First I want to start with that there’s no right way to hold a Cacao Ceremony.
“Although the plant and its seeds were revered for thousands of years by the peoples of Mesoamerica, and there is plenty of archeological evidence of its monetary and ceremonial value, no specific form of ceremony has survived.
There is, therefore, no such thing as a "traditional" Mayan Cacao Ceremony and no known lineage that has been passed down.”
The term “Cacao Ceremony” was created when Keith Wilson began holding space for people to drink Cacao on his porch in the early 2000s, where he would work with people as a processing intuitive healer. It’s of my understanding that he taught many people how to work with Ceremonial Cacao, as well as how to make it.
You can learn more here about the history in this article:
Cacao Ceremony: What is it and How to Host One with Keith's Cacao
A ceremony with Keith, the Chocolate Shaman on his porch
While I love to bring in shamanism and ancestral reverence in the ceremonies that I hold based on my own experience and teachings, there is no set way to hold a ceremony and it comes down to the facilitators, their unique gifts/offerings, and the people that join the ceremony that contribute to the ceremony itself.
For someone new to Cacao Ceremonies or spiritual work in general, this is where discernment comes in. Trust your body in knowing whether to go to any particular workshop, event, or ceremony.
This is also what’s special and unique about events and ceremonies: the unique wisdom and medicine of the facilitators themselves.
There can be Cacao & Yoga, Cacao & Sound, Cacao & Breathwork….. Cacao & whatever magical medicines the facilitator has to offer.
What happens inside our Cacao Ceremonies
The ceremony provides a safe space and a structure to reconnect, take a step away from the hustle of daily life, and intentionally enter into a state of sacred openness. Ceremonial practices can honor and mediate experiences with plant medicines by providing a container for the experience extended through communal support.
By default, our intention for the ceremonies is always to connect to the heart and to receive whatever messages are ready to be received.
Our ceremonies are also influenced by shamanism, other plant medicine ceremonies that we attend, astrological energies of the time — and we hold a trauma-informed sacred space incorporating embodiment and family constellations.
Tiger and I have been learning to connect with the natural cycles of the universe by staying in the know of what is happening in the stars. We follow it week by week, day by day. Astrology is a language of the universe that anyone can learn. The more we are in tune with it, the more we are in the flow with the cycles of nature.
When we are not in tune, we meet resistance, confusion, fear, and frustration. It’s one thing if energetically it is a difficult time, then we know it is and can relax, slow down, and let it all be as part of the process until it passes through. But when we are fighting the natural flow of the universe, life becomes difficult.
Each ceremony is infused and inspired by whatever is happening energetically around the time of the ceremony, including some teaching around it. Here are some ways we get inspired for our ceremonies:
by the seasons (i.e. solstices, equinoxes)
whatever sign the sun is passing through (ex: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc…)
working with the elements: Fire, Earth, Water, and Air
the phases of the moon, especially New Moon, Full Moon and Eclipse Seasons
big transits: when a planet changes signs or retrogrades, or if there are some unique conjunctions (like a Mars Cazimi or a Venus Retrograde)
There is always something happening!
We prepare for each ceremony uniquely and bring this energy forward in our knowing.
The beautiful part of it is, we learn from each single one of them. Astrology isn’t just something you can read about. It’s something that you learn by embodying it’s information.
We bring different modalities and practices into the ceremony — from movement to guided meditations to embodiment practices to family constellations.
Cacao helps us to connect to our higher selves, quiet the busyness of the modern-day world, and remember our sacredness. To remember who we are and why we are here. To remember that we are not just humans in a body, but a soul living this human experience on earth school. Cacao is here to assist us in learning the lessons we are here to learn.
By setting intentions with each cup of cacao, you receive messages for your life where you would like healing or guidance.
We always end with a shamanic drum journey to uncover any inner guidance, before completing with our favorite part of the night: a sharing circle.
This is where we pass around our powerful talking stick (with a story!) and get to bring everyone’s messages/learnings and voices into the room. Where we get to see the humanity in each one of us. I always like to say that you don’t have to share if you don’t want to. And at the same time, I have personally learned there is much healing in sharing.
We hope to see you at one of our ceremonies!
❤️ ❤️ ❤️
