Ten Things I Hate About You heartthrob Andrew Keegan busted for selling kombucha at his New Age temple
- Andrew Keegan was busted by undercover agents last Friday for selling kombucha without a permit
- The raid occurred during a charity event at the Full Circle spiritual center in Venice, California
- Agents with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said they received an anonymous tip about the kombucha sales
- 'Kombucha is something we’d never imagine to be an illegal substance, and it’s frustrating the system has that perspective,' said Keegan
- Full Circle is a New Age religion founded last year by Keegan
Andrew Keegan and members of the New Age religion he started just last year recently found themselves in trouble with the law.
Undercover agents with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control raided a charity event at the Full Circle spiritual center in Venice, California, last Friday, and confiscated goods that were being illegally sold by the group.
Specifically, several containers of kombucha.
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Caught: Andrew Keegan (above) was busted by undercover agents last Friday for selling kombucha with a permit
Friends in faith: The raid occurred during a charity event at the Full Circle spiritual center (members above) in Venice, California
'We’re a complaint-driven agency, so when someone notifies us about what might be an illegal activity, we respond to it,' Special Agent in Charge Will Salao told Argonaut Online.
'They were cited for a misdemeanor for selling alcohol without a license.'
Keegan, 36, whose recent spiritual enlightenment surprised some of his fans, said of the raid; 'They may be a complaint-driven agency, but we’re an intention-driven organization and our intentions are pure.'
He then added; 'Kombucha is something we’d never imagine to be an illegal substance, and it’s frustrating the system has that perspective.
'We’re certainly taking full responsibility for co-creating the event. We try to put our best foot forward. We wanted to raise money for Sea Shepherd as a community; that’s how Full Circle operates.'
Full Circle spokesman Jason Dilts said that the group often uses kombucha as part of their spiritual practice.
'We were very surprised and concerned when we saw the agents wheeling the containers of Kombucha Dog out of the fundraiser,' said Dilts.
Kombucha Dog, like almost all kombuchas, contains less than 1% alcohol.
The brand says on their site; 'Full strength, genuine kombucha contains more than 0.5% alcohol by volume, usually no more than around 1%. According to current law, this classifies kombucha as beer and is subject to the same laws.'
Keegan also responded to the raid on Instagram, saying; 'It's a Kombucha REVOLUTION Meditation, massage sound healing and live art yet we got raided by the police and they confiscated our Kombucha?
'Such an abuse of tax payers money that 5 police officers would be sent to a temple???'
Upstart: Keegan founded the New Age religion (center pictured above) last year
Common practice: Full Circle spokesman Jason Dilts said that the group often uses kombucha (above) as part of their spiritual practice
A site for Full Circle states; 'We provide an experimental environment designed to creatively expand consciousness through visual and performing arts, movement classes, workshops, forums and healing therapies.'
The basis for the faith is a belief in synchronicity and the nature of time.
'Whatever, the past, some other time,' Keegan explained to Vice in an interview last year.
'It’s a circle; in the center is now. That’s what it’s about.'
Members of the church's inner circle include a man who calls himself Third Eye, a giant talking parrot named Krishna, and a childhood friend of Keegan's 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger.
The Full Circle church is run by a core group of eight members who all take the actor's word as the 'ultimate say on all things.'
The inner circle describe their religious philosophy as 'advanced spiritualism' and believe their tenets are founded on 'universal knowledge.'
Preach: 'No fear, no guns, no problems Soul Solutions in Co-Creation,' wrote Keegan about the above Instagram photo
Close knit: The Full Circle church (above) is run by a core group of eight members who all take the actor's word as the 'ultimate say on all things'
But the story of how Keegan made the transformation from Hollywood star to religious leader is one rooted in a private trauma.
Keegan was attacked by gang members while in Venice Beach on March 11, 2011. A gun was pulled on his manager, resulting in a brawl that sent the star to the emergency room for stitches.
But to Keegan the event soon carried profound meaning as he said; 'The significance of this occurrence is that it happened at the same time the tsunami hit Japan.'
The 7th Heaven actor, who in the past was linked to stars including LeAnn Rimes and Elisha Cuthbert, then described how 'synchronicity' led him to find his highest purpose.
'I had a moment where I was looking at a street lamp and it exploded,' he explained.
'At a ceremony, a heart-shaped rose quartz crystal was on the altar, and synchronistically, this whole thing happened,' the star continued.
'It’s a long story, but basically the crystal jumped off the altar and skipped on camera.'
Breakthrough: Keegan shot to fame starring opposite Heath Ledger (above) in 10 Things I Hate About You
New path: The actor, who in the past was linked to stars including LeAnn Rimes (left) and Elisha Cuthbert, (right) previously described how 'synchronicity' led him to find his highest purpose
The odd series of disjointed events led him to conclude that his mission was to 'take the war out of our story' and promote peace.
To that end his church, which he opened in May 2014, holds events throughout the week, which include workshops by thought leaders, new age gurus, and even colon cleansing programs.
And while Keegan's inner circle believe that the actor is a visionary and look to him for leadership they insist their movement is not cultish.
'I very much speak what comes through [while] in the collective,' he told Vice.
'When you feel those chakras aligned, there's guided messaging coming in. If there is something of spiritual ego within that, it must not exist.'
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