How Ceremonial Cacao impacted my life

Cacao was always very present in my childhood and my family life. My family, on my mother's side, is from Colombia, and since I have memories at home, my mother and grandmother used to prepare hot chocolate for us in the morning for breakfast. The best memories of my childhood are related to this natural medicine.
However, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I met it again, this time in a very different setting. I started reading about its properties to enhance meditation, relax the body, and open the heart and I decided to give it a try. I quickly found in it a means to connect with my interior, with my roots and with the wisdom of the elements and of our ancestors. My morning routine would change forever.

Cacao is more than a candy, it is a fruit, a sacred food used for thousands of years by indigenous communities in ceremonies, to celebrate, thank and connect. In this post I want to share a little about my experience and knowledge about this sacred medicine.

What is Ceremonial Cacao?
It is called ceremonial cacao to pure cacao paste. Unlike what we normally find in the supermarket, it does not contain additives such as sugars that can negatively impact the body. That is why it is said that Ceremonial Cacao is more than a sweet, it is a food for the body and soul. In addition, in order to be ceremonial, it must have an element of honor and dignity, which is ethically produced according to the practices of its guardians: the indigenous communities in Central and South America. They cannot be grown with pesticides or have added sugars. It must be done with love and honor the history of the indigenous people. Consciousness is essential in the production of ceremonial cacao.

What makes Cacao a healing food for the body and soul?

Cacao contains more than 300 beneficial elements for humans, including Theobromine and Tryptophan. Theobromine dilates the blood vessels and relaxes the heart muscles, providing a feeling of lightness and relaxation on a physical level, and opening the heart chakra to experience unconditional love on an energetic level. Tryptophan enhances the secretion of Serotonin, the hormone of joy. In addition, cocoa stimulates the production of phenylethylamine, a substance associated with "runner's high", which makes us feel euphoric and energized.

How to prepare ceremonial cacao
Preparing a cup of Cacao is as basic or complex as we want to make it. We can add as many steps and elements as we want, the most important thing is to honor the process. These are the basic steps that I follow to prepare my Cacao:

1. Heat a little water and remove when it is almost boiling.
2. Chop or shred the indicated dose of Cacao (I will comment on this below). Once the cocoa is chopped, it is placed in the cup and the hot water is poured and stirred with the grinder or a balloon whisk. Personally I leave a space to add oat milk. You can do it with water and milk of your choice, either vegetable or animal.
3. You can add essential oils, rose petals or a spice that you like a lot. If you are starting, you can add stevia or honey to sweeten it in case it seems very bitter.

How much cacao is it advisable to consume?
There are two recommended doses to prepare cacao:
- Meditative dose: About 28 g per cup. It brings you into the meditative state and you feel the effects, but you are still functional. This is the dose that I take as part of my routine in the morning.
- Ceremonial dose: Around 40g of cocoa per cup, the sensations are more intense. This dose is not recommended for every morning, but when we are in ceremony and we have space to feel and meditate. It is very important to consider not having eaten at least 2 hours before consuming it.

How to do an individual ceremonial and connect with the spirit of cocoa?

1. The most important thing is to create a sacred space. This doesn't have to be a physical space, but rather a state of being. Understand that those minutes in which you are going to prepare your cup of Cacao, bless it and enjoy those moments of connection with your being, with the elements and with an ancestral wisdom.
2. The act of preparing Cacao is an active meditation in itself. Make sure you bring every activity you do conscientiously, and infuse them with love. As you melt the cacao paste with the water, connect with its aroma. The guardians of Cacao believe that their spirit is present in that aromatic smoke that is created at this time.
3. After pouring the cacao into your cup, take a moment to hold it to your heart, and visualize something you are grateful for and an intention that you want to deliver. You can also connect with the different qualities of the elements: water, air, fire and earth. All of them are present in this sacred food, and the moment we recognize them in it, we also honor them within.
4. Finally, if possible within your schedule, leave a few minutes free to experience its effects, meditate, or perhaps write. This will make you go deeper in the practice, and you can develop a greater connection with it and with you.

Like any spiritual tool, the most important thing is the consciousness behind it. Nothing replaces the internal work to lead us to our evolution, however it is a beautiful tool to connect with our interior and open the heart. I hope this information is of value to you.

With love,
Maria.