Years back, we spent two weeks in Guatemala—most of our time at Lake Atitlan. We went there to spend time with Keith, the Chocolate Shaman. We drank cacao with him in group ceremonies, and he also invited us to sit with him and his wife to learn more. He was amazing. Keith passed away in January 2024. His cacao is still available and shipped world-wide.
The profound gift of the sacred cacao plant is to open us to our own deep energies, particularly in the affective domain, the heart center ... and then to allow those impulses to flow more freely in our lives.
During our cacao ceremonies, we'll collectively call in the spirit of cacao and engage the heart-opening powers of this sacred plant.
The spirit of the cacao helps by opening and supporting our more inclusive, body-feeling, synthesizing faculties. So it's an opportunity to be profoundly informed from our own deep felt sense. Of course, the mind is still present, the intellect may be doing its thing ... but feelings and insight are moving into the foreground.
Cacao was especially considered a sacred plant medicine in Mesoamerica. There is no written history of how cacao was used ceremonially, but a lot of ancient iconography shows that it was an important and revered fruit.
With the gentle assist of cacao, we'll step through a series of inner processes to...
identify where in our lives we're currently on the threshold of transformation,
find the elements and steps of such change,
begin the process of making our way forward more concrete, and integrating it in our active lives
We'll create a "mesa" for this gathering, a central point to collect the power and blessings which give strength and support to our work together. Please bring your sacred or power object for this collective mesa/altar. This may be a stone, or image (2- or 3-dimensional), or whatever connects you to your ally, your source of support or empowerment. Working from the Spring space of renewal, we'll engage in a ceremonial sequence of steps, with the help of this generous plant, using simple means to move life forward a notch or two. Sensing what is, envisioning the elements of transformation, and initiating that forward motion.
We emphasize an integrative period before closing, to help us carry forward what we've begun.
Jeffrey and Cielle's cacao ceremonies span 6 hours to allow adequate time for all the phases of the ceremony.
*Note : This cacao will raise your heart rate slightly. If an increase in your heart rate could cause a medical problem, drink less.
Science behind Cacao
If you like science, you will find more "geeky" information about Cacao via this link.
Anandamide and more.
A bit more about ceremonial Cacao
Theobromine - similar to caffeine but for most people much milder and no jittery feelings associated with Caffeine.
Central American cacao is low in Caffeine, high in theobromine. Theo means “relating to God.”
Theobromine is diuretic. Begin drinking water about halfway through the ceremony.
Anandamide, also found in chocolate, is a neurotransmitter scientist named after the sanskrit for "divine joy" because of the blissful sensations it produces.
Cacao increases heart rate and is a vasodilator, opening blood vessels, increasing flow, and reducing blood pressure if it is high.
Ceremonial Cacoa tends to be heart-opening and can bring emotional release or emotional detox.
A two-minute video showing the process of turning beans into cacao. We buy our ceremonial-grade cacao from Keith.
A second two-minute video featuring Keith, the Chocolate Shaman.
The third video (5 minutes) gives information to help you prepare for a ceremony
Enjoy!!