Have you heard someone talking about a cacao ceremony and are you curious to find out what all the fuss is about? Then please read on, for we will explain what a cacao ceremony is and why it seems to be so immensely popular lately.
patron of cacao
The history of cacao
The Mayans were one of the first civilizations to cultivate cacao. They used it in religious ceremonies and as a currency. Cacao was so important to the Mayans that they even had a god, Ek Chuah, who was associated with the plant.
Ek Chuah, the patron deity of Cacao
Mayan legend has it that Ek Chuah gave cacao to the Mayans as a gift after they helped him rescue his kidnapped daughter. Mayans believed that cacao was a sacred plant and that it had the power to heal. Mayans would often use cacao in ceremonies to ask the gods for help or guidance.
Mayan religious ceremonies
Ceremonies were an important part of Mayan religious life. Mayan priests would use cacao in ceremonies to communicate with the gods. They would also use it to heal the sick and perform other religious rituals. Cacao was an important part of Mayan culture and it played a significant role in their religion. The Mayans believed that cacao was a gift from the gods and that it had special powers.
Cacao drink
Whenever they used cacao, the Mayan priests would create a drink using cacao and water, sometimes complemented with spices and other compounds. And it is this beneficial drink they made, that is currently gaining immense popularity all over the western world as a drink to be used in special Cacao Ceremonies.
Contemporary Cacao Ceremonies
Even though the cacao ceremonies you can attend everywhere today are nothing like the ancient Mayan religious ceremonies, they do draw their inspiration from them.
Nowadays a cacao ceremony revolves around helping people getting in touch with their deeper self, their inner feelings and understanding them, to remove energy blocks or to reach a meditative state. Some say that during a ceremony, the cacao can help open up your “heart chakra”.
No rules
For cacao ceremonies, there are no rules and regulations. Anyone can conduct a ceremony and the procedures of the ceremony itself have no fixed form. In general however a cacao ceremony contains one or more of the following elements:
- The ceremony is conducted by a ceremony leader who is an experienced practitioner of yoga, alternative therapy, healing or similar.
- Sometimes preceding the drinking of the cacao drink the leader might ask the participants to state an intention for the ceremony.
- The leader will then prepare the cacao drink, offer it to the participants and coach them to focus on the drink and to consume it with total mindfullness and concentration.
- After drinking the leader can use his voice, music and/or sounds to guide the participants into meditation.
- The ceremonial cacao that is used during the ceremony should be 100% organic, may only be roasted lightly at low temperatures and preferably be from the Criollo variety, which contains the most nutrients.
Are you interested in Cacao ceremonies?
Cacao ceremonies are a beautiful way to connect with the energy of cacao. Cacao is a plant medicine that has been used for centuries by indigenous people all over the world. The cacao ceremony is a powerful tool for healing, self-love, and connecting with our higher selves.
During a cacao ceremony, participants drink cacao in a sacred space. The cacao is prepared with intention and love, and drunk as an offering to the cacao spirits. The cacao opens up our hearts and helps us to connect with our deepest emotions. It can be a deeply healing experience, and can help us to release old patterns and ways of thinking that no longer serve us.
If you're interested in experiencing a cacao ceremony, there are many wonderful cacao ceremony leaders all over the world. You can also find cacao ceremonies being offered at yoga retreats, workshops, and other events.
Other ways to benefit from a raw cacao drink!
If, after reading this blog, you realize that a cacao ceremony is really not for you, the properties of pure cacao can still be beneficial to your physical well-being and mental health. Try a drink made from pure cacao and experience the way it can release your stressed mind and body and slowly awaken the alertness of your mind.
Buy your ceremonial cacao here
If you wish to purchase pure, organic cacao for your own cacao ceremony, you will find our selected products at the bottom of this page.