Cacao
Cacao Ceremonies have been around for thousands of years, originating all the way back to Mayan and Aztec traditions in central and south America. Used for spiritual, medicinal and ceremonial purposes for inner awakening and creative guidance. Pure cacao is used as a heart opening medicine for people to safely experience awakening, revelation and inner healing. Cacao is used in a sacred medicinal ritual, where intentions are set and once consumed, euphoric states are unlocked, negative emotions are released and we are able to connect to ourselves and the loving energy in our body.
The Cacao used in our ceremonies is of the finest Ceremonial Grade Criollo Cacao which has been grown, harvested, fermented and dried by Ashaninka families. Directly sourced from ancient Cacao gardens in the Rio Ene region of Peru. Vegan friendly and free from gluten, dairy, soya and palm oil. No refined sugar and handmade.
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What are the benefits of Cacao Ceremonies:
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Cacao ceremonies are a type of shamanic healing – which is one of the oldest holistic healing practices used by indigenous cultures all over the world. These types of healing ceremonies work with rebalancing energies in the body to regain health. However, unlike other shamanic experiences, drinking cacao will not make you hallucinate or give you some sort of ‘out-of-body’ psychedelic experience. Cacao instead, is used to gently touch your heart and to guide you into an inner journey deep into the emotional centre of our body – our heart chakra (Anahata)
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Drinking this age old “food from the Gods” deepens our meditations, opens our hearts and allows us to sit with our stories and identify any areas that are still causing us pain or limitation. When in this beautiful safe space we can relax deeply, receive insights, connect with our highest selves and allow inspiration and divine guidance to flow through us. The experience will change with each Ceremony, as intentions evolve and meditations differ, giving us the opportunity to explore a little further and delve a little deeper into our hearts every time.
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Remember, a Cacao ceremony is not a “trip” or drug-induced ritual. Cacao Ceremonies are a facilitator of self-reflection and spiritual awakening, allowing one to consider who you are, analyse one’s hopes, wishes, and dreams, and let go of the past in order to grow from it and build a better future for oneself and others. It s also good for clarity, setting intensions, healing and inner processing and giving you a blissful state.
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What you can experience during a cacao ceremony:
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Each ceremony is different as everyone add there own separate touch and element to the ceremony
The Cacao Ceremony can last anywhere from three and a half to four hours and is held in a gorgeous heated marquee with soft insulated flooring in beautiful nature with bird song all around you.
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Saging will be carried out to cleanse the energy, followed by breath work to calm and relax the body, allowing the mind to properly focus. This breath work is essential to the meditative process and allowing the Anandamide - otherwise known as the bliss molecule- to enhance the meditative experience.
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The Sacred Cacao will been shown gratitude and Intensions will be made. Drinking of the Cacao will come around this point. There will also be beautiful music, heart opening ground based yoga or movement, guided meditations, crystal bowl sound healing, and whatever the sacred plant based medicine has in store for you and more.
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- Dress in comfortable warm clothing, layers are good
- A cosy blanket, yoga mat, some pillows or cushions and anything to make you feel really comfy.
- Your journal and a pen to write down any insights from your journey.
- Any crystals or chakra stones or tools you like to connect with whilst journeying.
- Water bottle. Keeping yourself hydrated is important
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Everyone drinks a cup of our amazing Cacao, with options to add a little honey or agave to sweeten, spices are also added also a tiny quantity of dried rose petal powder as a heart opener and blue lotus flower for intuition. Pure Cacao has a bitter taste as it hasn’t had any artificial sweeteners or sugars added so combining a little something can be an extra treat. Plant based milk can be added to make it more creamy.
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Requirements:
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Do not consume caffeine or alcohol prior to cacao.
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A light snack can be had, no less than two hours before the ceremony as this will block the effects of the cacao and lesson your experience.
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Drink plenty of water, especially towards the end of your ceremony. If you find you have a headache you may be dehydrated, drank too much cacao, or are detoxing with cacao’s assistance and this can sometimes also cause nausea.
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Antidepressants with MAOIs contraindicate with cacao and can lead to severe headaches.
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Cacao is a vasodilator and pumps more blood through the heart. Be mindful of your dosage if you have a heart condition.
If you are pregnant you will need a lower dose of cacao.
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HEALTH BENEFITS OF RAW / UNROASTED CHOCOLATE :
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According to some scientific research the Cacao beans contained in raw chocolate have a wide array of unique properties such as antioxidants
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Raw Cacao beans contain 10 grams of flavonol antioxidants per 100 grams, which is an incredible 10%. Research has also demonstrated that the antioxidants in cacao are highly stable and easily available to human metabolism and magnesium for the heart and brain
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Cacao is the primary dietary source of magnesium, the most deficient mineral in western civilisation. Magnesium is the most important mineral for a healthy functioning heart. It also plays a key role in producing energy for the neurons in the brain from glucose. So when there is an abundance of magnesium the brain works with clarity and focus, mood elevators and Anti-depressants.
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Cacao is a great source of Serotonin, which helps with well being and resistance to stress. Dopamine, which gives feelings of motivation and pleasure. Anandamide, the bliss molecule, which moderates pain and associated with the 'runners high' effect. phenylethylamine (PEA), helps with excitement, alertness and attention. four well-studied neurotransmitters, which are associated with feelings of well being and help alleviate depression. Both PEA and anandamide (the bliss chemical) are found in abundance in the brains of happy people and are particularly released when we are feeling happy. Both of these neurotransmitters are present in raw cacao in large enough quantities to affect the brain and lift our moods. Cacao also contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO I's) that keep neurotransmitters in the bloodstream for longer without being broken down. It increases the blood low to the brain by around 30%, meaning more blood (life force energy) nourishing all your systems.
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Disclaimer :
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The Cacao given at these ceremonies and any information or advise are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, condition or health problems.
The information provided on the ceremonies, is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information at these ceremonies for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or as a substitute for medication or other treatment prescribed by your physician or health care provider. Every human body is unique and therefore the way you react to this product may be significantly different from how other people react.
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Also Soul Yoga is not responsible for anyone not following the requirements given or for anyone not disclosing the information asked of them.
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