Apart from being a superfood with a wealth of health properties, cacao (or raw “chocolate”) is a powerful plant medicine that has been used for centuries for her spiritual and energetic properties. Cacao’s scientific name (Theobroma cacao) translates to ‘food of the Gods’. And it has been used as a ritualistic medicine by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans for centuries. In the mythologies of these people, cacao is said to have come from the heavens and contain the spirit of the Goddess Cacao. Because cacao is a ‘heart opening’ medicine, she aids in any transformational shift you are working towards.
The full moon is a time when energy peaks, then releases, similar to that of a huge, cosmic sigh. So it’s the perfect time for a cacao ceremony. A ceremony is a declaration, which involves creating a sacred environment, setting an intention, and allowing an energetic process to unfold around that intention. Setting an intention is the most important part of cacao ceremony preparation. To identify your intention, answer one of the following questions: What do I want to release? What do I want to attract? What aspect of my healing journey am I honouring tonight? Sometimes the intention can be as general as ‘open my heart to feel what it needs to feel’. Sometimes the intention can be catered towards a specific goal such as expressing your soul through movement or healing a past trauma.
Create a Sacred Space
Your sacred space can be anywhere – in nature, in a quiet room in your home or any place you feel safe and able to connect with sacred energy. Start by clearing any residual energy. You may burn palo santo, sage, or any of the other sacred herbs. Next, you can increase the vibration of the space by chanting a mantra or playing music. Other ideas to promote the vibration of your intention within the space can include lighting candles, setting up an altar, placing crystals or misting the room with essential oil. Be creative and most importantly, trust your intuition and create your own definition of “sacred space”.
Prepare The Cacao
Take care to prepare your cacao mindfully, with loving intention. Play music, recite a mantra, and reflect on your intention for the ceremony as you make the sacred mixture.
Ingredients:
½ cup dessert tea (chocolate, almond or even chai)
4 tbsp raw cacao powder
3 tbsp coconut palm sugar
½ cup coconut milk
a few drops of vanilla
a pinch of cinnamon
Give Gratitude & Declare Your Intention
Giving gratitude is one of the most effective and immediate ways to enter the heart-space. It is also perhaps, the most powerful healer. Before drinking cacao I like to take the time to thank the rain and soil that cultivated the cacao plant, the hands that picked and dried the beans, the clean water which we have to drink, and so on. You could give gratitude for these things also and/or that which you are grateful for. After giving gratitude, reaffirm your intention by asking cacao to help you. For example: “Cacao, allow me to work through the deep pain I am holding onto in my heart” “Cacao, help me express myself authentically in my yoga practice“. Practice affirming your intentions out loud. Our voices are extremely powerful tools and you may notice energetic shifts as your words echo through your sacred space.
Drink The Cacao
Smell the aroma of the cacao before drinking it and then indulge in each sip, allowing the medicine to permeate through your body. You may feel the cacao immediately, or it may take around 20 minutes to begin feeling a buzz within your body. You will experience more blood flowing to your brain and your heart, and focus may become easier. Release expectations and listen to your body as energies begin to shift.
Activate Your Intention
Allow the energy of cacao and your intuition to take you where you need to go. If your intention is inner processing, you may find that you want to meditate, journal, or simply contemplate the clouds passing over the moon. If your intention is self-expression, you may want to sing, dance or go for a walk in the moonlight. There is no right way to access your soul. Allow cacao to enhance the experience that is meant for you.
What happens in my body when I drink Cacao?
Serotonin: induces the production in the brain of a substance called tryptophan linked to serotonin, creating sensations of tranquility and happiness.
Magnesium: helps improve your mood, especially during pre-menstrual depression.
Theobromine: acts as a diuretic and stimulates the renal system and central nervous system.
Carbohydrates and fats: induces various chemical processes after the amount of oxygen reaching the brain increases, which then results in greater mental fluency.
Anandamide: activates certain brain receptors, inducing a pleasant wellness feeling. Polyphenols: protect against heart disease and help prevent degenerative diseases and slow ageing.