By Lisa Viger-Gotte
“This is the heart medicine that the world needs,” said Lindsey Glasson, founder, and protector of cacao at i.e. Kawa, as well as a facilitator of cacao ceremonies in Michigan and in places around the world. An intuition-led purchase of twenty pounds of cacao at a Costa Rican farmers’ market just before the pandemic inspired Lindsey’s journey that has helped her heal herself and others through cacao and ceremony. Cacao, she said, “is the doorway of the soul.”
A cacao ceremony can be a profound heart-opening ritual. A gathering of friends sipping rich, sacred cacao while weaving community may create connection with each other and with self. It can be a shared journey of love, meditation, and spiritual togetherness.
Cacao originates from the tropical regions of Central and South America. The cacao tree, Theobroma cacao, produces large pods containing seeds which are fermented, dried, roasted, and processed to create chocolate products enjoyed worldwide. They’re primarily found in warm climates like Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, and the Ivory Coast.
In ancient Mesoamerica, Mayans and Aztecs revered cacao as divine. They brewed it into a potent elixir for spiritual rituals and celebrations. This sacred drink wasn’t just a chocolate dessert: it was a gateway to connecting with the cosmos, fostering community, and honoring their gods.
Once reserved for ancient rituals, cacao ceremonies have found a new home in modern wellness circles. Today, they’re cherished for promoting mindfulness and spiritual connection. These gatherings offer a serene escape, inviting participants to savor the present moment and nourish their souls. It’s a beautiful fusion of tradition and contemporary wellness, uniting ancient wisdom with modern needs. Glasson said, “We can come back to more love and gratitude and compassion … and we can live from a place of heart. We can have peace.”
Ceremonial cacao, sourced ethically, undergoes a traditional preparation method rooted in respect for the sacred bean. Cacao paste is transformed into a ceremonial elixir, often infused with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and chili, preserving the ancient tradition while honoring the earth and its bounty.
Creating a private cacao ceremony for oneself is a beautiful way to connect with the sacred spirit of cacao and nurture self-reflection. Begin by setting a sacred space perhaps with candles or incense. Brew a cup of ceremonial-grade cacao focusing on intention and gratitude. Sit quietly, sip slowly, and allow yourself to be present, journaling or meditating as desired. Take this time to honor yourself and your journey.
In a group cacao ceremony, participants gather in a sacred space and are often seated in a circle. A facilitator guides the ceremony by leading everyone through intention setting, sharing gratitude, and sometimes incorporating meditation, breathwork, or chanting. Each person is served a cup of ceremonial-grade cacao to sip slowly. The ceremony concludes with reflection and sharing, creating a sense of community and healing.
“Sacred cacao offers a profoundly calming experience, both internally and for the collective,” said Nonni Colbourne, of Mamma Mantra Healing Arts. “It is a heart opener and offers us an opportunity to process, integrate, and expand whatever is moving for us. This could be a transition through fear, discomfort, or anxiety, an opening to clarity and understanding, or a supercharged epiphany that helps to propel us forward in life.”
During ceremony, a mindful approach enhances the cacao’s effects promoting emotional healing, self-awareness, and a sense of community. By staying present and open, participants can experience profound insights, increased clarity, and a greater sense of peace and interconnectedness.
Incorporating gentle movement, such as yoga, into a cacao ceremony can enhance the experience by harmonizing the body and mind. The combination of cacao’s plant medicine and the physical motion creates a powerful synergy that deepens the ceremony’s impact. It amplifies the body’s natural energy flow, promoting a sense of balance and harmony. The physical movements help to ground the experience, making it easier to process any emotional insights that arise. Additionally, incorporating breathwork within the yoga practice can further deepen relaxation and presence enhancing the overall meditative quality of the ceremony.
To find a cacao ceremony near you, search online for local wellness centers, yoga studios, or spiritual communities that host such events. Websites like Meetup, Eventbrite, and social media platforms often list upcoming ceremonies. You can also join online forums or groups dedicated to holistic practices to get recommendations and connect with facilitators. Finding a cacao community can be as easy as looking around your town. Nicole Leffler of Alchemy Holistic Collective in Chelsea says cacao ceremonies are becoming easy to find in most cities and even in small-town locales.
Sitting with cacao, with ourselves, and each other can help us remember what is truly important. “You know,” Glasson says while sitting in her garden with the song of birds and her new daughter happily burbling in the background, “We get distracted by all the things—the shiny things, the cars, the fancy homes—all of these things created to distract us from the true beauty of life and the beauty of every day.”
Finding the beauty of every day through cacao ceremony and ritual involves embracing mindfulness and presence. Participating in regular cacao ceremonies can cultivate a deeper connection to yourself and the world around you. The heart-opening properties of cacao, combined with intentional rituals, enhances the simple moments, fosters gratitude, and promotes emotional well-being. These practices encourage you to slow down, reflect, and savor the richness of daily life turning ordinary experiences into profound and meaningful ones.
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“This is the heart medicine that the world needs,” said Lindsey Glasson, founder, and protector of cacao at i.e. Kawa, as well as a facilitator of cacao ceremonies in Michigan and in places around the world. An intuition-led purchase of twenty pounds of cacao at a Costa Rican farmers’ market just before the pandemic inspired Lindsey’s journey that has helped her heal herself and others through cacao and ceremony. Cacao, she said, “is the doorway of the soul.”