Why are rituals like Cacao becoming so popular?
Most people love chocolate, so who wouldn’t like the idea of meeting up for a nice warming cup of hot chocolate.
This invitation itself is enough to draw people in, but when the true essence and power of cacao are understood and its healing properties, our normal relationship, most of us have with it changes. It no longer becomes a guilty pleasure but a sweet medicine.
Pure, unprocessed cacao – the raw material from which chocolate is made – is one of nature’s most medicinal foods. Its levels of iron are higher than in spinach, it has more antioxidants than blueberries, and more calcium than cow’s milk. There are many studies to show that its bioactive compounds can improve the following; cognition and alertness, blood flow, focus, concentration, empathy, inspiration and creativity. It can also assist in decreasing levels of stress.
It’s no wonder the Mayans and other ancient civilisations used it as a ritualistic medicine. They believed this scared bean that comes from a fruit to be a divine gift and food from the Gods. In-fact its original latin name Theobroma Cacao, translates as “Food of the Gods”.
Cacao acts as a conduit, creating direct healing, well-being, connection and understanding, which helps us to connect with the well-being of our planet and each other.
In the fast pace of today's life, we have lost the power of gathering together in community. The ritual and beauty of Cacao helps reconnect us with those ancient parts of ourselves, and can act as a portal to help guide each one of us back to the core and depth of our heart. And this is where deep healing and remembrance begins.
Cacao rituals are commonly interwoven with healing therapies such as; breath-work, song, prayer, embodying creative expression, to help guide us through emotional blockages and challenging transitions.
I’ll never forget my first Cacao ceremony experience, some years back while I was living in France, at a Yoga wedding for a very special Yogi Columbian friend of mine.
I was so taken back as I watched the the transformation and the way in which everyone connected after the ritual was carried out. Everyone looked so radiant, beaming from the inside out. I remember clearly noting to myself that this was a scene of pure beauty and radiant health. I would never have believed that this sacred bean and power of its songs could have the ability to connect us all to ourselves and each other, in the way that it did.
Since then I have been inspired to curate retreats, integrating the ritual of Cacao and have taken an online training course with the very inspiring shamanic practitioner, Malaika Darville And I am excited about my upcoming events where I will be facilitating rituals with mumma Cacao.