cacao
Cacao is a fruit coming from a tropical tree, known as theobroma cacao, that grows in the Amazon rainforest and other tropical regions such as Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, and Bali. From the Cacao beans a chocolate is made. Similar to coffee, this process involves fermenting, drying, roasting, and processing.
Nowadays around the world, cacao is also known as the medicine of the heart. One that grounds, energizes, and awakens in us a feeling of vitality, love and compassion.
For thousands of years, cacao has been honored by the Mayan, Aztec, and other Indigenous cultures as a sacred plant. Cacao for them was considered "food of the gods" and they used this plant in spiritual, medicinal and ceremonial practices.
the science of cacao
Raw cacao is a rich superfood. It contains:
magnesium - for grounding and relaxation, muscle function, and nervous system balance
iron - for strength, energy and oxygen flow
zinc - immune support and cellular repair
potassium & calcium - essential minerals for heart and bone health
healthy fats - from cacao butter, supporting hormones and cardiovascular health
Powerful compounds:
flavanols (antioxidants) - support circulation, brain health, and detoxification
theobromine - a gentle stimulant that improves focus and mood without the jittery effect of caffeine
plenethylamine (PEA) - know as the "love molecule", linked to the feelings of joy and wellbeing
anandamide - the "bliss chemical" found in chocolate generally, supporting relaxation and emotional uplift
A cacao ritual or ceremony is a safe and sacred space where people drink a strong ceremonial cacao dose. In these rituals people pray, talk, sing and dance.
Often times a cacao ceremony is connected to an element of nature. In different ancient traditions, they honor a specific element. For example, in the Guatemalan Kaq'chikel Mayan traditional way, they pray to the element of the fire. Offering to the sacred fire cacao, seeds - like corn and sesame, herbs and flowers, and incenses - most commonly copal.
Nowadays people around the world use cacao rituals for:
setting intentions
a boost of energy and focus
emotional release
creativity and inspiration
meditation, dance and breath work
interpersonal dialogue
creating connection within a community
personal and spiritual growth
Typical elements of a cacao ritual include:
preparing cacao with care, often with water or plant milk and spices like cinnamon or cayenne
setting an intention, focusing on what you want to cultivate, achieve or release
mindful sipping
a chosen practice - such as journalling, dance, yoga, music, movement, meditation, or sharing in a group
cacao ceremony
Is my personal cacao ceremony, where my main intention is to celebrate the body and its cycles. Similar to the moon's cycle, we humans also experience different cycles inside and outside us. Like the menstrual cycle for women, the seasons in nature, and even just night and day.
This ceremony includes a lot of movement, dance, and music. My hope is to create a safe circle, where we can freely express and connect with ourselves. Calming down the mind, trying not to judge, and becoming less reactive in our experience. A space of joy, freedom, libido, pleasure, laughter, and lightness.
For the ceremony, you can have a personal intention, prayer, "wish," or none of the above.
cacao ceremoon
Cacao opens the heart, dance opens the body.
Cacao invites presence, dance invites expression.
Together with movement and dance, cacao is a wonderful tool to access our emotions, self-awareness, energy and embodiment. As movement allows emotions to flow, cacao helps to ground our sensations, creating space for the nervous system to relax, creativity to express, emotions to flow, all allowing the body to feel lighter, clearer and more alive.
cacao & dance - creating space in the body
a forest body
I feel alive, I am life
love pulses inside me
cacao strengthens my heart and wakes up my body
I feel you, you move me
