Cacao is a sacred medicine that my ancestors introduced to me a few months ago.
Cacao's scientific name means Food of the Gods. It was believed to be sent as a gift from the heavens. Aztecs and Mayans used it more than 5000 years ago. It is most powerful in its raw and natural form.
I prepare a cup of organic cacao for my ancestors and to give as an offering to Pachamama (the earth) I dig a hole and then bury it. I also like to drink it to help me go into a deep meditation and to lift my vibration to create positive energy in me. Now I started to do this before researching it because my ancestors were giving me instructions on what to do. After I started researching it i found out that they were 100% correct and that sacred cacao ceremony and its medicine uses comes from meso america (Mexico, Guatemala, Peru and all of Central America) where my ancestors are from its also cultivated and grown in West Africa! So before. I start diving deep into what/ how to do cacao ceremony i wanted to state: make sure you are not cultural appropriating if you are not a POC before doing this ritual... approach this with the upmost respect for the ancestors of these cultures and respect for the spirit of cacao do at your own risk...
Cacao Spiritual Properties:
Heart Opener: can heal and open your heart chakra to love others and yourself. Heals past emotional traumas.
Communication with higher dimensions: lifts your vibration and helps you communicate easier with ancestors, your higher self, spiritual guides and angels.
Manifests your intention: its important to set an intention while drinking cacao slowly as this brings the manifestion into reality
Brings peace and reduces stress.
Meditation: helps to calm your mind and focus easier during meditation.
Enables you to go on shamanic journeys: people have reported getting downloads while drinking cacao and going on a shamanic journey.
Creativity: gets your creative juices flowing example you can drink cacao before painting drawing etc
Yoga: people enjoy to drink cacao before yoga to help get their energy going.
Energy booster: if you drink cacao in the morning it helps to give you energy to complete your daily tasks that's why its not recommended to drink at night because you can stay up for hours afterwards.
Helps you connect to mother earth and feel grounded.
Cacao physical health benefits:
Rich in antioxidants and magnesium
Cancer protective effects
May help type 2 diabetics keep low blow sugar
Healthy brain function etc etc etc
How to prepare Sacred Cacao:
There are many ways to prepare ceremonial cacao this is just one method.
(Your favorite sweetener, honey agave maple syrup vanilla creamer etc)
Raw organic Cacao either in powdered form or in hard slate form that you will have to chop.
2 cups of Purified or spring water
Spices – a pinch of each: Himalayan salt or sea salt, cayenne pepper or chili pepper, cinnamon
Herb base optional: 2 of your favorite herbs I used blue lotus and rose petals boil the water and put herbs like you are going to drink a tea
Strain boiled water of herbs after 10 minutues
Add cacao to pot and slowly stir in the 2 cups of the herb mixture/boiled water.. mix well add sweetener then enjoy. See below on what you should do while preparing.
How to do a Simple Cacao Ceremony:
Ceremonies can be held in groups of people, with 2 people or by yourself. I am going to go over how to do one by yourself.
The first thing you should do is prepare a sacred space somewhere you usually do your spiritual activities. You can also create a fire pit outside. Then clear your space using by burning either Palo Santo (ethically sourced if from Peru or Guatemala even better) or Copal.
Next you should sing, chant, or say prayers and set your intentions while preparing your cacao on the stove. I like to sing to the spirit of cacao in spanish.
After preparing,I like to put on some mediation music or high frequency music. I light some candles. I go before my ancestor altar offer them some cacao and say a prayer of gratitude then I meditate. I drink my cacao slowly and set my intention which could be for strength, heart healing, letting the past go, being joyful or happy through out the day etc whatever comes to your mind.
After meditating, if I received. Downloads, I write them down. then while still drinking cacao (remember I said slowly!) I either drum or play singing bowls then I end my session with a closing prayer to pacha mama my ancestors and thankfulness to the spirit of cacao.
Peace, love, and prosperity-Anisha💕