Cacao is a fruit that grows tropically around the world. It is chocolate in its most raw and pure form. It is the most anti-oxidant rich superfood on the planet. It also releases mood boosting chemicals, increases blood flow, and improves brain function. Cocoa is very refined from cacao and void of a lot of the properties.
Signifying both life and fertility, it was ingested in ceremonial worship and in sacrificial ritual by the Aztec and Mayan cultures. The beans from Theobroma Cacao (translates from the greek: theo = god and broma = food so food of the gods in greek). Watch “Cacao Food of the Gods” 13 minute documentary here.
WHAT IS A CACAO CEREMONY AND WHY DO IT
A cacao ceremony is the drinking of a specially harvested ground cacao with intention. Drinking cacao in this special way is like a ritualized meditation that gives you an opportunity to connect to yourself and open your heart. Because of cacao’s ability to increase your connection to your inner self and your heart chakra, it aids in activating, amplifying and clarifying any intention.
HOW TO HAVE AN AT HOME CACAO CEREMONY
Humans have been enjoying ceremony and ritual for 1,000s of years. Ceremonies provide a moment to go deeper, be more present, feel more deeply, and pause the typical hustle of life. Sadly, modern life has less and less of these special moments. Time to reclaim it!
SOURCE THE CACAO
The best sources of cacao are ceremonial grade cacao because of the way they are grown and sourced. I recommend ordering from these links:
If you cannot source these, you may use an ethically sourced dark chocolate bar (and raw if the store you go to carries that)
SET THE STAGE
Create a beautiful ceremony area. Even if it is at your table or couch, be sure to have it clean and uncluttered. Add a candle, crystals, flowers, favorite tapestry/piece of fabric, sage, palo santo. If you add only one thing, have it be a candle.
Light the candle before making the cacao.
If you partake in sage and palo santo, do that before making the cacao as well.
MAKE THE CACAO - RECIPE
The ceremony and ritual begins right when you go to make the cacao. As you grab what you need, start to think of your intention and bring love into your heart. It is customary to sing to cacao. This is the Indigenous ceremonial song: https://soundcloud.com/djswahe/gracias-cacao-harmony-rose-swahe-style
What you’ll need to make a personal cacao
1 cup for thicker and 1.5 cup for more liquidy of unsweetened nut milk (oat, coconut, almond, etc.) I strongly prefer coconut milk or full fall oat milk
2 TBS coconut oil or butter
1/8-1/4 cup cacao discs or chunks; 1-2 tbs of powder- start with 1/8 or 1 TBS then add to your taste
Spices (pick and choose): Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Powdered Ginger, Turmeric
pinch of salt
Honey to taste
a way to blend - I use a milk frother here. You can blend in vitamix or blender. Hand frother is nice so you don’t have as many dishes.
a way to heat the water
Heat milk to 170 degrees. Try not to boil the liquid – just like green tea, you can heat out all the powerful nutrients in cacao
Add Cacao, Oil, Spices of Your Choice and Salt
Make it creamy! Remember your intention and the music! Place cacao in a blender or use a hand frother.
Put in a mug if you will enjoy right away or put in a beautiful thermos to serve a bit later.
SIT AT YOUR CEREMONY SPOT & BRING YOUR INTENTIONS
Cacao is a heart opener and melter of distortion. Bring your intentions for the month’s theme. Drink them into your body with joy as you see them, hear them, feel them. Sit in meditation with what you *really* want in this area of your life. This is a manifestation ritual at its finest.
Sit and breathe holding the cacao at your heart
Speak aloud or to yourself, your intentions/prayers/questions
“Gracias cacao” and slowly sip the cacao
Keep deep breathing and close your eyes
Tune into your heart and feel those feelings
After 10 minutes in this meditation, you may add appropriate music to sing or dance to while maintaining this ceremony
Once complete “Gracias cacao” and write anything that you’d like to keep with you.
The enhanced feelings can stay with you for some time.
