The Heart-Healing Cacao Ceremony
Ceremonies exist because of tradition, so it is obvious to assume that without tradition, ceremonies would not exist.
We must be open-minded to their tradition and ceremonies to keep so many important indigenous cultures alive. Without knowledge, ignorance threatens to create fear and upheaval. We must learn about others to understand them. With this in mind, consider now the ceremonial importance of cacao. That’s right, chocolate is incredibly valued by various cultures, especially to those in Central and South America. In many Mayan communities like the T’zutujil, chocolate ceremonies are celebrations shared with kin and strangers alike. Discover how, why, and where the Heart-Healing Cacao Ceremony takes place to better empathize and perhaps even aid the cultures that originated them! Before we can discuss why cacao is so sacred and important, we must discover what it is exactly. Cacao is a tropical fruit that is native to Central and South America. It can be cultivated anywhere that offers tropical climates. To turn cacao into cocoa, you must grind and ferment the seeds down into a paste. Before cacao was used to create the sweet candy we know today, it was often drunk as a bitter, frothy beverage called xocōlātl. This beverage, like coffee, was consumed by anyone who wished to partake. Cacao itself is considered a gift from the Gods in Mayan cultures. Nowadays, the most bitter cacao products we can find on our supermarket shelves are dark chocolate! When talking about Ceremonial Cacao used by the esteemed Cacao Labs, though, we must go over some key differences. First, ceremonial cacao is used expressly for ceremonial purposes. It does not go through the usual process that ordinary cacao does to create cocoa. It is minimally processed to keep all of the great antioxidants and other superfood health benefits cacao offers. Finally, ceremonial cacao is sustainably harvested and all those who participate in the collection of this fruit are compensated for their hard work. A Cacao Ceremony is a sacred traditional ritual. In it, you drink cacao in its purest form and meditate. Cacao is the central point of this ceremony as it is said to carry a spirit that can help guide your meditative state and open your heart to those around you. Cacao Ceremonies are usually gatherings, though they can be done personally, and are led by a Mayan Wisdom Keeper (or those trained by said Wisdom Keepers). You will sit together in a quiet space and drink cacao, then begin the meditative process that will allow you to open your heart and mind to the possibilities cacao has to offer us. Beyond meditation, Cacao Ceremonies have a variety of other benefits. Cacao is the medicine of the heart. Not only because it has a way of opening us up to the natural happiness of the universe, but also because it is chock full of theobromine and magnesium.
These two components aid in pumping blood faster, which increases blood flow and heart rate.
Theobromine can also be found in coffee and has a mood-lifting effect. Use this jovial state of mind to invite your inner child to the ceremony, and to heal whatever may have left scars on your heart. Based in New York, Cacao Laboratory is a company founded by Florencia and Fede Fridman that offers cacao ceremonies, education, and cacao-related products. It is with their aid and insights that guide not only this article but the ceremonies I write about. Florencia is the ceremonial and educational leader. She learned from the T’zutujil community how to properly conduct and lead others in the sacred ways of cacao honoring. Along with Fede, who is aligned with the business aspect of Cacao Labs, this duo’s company promises to bring Cacao Ceremonies and products to all those who wish to open their minds and give thanks to all around us. Interested in attending a Heart-Healing Cacao Ceremony? Join Florencia and every at The Alchemist’s Kitchen for a LIVE event on September 19th. Buy your tickets HERE and heal your heart with a group of like-minded individuals. Frankie Kavakich is a published prose and poetry writer and a practicing witch whose love for the occult and horror permeates their everyday life. For eight years, they have studied a variety of practices including kitchen witchery, chaos magick, divination, manifestation, and brujería. Within their writing, Frankie features numerous topics ranging from ghosts and spirits to the importance of community and reliance on nature's bounty.
Their great grandmother Nilda was a healer from the rain forests of Puerto Rico, and Frankie is endlessly inspired by the gentle hands and kind hearts of their ancestors.
Read the full article at the original website
References:
