While the activity of the ceremony may vary depending on the facilitator, the ceremony I attended combined the drinking of the cacao with a sound bath from crystal singing bowls and journaling prompts to connect and have a dialog with our inner child. The ceremony concluded with optional sharing of our individual experiences and a unity circle.
In Western culture, the Cacao Ceremony is somewhat new, but the cacao plant has long been revered by Meso-American cultures, where the plant was of central import and used both ritualistically and as currency, perhaps because the health benefits of pure cacao--which are plentiful! Full of antioxidants and minerals, the chemical compounds found in cacao have been shown to enhance mood, reduce insulin resistance, stimulate your brain and cognitive function, slow aging, improve sleep quality, support the gut and cardiovascular systems, boost the immune system and protect from chronic disease. No wonder the Wizarding World of Harry Potter employed it for dementor recovery!
Though much healthier and slightly more bitter in taste than it's highly-processed, but more famous derivative cocoa, the hot, rich, cacao drink felt both comfortingly familiar and boldly new at the same time. At the opening of the ceremony, we held the warm terracotta mugs full of pure cacao drink garnished with edible flowers to our heart's center in gratitude for the experience, all that we are, and all that is to be.
We spent about one hour in meditative and self-nurturing dialog with our inner child, either journaling it by switching the writing between dominant (present self) and non-dominant (inner child) hands or in quiet reflection, while the crystal sound bowls, each of which is tuned to the frequency of one of the seven chakras, were played by the facilitator. Prior to closing, each participant had the opportunity to share whatever they wished from their experience. The resulting insights I gleaned personally and shared by others were profound and I left the ceremony feeling lighter, having shared some of my most painful thoughts with a compassionate friend and listener--myself.
Why attend a cacao ceremony?
I have always been an adventurous spirit, curious about other cultures and traditions and I almost always say yes to new experiences that help me know myself and others better. Why not? And also...
In the past 13 or so years, I have investigated many healing modalities beyond Western medicine after experiencing a series of health crises beginning during my first pregnancy, for which the doctors I had previously consulted had no answers or understanding. While I have found relief and transcendence in so many methods, from tapping and crystals to meditation and homeopathic immune therapy, I continue to seek and try any and all experiences that help me connect more frequently and deeply with my heart. In doing so, I have found that my physical health has not only been restored, but now thrives as I take care of it in loving concert with my spiritual health. I am so glad to have found the Cacao Ceremony as another way I may continue to heal and offer love to my own heart and share that love to all around me.
Are you curious about or craving more healing in your life, but need a little hand-holding getting started? If you are ready to embark on a restorative journey of creation that supports and nurtures you every day as you do whatever you're meant to do in life, I would be so honored to be your coach.
I offer group courses, virtual organizing, feng shui consultations, and 1:1 coaching on your timeline to meet your needs. Visit the contact page of my site to book a session or send me a message to set up a discovery call.
Post a Comment