Cacao Ceremony - what it is and why you need it in your life!
Cacao is getting a bit of buzz these days, it’s the new super food here in the Western World…
The benefits of cacao as a superfood
Packed with antioxidants, magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc Cacao is one of the most nutrient dense superfoods on the planet.
It has an active ingredient in it called theobromine—which can be translated to, “Food of the Gods.”
That said, let’s take a minute to go back to the origins and why it’s called “Ceremonial Cacao” in the first place.
In South America, the relationship between people and plants is somewhat different to what it is here in western culture. There is a sacred relationship, reverence and respect for plants that I personally find so beautifully humbling.
Children are taught from a very young age to have a connection with the natural world, knowing that they are part of it, not seperate from.
Revered by the Ancient Mayans, Cacao has been considered Sacred for thousands of years. For this reason, the spiritual energy of the bean starts with the cultivation of the pod, is carried through with respect all the way through to the delivery in ceremony.
To meet ceremonial grade, cacao must meet the following criteria:
grown using sustainable farming practices and respectful, favorable life conditions for farmers and their families.
The cacao paste used to make the sacred beverage should be in its purest form: no additives, preservatives should be present and no invasive processing such as high temperatures
The country of origin is to be in the geographical area of Peru, Ecuador or Mexico.
These plants have been around for much longer than we have, they hold ancient wisdom and knowledge. From a shamanic perspective, plants are our teachers. They see us as naive grandchildren that are to be nurtured, cared for and guided. If we offer humility and respect, we have so much to learn from them. This is not learning from the mind, it’s a heart to heart connection.
We all know that being in Nature is “good for us”. There are a plethora of scientific studies that give us all the facts and statistics that “explain” why… but I believe it is just simply because when we connect with Nature, we remember our truth.
We remember that we belong here, we are part of this world and we are loved. Our bodies respond so beautifully to being in direct contact with the Earth because it feels like coming home.
It seems ethereal and “out there” to some analytical people to talk about Nature as if you were speaking of a person. These are often the same people who may give a name to their car, be fascinated by artificial intelligence… and yet refuse to grasp the concept of actual living things having a consciousness.
Of course, we are all entitled to our own opinions but having grown up in a family who showed deep reverence for the natural world, watching my mother care for her garden and speak to her flowers, I truly feel that this way of approaching life makes our human experience so much more magical, beautiful and fun.
In all indigenous cultures around the world, Humans nurtured a relationship with Nature. This is how we discovered medicinal plants and natural remedies… way before scientific laboratories and white coats got involved.
The sages, mystics and shamans would communicate with the natural world and discover how to heal ailments and illnesses with what existed in their environment. They channelled this information from the plants themselves.
That is what plant medicine is all about. Connecting with Nature, asking for her help and listening to the wisdom that she has to share. This is what Cacao does for us.
I often imagine her to look like the grandmother tree in the Disney movie Pocahontas. She is a loving yet firm grandmother energy, nurturing and wise. We cannot hide or lie to her, she sees through it all and will lovingly guide us home to our truth.
I believe that, as women, when we have chocolate cravings, what we are in fact intuitively craving. is the medicine of Cacao.
We crave that nurturing, loving wisdom that she brings.
If you feel to join me in regular ceremony and be supported in coming home to yourself, I would be honoured to be your guide.
Find out more about my Inner Circle membership
To see what events I have coming up (Australia) go to the events page here
If you wish to purchase Ceremonial Grade Cacao, you can do so at my events or through my friends at Holy Herbal, HERE
use code CHAHIGGINSON FOR 10% OFF YOUR ORDER!
