicate wisdom, healing, and guidance.
Shamanism
Shamanism is the practice of engaging with this living universe for the purpose of:
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Healing the mind, body, and spirit
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Gaining insight and enlightenment
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Restoring balance between the individual and the cosmos
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Communicating with the spirit world
Shamanic ceremonies often include:
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Rhythmic drumming or music
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Chanting or guided journeys
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Symbolic or mythic storytelling
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Entheogenic sacraments that open the subconscious and spiritual senses
These practices appear across cultures — Native American, Siberian, Asian, African, Australian Aboriginal, Pacific Islander, and many others — each with its own sacred methods and cosmology
The use of Sacred Plants to commune with the Divine for the purpose of enlightenment is a defining feature of entheogenic religion and spiritual practice. Entheogens have been present in some of the world’s oldest religious and spiritual traditions, with archaeological and anthropological evidence tracing their use back more than 12,000 years. Their presence spans every region of the globe and appears in both major world religions and countless indigenous and minority spiritual systems. Across cultures, sacred plants have served as gateways to higher understanding, tools for healing, and pathways for elevating human consciousness to connect with the Divine for personal enlightenment.
Entheogenic & Indigenous Spirituality Resources
Council on Spiritual Practice
"The Council on Spiritual Practices is a collaboration among spiritual guides, experts in the behavioral and biomedical sciences, and scholars of religion, dedicated to making direct experience of the sacred more available to more people. There is evidence that such encounters can have profound benefits for those who experience them, for their neighbors, and for the world."
The Foundation for Shamanic Studies
Preservation and Revival of Indigenous Shamanism
The Foundation is dedicated to preserving, studying, and teaching shamanic knowledge for the welfare of all. The FSS has initiated a wide range of projects and programs for carrying out this three-part mission. Results from these strategic programs are incorporated into FSS courses worldwide.
Psilocybin Mushrooms – “God Mushrooms”
The History of Psilocybin Mushrooms
As archeological evidence suggests, many cultures around the world have used mushrooms for ritualistic and sacred practices. The earliest depiction of the shamanic consumption of mushrooms is thought to be a cave painting located in the upper Tassili plateau of northern Algeria. The painting dates back to at least 5,000 B.C. (Samorini, 1992).
The Origins of Rastafari and Cannabis Theology
The Theology of Ganja: Biblical Interpretation
Rastafari ganja theology rests on several biblical passages interpreted as references to cannabis. Genesis 1:29 — “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth” — is read as divine authorisation of plant use including cannabis. Genesis 3:18 — “thou shalt eat the herb of the field” — is similarly interpreted. The most frequently cited passage is Revelation 22:2: “and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Rastafari interpret this tree as cannabis, and its healing leaves as the therapeutic and spiritual properties of ganja. Psalms 104:14 — “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man” — is understood as a direct reference to cannabis as a plant specifically designated for human spiritual use.
Native American Church
"Much of the theological interpretation and spiritual belief of the Native American Church is highly individualized, with the conservative ritual providing a sacred setting for personal introspection and meditation. A basic creed of reverence for universal nature and the tenets of "faith, hope, love and charity" characterize the collective doctrine. The Native American Church is a religion of diffusion that accommodates a wide range of local traditions and practices. Congregations and even individual members incorporate differing degrees of Christian theology and Indian symbolism in their practice of Peyotism."
Ayahuasca and Amazonian Shamanism
The origins of the shamanic use of ayahuasca are lost in the mists of history but there are many different stories among indigenous tribes of the Amazon about the how they initially came to work with this medicine. In an indigenous context, ayahuasca was used by the shamans of the Amazon region for healing and divinatory purposes. Complex rituals surround the preparation and use of ayahuasca that have been passed down through generations of healers. By holding healing ceremonies, they use the medicine as a diagnostic tool to discover the roots of illnesses in their patients.
Iboga is a central sacrament in the Bwiti spiritual tradition
Overview of Bwiti Spirituality
Bwiti is a syncretic spiritual and religious tradition primarily found in Gabon, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo. Practitioners integrate animist beliefs, ancestral veneration, and practices aimed at connecting with the spiritual realm. Bwiti rituals often involve music, dance, chanting, and the use of the iboga plant to facilitate spiritual experiences. The spiritual objective is to gain insight, purification, and alignment with ancestral and cosmic forces.
Sadhus, Lord Shiva, and Cannabis Use
Historical and religious background
Cannabis is documented in the Atharva Veda (c. 1200–900 BCE) as one of five sacred plants, valued for relieving anxiety, promoting harmony, and aiding spiritual reflection.
In Hinduism, it is closely associated with Lord Shiva, who is often depicted holding cannabis in his hand. This association is reinforced by religious stories and festivals such as Shivaratri, when devotees and sadhus consume cannabis in forms like bhang (a drink made from cannabis leaves, spices, and milk) or charas (resin).
Role among sadhus
Sadhus — Hindu ascetics who have renounced worldly life — often use cannabis to calm the mind, sustain energy, and deepen meditation during their ascetic practices.
For many, it is seen as a means to honor Shiva and facilitate “union with the divinity”. In Nepal, for example, surveys of 200 sadhus at the Pashupathinath Temple during Shivaratri found that 90% used cannabis daily, and many believed it was a substance favored by Shiva Academia.edu.
The Church of Cognitive Therapy:
Spiritual Path or Entheogenic Religion
Ultimate Ideals
We believe that the bona fide use of entheogens as entheogenic sacraments is essential for transcending the physical world and entering the spirit world. Through the sacred act of partaking in entheogenic sacrament, individuals establish a direct, elevated spiritual connection to the Divine and the Universe. This connection provides personal enlightenment regarding one’s past, present, and future, one’s purpose in this life, acceptance of death, and one’s personal relationship with the Divine.
Entheogens are vital to one’s own religiosity and spiritual devotion.
*Entheogenic: “The term means literally ‘becoming divine within’, and can be seen as the user realizing that the divine infuses all of creation, or specifically that the entheogenic plant is itself infused with the divine.”
Metaphysical Beliefs
We believe that entheogenic plants are animistic—that a Divine force flows through all things. Through our entheogenic connection to the Divine, we gain a spirit‑to‑spirit relationship with these sacred plants. This relationship allows us to enter the spirit world, where we receive spiritual knowledge concerning our past, present, future, and our personal relationship to the Universe.
*Animism: “The term animism is derived from the Latin word anima, meaning breath or soul. The belief of animism is one of humanity’s oldest spiritual understandings, likely dating back to the Paleolithic age. From its earliest beginnings, it held that a soul or spirit existed in every object, even if inanimate. In a future state, this soul or spirit would exist as part of an immaterial soul. The spirit, therefore, was thought to be universal.”
—Alan G. Hefner and Virgilio Guimaraes
Moral and Ethical System
We believe in a *karmic system of positives and negatives. Good and evil can be manipulated to appear as one or the other, but positives and negatives remain constant and cannot be easily distorted. “You reap what you sow” and “What goes around comes around” are expressions of the karmic principles we uphold. We also adhere to the Universal Golden Rule.
We believe that positive thoughts create positive actions, while negative thoughts produce negative actions. Because entheogenic sacraments are infused with the Divine, using them with positive intention generates positive thoughts and therefore positive actions. It is the absence of the Divine that gives rise to negative thoughts and negative actions.
*Karma: The Sanskrit word karma (or kamma in Pali) literally means “action.” Karma refers to the universal principle of cause and effect—action and reaction—that governs all life, past, present, and future. In Hinduism, every act, no matter how small, eventually returns to the doer with equal impact.
Comprehensiveness of Beliefs
We believe that our connection to the Divine through entheogenic sacrament provides a spiritually firm foundation for navigating life as human beings in a positive and meaningful way. Life contains *traumatic experiences that shape who we are.
Through the enlightenment received from the Divine via entheogenic sacrament, we gain the spiritual knowledge necessary to confront, understand, and heal from these experiences.
*Trauma: A serious injury or shock to the body, an emotional wound that causes lasting psychological damage, or an event that creates great distress and disruption.
Accoutrements of Religion
Founder, Teacher, Counselor
The Divine is the fountainhead of all spiritual knowledge, accessible to all who sincerely seek it. Ras
Reverend (Rev.) Lion is the organizer of the Church of Cognitive Therapy (COCT Ministry) and serves as a Ras Tafari Minister, Teacher, and Counselor, guiding others in their spiritual development and connection to the Divine.
Important Writings and Oral Traditions
We recognize all sacred writings and oral traditions, in their correct translations, that document the use of entheogenic sacraments within religion and spirituality. These texts and traditions serve as historical and spiritual foundations for our practices.
Gathering Places
Our gathering places include both buildings and natural environments. Gathering in nature—where everything exists in its natural order—is an essential part of the entheogenic spiritual experience. Natural settings enhance clarity, connection, and communion with the Divine.
Keepers of Knowledge
We utilize a virtual Internet Sacred Text Archive, accessible to all members seeking knowledge on spiritual subjects.
Our keepers of knowledge include:
- Ministers
- Reverends
- Priests
- Shamans
- Specialized teachers
These individuals preserve, teach, and transmit spiritual wisdom.
Ceremonies and Rituals
Our ceremonies and rituals include:
- Marriage
- Celebration of the dead
- Shamanic practices involving entheogenic sacraments
These may be conducted with or without the in-person guidance of a professional spiritual practitioner, depending on the nature of the ceremony and the needs of the participants.
Structure and Organization
We uphold the principle that where three or more are gathered, with at least one professional spiritual practitioner present, a congregation is formed.
We maintain many congregations and do not limit ourselves to a single gathering place. Our structure is fluid, decentralized, and rooted in community.
Holidays and Festivals
Our holidays and festivals are centered around the solstices and equinoxes, honoring the natural cycles of the Earth. These include:
- Entheogenic Passovers are prior to both solstices.
- Holi
- Day of the Dead
These celebrations mark transitions, renewal, remembrance, and spiritual awakening.
Diet and Fasting
We observe a non‑mandatory 3‑day detoxification twice a year before Entheogenic Passovers and before special healing ceremonies.
It is recommended to do a liguid fast containing electolites for 24 hours prior to an entheogenic ritual to deepen the spiritual experience and enhance clarity. Hydration is mandatory before, during, and after entheogenic rituals.
Appearance and Clothing
Clergy—including priests, shamans, reverends, and ministers—must have designated ceremonial garments for performing specific rituals and ceremonies. These garments symbolize spiritual authority, purity, and sacred responsibility.
Propagation
Our teachings are propagated through:
- Our website
- Our ministers
- The sharing of knowledge
Sharing wisdom is essential for providing individuals with the tools needed to live in harmony between the physical world and the spiritual world.
Community Creed
Humanity, Spirituality, and the Inner‑Being
We believe, first and foremost, that everyone is a human‑being. Everything else is extra. The “extra” is the mixture of good and bad that exists within all of us.
“When we learn to love one another without prejudice and discrimination, then we will know what it means to be human‑beings.” — Rev. Lion
Human is the physical; being is the spiritual. The goal of the Church of Cognitive Therapy community is to help each person come into contact with their inner‑being. Through this inner connection, we discover our own spirituality and our personal relationship with the Divine.
Discovering our spirituality opens the door to enlightenment. Many people believe enlightenment is the end of the human journey, but in truth, enlightenment is only the beginning.
Cognitive Distortion and the Human Condition
Life—through experience, culture, and education—places chains and shackles upon us. These chains often come from misguided information, which leads to what we call cognitive distortion.
Cognitive distortion exists because we allow it.
We inherit distorted philosophies passed down from generation to generation. These distortions are responsible for much of the chaos we see in society today. They contribute to the breakdown of morality, ethics, and spiritual clarity.
The Church of Cognitive Therapy does not impose beliefs on anyone. Instead, we provide tools to aid in personal discovery. Our hope is to help individuals reconnect with their inner‑being and establish a spiritual connection to the Divine.
Finding the inner‑being often requires peeling away many layers. For many, visionary entheogenic sacraments—cannabis, peyote, iboga root, psilocybin mushrooms, amanita muscaria, or ayahuasca—help open the mind to receive the Divine. These sacraments must always be used with great care and reverence.
Cultural and Spiritual Entitlement to Entheogenic Sacraments
Cultures throughout history have used cannabis and other entheogenic sacraments for spiritual purposes. Many cultures claim religious entitlement to these sacraments.
The Church of Cognitive Therapy likewise claims entitlement to entheogenic sacraments—including cannabis, peyote, iboga root, psilocybin mushrooms, amanita muscaria, and ayahuasca—for social, cultural, religious, physical, and spiritual development.
We believe entheogenic sacraments are a human right, given to us by our Creator(s) “for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
We believe in the right to free religious and spiritual expression, so long as no harm or ill will is inflicted upon others or oneself.
We believe in the unity of all religions and spiritual paths. The Church of Cognitive Therapy will always strive to be a community‑oriented community. All forms of religion and spirituality are protected by Divine Law.
We believe the use of entheogenic sacraments is necessary and vital for discovering individual spirituality and achieving a connection with the Divine for personal enlightenment. These sacraments play an integral role in both personal and social spirituality.
Wisdom of the Unorthodox Path
“Therefore, those skilled at the unorthodox are infinite as heaven and earth, inexhaustible as the great rivers.
When they come to an end, they begin again, like the days and months;
they die and are reborn, like the four seasons.”
— The Art of War