Cacao & Sound Play Ceremony
Cacao ceremony is a ritual for self-renewal that gets us centered and opens our hearts to living in a good way. Gathering in a community celebration to drink Cacao and create a Sound Bath gives such an experience of connection and inspiration. Cacao and Sound are a combination that is super extraordinary and creative, as the Cacao opens the heart to really feel the depths of the vibrational messages coming through the Sound. Together we create an inspiring soundscape offering to honor our Galactic culture.
There is a long tradition of Cacao and Sound. The ancient Cacao ceremony was accompanied by ancestral pre-Hispanic instruments, all made of natural elements and played live without electricity. Medicine songs about the healing quality of Cacao, the raising of consciousness, and the elements in nature were part of the ceremony.
Ancient Cacao Ceremonies
Archaeological evidence of Cacao's use dates back to 3,900 years ago in Central America and recent evidence dates Cacao's use to 5,300 years ago in the Amazon. For the Olmec, Zapotec, Mayans, and Aztec, Cacao was a plant of central importance. Cacao is mentioned extensively in the Popul Vuh, the Mayan Creation story, and can be found in many engravings depicting ritual offerings. The drink was consumed by the Emperor and nobility and is called Kakaw in the Mayan language, which means “drink of the gods.” Cacao is still an important part of Maya culture today, utilized in midwifery, weddings, and other social gatherings.
According to Mayan elders, the Spirit of Cacao is one of the most powerful deities of Mayan cosmology. With the Spirit of Cacao we travel towards the inner Self where wisdom and love live. A Cacao Sound Bath ceremony is oriented to reconnect with beauty, sweetness and love in ourselves. The Cacao goddess is our magic companion that invites us to open the heart door - when we drink Cacao we are happy and thankful for life.
Cacao is a feminine plant and puts us in a very receptive state for sound play. We bless our Cacao together, take some time for meditation, set an intention and share a word circle. Then we begin to let our intuition guide us as we enjoy the pleasure of creating a Sound Bath together.
Cacao contains compounds and endorphins that give immediate and pleasurable effects:
- Theobromine: cacao contains this alkaloid that has direct effect on the body; acts as a diuretic and stimulates the renal system; stimulates to the central nervous system; helps protect the heart in several ways; naturally lowers blood pressure, which decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease; reduces bad cholesterol and improves good cholesterol; improves blood flow throughout the body, further supporting the heart; physical and mental energy boost; provides a short-term boost in brain function as it encourages blood flow to the brain, helps keep us mentally alert and focused; helps strengthen the teeth by protecting tooth enamel from erosion; helps defend against tooth decay and is a more potent cavity fighter than fluoride; provides a mood boost in the form of greater relaxation and a more positive affect; acts as a cough suppressant and is soothing to a nasty cough; widens the body’s airways and relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout the body, including the smooth muscle tissue found in the lungs and therefore increases airflow to the lungs, which is useful in the management of asthma and other respiratory conditions; is a potent anti-inflammatory and has antioxidant capacities that help reduce oxidative stress down to the cellular level.
- Tryptophan: cacao contains tryptophan, an amino acid that is linked to serotonin and is directly responsible for sensations of tranquility, happiness, and emotional ecstasy; tryptophan is also key to brain function and has a role in healthy sleep.
- Phenylethylamine: stimulates the pleasure centers; is a hormone-like substance that occurs naturally in the brain and body; is a neurotransmitter that gives heightened focus, attention, mood elevating effects, enhanced sense of well-being; amplifies the actions of other key brain chemicals – serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine; slows down the rate at which the brain and body age, extends health span and increases longevity; provides mental clarity, mood enhancement, stamina, energy, libido, joy and motivation.
- Anandamide: neurotransmitter that maintains the above effects for longer and is linked to feelings of wellbeing and happiness and a lack of it to depression and anxiety
- Polyphenols: contains natural antioxidants, phenolic compounds protect against heart disease
- Magnesium: cacao is rich in magnesium. The lack of this mineral has been linked by experts with the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome; helps improve mood, especially pre-menstrual or depression.
How to Prepare Cacao for Ceremony
Meditation dose of cacao is 28 grams or 1oz or 2 Tablespoons per person
Ceremonial dose of cacao is 42 grams or 1½ oz or 3 Tablespoons per person
Some Cacao recipes: Prepare with intention…
• 8 fluid ounces of water or plant milk per person
• Meditation or ceremonial amount of cacao per person.
• Herbs of choice, and/or pinch of chili/cayenne
• ¼ teasp. salt
• Optional: natural sweetener of choice such as honey, agave syrup, cane sugar, or dates to taste. It is not traditional to sweeten the cacao drink in ceremony, but some people will find the drink more enjoyable this way.
• Optional: cinnamon or cardamom to taste
Heat the water or plant milk over medium flame until just boiling. If using herbs brew them in the heated water or plant milk for at least 7 minutes. Strain the herbs out of the liquid. Cut the cacao from the block, chop it into small bits and begin to make your intention or chant a cacao song. Slowly add the hot liquid with the herbs or just water or the plant milk to the cacao and mix with the Molino, the traditional cacao utensil, or a spoon. Serve up the cacao with love and gratitude. Take a moment of silent meditation
If you are new to cacao, drink a meditation dose to begin. Wait about 45 minutes, then gauge how you feel. Most people aren’t accustomed to consuming so much cacao all at once. Therefore, before you do, try going a bit more slowly to avoid possible discomfort later on.
The cacao should be whole cacao 100% – not defatted powder that is typically sold commercially. It should not be alkalized or Dutch processed. Those processes, which are commonly used for chocolate bars and candies, make cacao unsuitable for cacao ceremony.
Better not to mix the cacao with cow's milk or soy. Many Westerners are so accustomed to hot chocolate, chocolate milk, or milk chocolate that it seems natural to mix the cacao with milk or soy milk for the creaminess. But milk and soy interfere with the absorption of the cacao, and that can dampen the effects. If you would like some kind of added “milk”, consider coconut, almond, oat, or rice milks as alternatives that don’t interfere with absorption as do milk and soy.
Eat lightly prior to consuming your ceremonial cacao drink. This will allow the cacao to absorb more fully and not dampen the effects. No need to fast, just don't drink it on a full stomach. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water as you go and then eat earthy foods at the end to ground the energy.
Cacao, being the strong bitter it is, can stimulate the liver to detox. It is mildly laxative in higher doses. Those needing dietary detox or those on a clean or raw diet, take less cacao the first time and see how it feels.
Most people will feel the cacao within 20-30 minutes. There is usually strong energy around the heart and an expansive feeling. Focus is easier. You will have more blood flowing to your brain with the cacao. Meditation, yoga, kirtan, sound healing and many other practices will flow easefully … creativity and inspiration come easily. The deepest effects will last 3 to 5 hours.
Another great recipe:
Infuse:
1 teasp. Rose petals (unconditional love / opens heart and crown chakras together)
1 tablespoon Blue Lotus flowers (intuition / 3rd eye opener)
per cup … and steep at least 7 minutes.
Add this to either a meditation or ceremonial dose of cacao.
Cacao ceremonial song
Para los Tzutuhil (the Mayans)
Dm Am Dm Am
Todo cura todo sana
Dm F Am
Todo lleva medicina dentro
Dm Am Dm Am
Cura cura sana sana
Dm F Am
Cacaocita medicina del amor
Cacao prayer
We give thanks to the heart of the Water
We give thanks to the heart of the Sky
We give thanks to the heart of the Earth
We give thanks to the heart of the Fire
We give thanks to the heart of Cacao
