I had the opportunity this month to experience a cacao ceremony at Civana wellness resort. I was familiar with cacao as I drink it regularly in the colder months. I had not attended an actual ceremony before and was quite curious to see what it was all about. There were 7 of us plus our guide that attended the ceremony. We learned about the history of cacao and the medicinal benefits of cacao. We all enjoyed a mug of cacao together, intentionally. We meditated, we smelled the cup of cacao before drinking it, we embraced the warmth of the cacao when we took mindful sips, we placed intention into our cacao. As we sat in our circle together, we journaled our thoughts. I found cacao to be enjoyable, comforting, soft, smooth, and bright. My intention during this ceremony was to embrace openness. I was open to transitioning to a deeper, kinder version of myself, open to slowing down to experience the present, open to loving myself. I found myself feeling grounded, open, and present when we concluded our ceremony. It was truly beautiful and I was grateful to have had that experience.
Cacao ceremonies date back thousands and thousands of years. Maya and Aztec civilizations looked to cacao use as sacred, “food of the gods”. Ceremonial cacao offers a blend of superfood nutrients, sustained mental energy, and intentional emotional grounding.
Cacao is plant based medicine. The cacao pods grow on trees in the Amazon, a warm, wet climate is needed for these trees to grow. Cacao is significantly less processed than cocoa, and rich with flavanols, polyphenols, and essential minerals. The primary stimulant in cacao is theobromine, which acts as a gentle cardiovascular stimulant allowing for smoother blood flow and sustained physical stamina without the crash like coffee. Cacao also contains neurotransmitters and amino acids that act as natural anti-depressants and mood stabilizers. The high concentration of flavanols directly impacts our blood vessel elasticity enhancing our cardiovascular health, while the polyphenols suppress systemic inflammation by inhibiting major cellular inflammatory pathways. Cacao, being rich in flavanols and polyphenols, helps fight oxidative stress. One more thing I would like to touch on is magnesium. Cacao is a great source for this essential mineral. Magnesium helps quiet an overactive nervous system, relaxes tight muscles, and promotes overall physical grounding.
After reading my blog, I hope that you gathered useful information about the benefits of cacao and the many medicinal benefits from consuming it. Check out if there are any cacao ceremonies happening where you live, you will not regret attending one. I had a beautiful experience when I attended mine earlier this month.