When I travelled to Mexico I joined a cacao ceremony for the first time and since then I’m loving it.
I even saw the whole process of how a cup of cacao is made, from the bean until you put it in the pan mixed with other ingredients and that was super beautiful.
Cacao is seen as a plant medicine, a real heart opener and also even drinkable without having a whole ceremony around it – I’m also frequently drinking a cup instead of coffee (coffee makes me so hyper-active, mama cacao is way more gentle and subtle :)).
You just put less cacao in a cup than when you would do a ceremony, but in any way you use raw cacao paste and you can add some ingredients to your liking. There will be a recipe at the end of this article.
What are the effects of cacao?
- It’s not psycho-active (it doesn’t effect your brain or that you won’t comprehend reality). It doesn’t get you actually “high”
- It helps to open up the energies in your body and open up your heart
- It helps to amplify emotions, it can make us more aware of blockages, especially in a ceremonial context.
- It can help us to connect with other people as well, or yourself
- It’s stimulating so it helps keeping us awake and alert
- It gives us a certain degree of a calming effect or grounding effect, while we are going through the experience
What can you do during a cacao ceremony?
- Before drinking, while holding the cup you could set an intention. Put love in the cup or something you wish for yourself or what you’d like to get out of this ceremony.
- Always start a ceremony with drinking the cacao intentionally. Feel the warmth of the cup, look at the color, smell the aroma’s and take slow zips and really taste it. Thank the cacao for her warmth and her healing powers.
- You could start with some slow movements, stretches or gentle yoga.
- You could practice some breathing exercises
- You could practice meditation, for example a heart space meditation to connect deeper with your heart
- You could do a tarot session with yourself or pick some wisdom cards. Ask a question about what is present in your life at the moment or ask for an open message
- You can always do some journaling exercises (with or without the use of wisdom cards)
- Play some music and / or dance!
A recipe for your own cup of cacao
- 30/40 grams pure cacao paste if used for a ceremony, 15-20 grams if it’s just to drink without extra’s
- Oatmilk or water
- A drop of maple syrup
- A drop of vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- Optional spices to add to taste: star anice, cinnamon, cardemom, ginger (powder), cayenne pepper
Enjoy the cacao and if you do a ceremony: enjoy connecting deeper with your heart and inner wisdom!
Let the cacao guide you. <3
Of course, if you would be interested in a guided cacao ceremony (private or with a group), don’t hestitate to contact me – even possible online!
