Bufo Alvarius Retreat - Colorado

With Ursula Sefic and Kate “Sunny” Ziesenheim, PA-C

May 15 - 16, 2026

Date and Time Details: May 15-16, 2025

Location: Idaho Springs

Contact: Institute of Ancestral Ceremonies
support@ancestralceremonies.org

Arrival time: 10 am

Departure time: 10 am

Suggested Donation: $900 - $1800 depending on your sleeping arrangement of choice.

  • Fall River - Bunk Room 1 – $900.00
  • Fall River - Bunk Room 2 – $900.00
  • Fall River - Bunk Room 4 – $900.00
  • Fall River - King Private – $1,700.00
  • Fall River - King Shared – $900.00
Register
Register

During this overnight retreat, Ursula, a representative of the Comcaac tribe from Mexico, will join us to share this sacred ceremony for the purpose of spiritual healing, answers, and guidance. Although it is a relatively short ceremony, approximately 45 minutes, the effects can be felt and experienced long after the ceremony has concluded. Therefore, we devote a significant amount of time to preparing you for the ceremony, as well as for grounding and integration afterward. This spiritual medicine has the power to reset your system and, consequently, to change lives.

THE LOCATION

Our center is immersed in nature, set on five acres of land and backing up to the National Forest just a short drive from Idaho Springs. It is an intimate space filled with natural light, featuring an open communal area designed for connection and reflection.

Ceremonies take place indoors by the fireplace, offering a sense of warmth and containment while being surrounded by the majesty of the natural landscape just outside. The center sits alongside Fall River, with great hiking trails and mountain lakes only a few miles away. Amenities include hot tub and river access.

This peaceful setting is ideal for turning inward, reconnecting with oneself, and experiencing a ceremony rooted in an ancient lineage.

THE TRADTION

In the vast expanse of the Sonoran Desert, where ancient wisdom flows, resides the indigenous community of the Comcaac people, also known as the Seri tribe. Their spiritual practices are deeply rooted in their relationship with the natural world, and one aspect of their traditional spirituality involves the use of the enzyme of the Bufo Alvarius, a species of toad commonly referred to as the Colorado River toad or the Sonoran Desert toad.

The spiritual use of this enzyme among the Comcaac people is not taken lightly. It is considered a sacred practice that requires proper initiation, preparation, guidance, and respect for the toad, its life, and the spiritual realm it represents. The ceremonies are conducted with the utmost reverence, emphasizing the importance of intention, humility, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all beings.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The experience induced by Bufo Alvarius is highly intense and transformative, often leading to profound spiritual insights, expanded consciousness, and a sense of unity with the universe. The Comcaac people believe that it allows them to connect with the spiritual realm and receive guidance, healing, and wisdom from their ancestors and the natural forces that govern their lives. We honor the tradition of the Comcaac people, their wisdom, and the ancient ways embedded in this practice.

We take a holistic approach to optimal wellbeing and spiritual development designed to deepen your experience and to support with the integration of the transformations and healings gained into day-to-day life aimed at fostering long-lasting results. During the retreat, we use several modalities to enhance your experience, such as movement, breath work and meditation. To help you feel at your optimal best organic and locally sourced (where possible) meals are included during your stay with us.

Each participant will be assessed before entering the program through a compulsory application form and screening. Due to the powerful nature of psychedelic ceremonies and the impact that others sharing the space can have, we limit this retreat to 10 selected participants.

PREPARATION

In the 4 weeks leading up to the retreat, we will virtually support you with your preparation.

  • Private 1:1 intake call focused on your intention, preparation and to answer any questions you may have

  • Individual preparation activities 

  • Group preparation call

RETREAT

This is an overnight in person retreat starting on Friday evening and concludes on Saturday morning.

  • Ceremony 

  • Breathwork

  • Group sharing circle & private preparation and integration support

INTEGRATION

We offer integration support for 4 weeks after your retreat to transition what you have learned in your day-to-day life.

  • 2 x weekly group integration calls

  • 1:1 private integration call
INDIGENOUS CULTURES & PRESERVATION

By supporting indigenous cultures through our reciprocity efforts, we acknowledge and honor the relationship between them, the sacred medicine Bufo Alvarius and the outside world, striving to create a harmonious cycle that benefits all. We, also, support preservation projects for this sacred medicine for future generations.

About the Facilitators

Ursula Sefic

Ursula began her spiritual quest 34 years ago in Slovenia when she started to participate in a Celtic and Navajo sweat lodge, while also working with medicinal herbs alongside her mother. The journey has guided her to Mexico, where she began her healing work with biomagnetic therapies and herbal healing. Fourteen years ago, she met […]

Learn more about Ursula Sefic

Kate “Sunny” Ziesenheim, PA-C

Sunny is a certified physician assistant, combining her expertise in psychiatry and addiction medicine with over a decade of spiritual practices, including meditation, breathwork, Native American sweat lodges, and indigenous earth medicine ceremonies. Her work bridges ancient wisdom and modern healing, fostering personal growth and connection.

Learn more about Kate “Sunny” Ziesenheim, PA-C

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