Ceremonies with Cacao
An opportunity to reconnect with ancient parts of yourself that remember the simple power of ritual.Â
Engaging with Cacao in Ceremony creates connection, inspiration and healing, with direct positive impact on your individual well-being, community and global ecosystem.
We offer:
- ONLINE group ceremonies are held monthly for New Moon (click here to order your Ceremonial-Cacao + here for drink preparation)
- IN-PERSON group ceremonies are held regularly at various venues for Full Moon (in Nature if weather allows)
- PRIVATE closed ceremonies can be arranged to suit your needs in-person + online (email us to arrange)
Do you want to learn how to hold a ceremony or ritual with Cacao, either for your own personal use or to facilitate in a group setting?
We offer guidance in the form of 1:1 online mentoring and Cacao Training.
Email us to inquire about learning with us: info@capecacao.com
What is a “Cacao Ceremony”?
Medicina del corazón means medicine of the heart. And in our modern-day context we talk about working with this Heart Medicine when sitting with Ceremonial-grade Cacao in a “Cacao Ceremony“. But this isn’t what historic rituals with Cacao were called, and there has never been a traditionally established ceremony with Cacao dating back to ancient MesoAmerica …Â
Indigenous cultures in Cacao-growing nations in Latin America have considered Cacao sacred for thousands of years, and Cacao was (and still is) incorporated into a variety of ceremonies and rituals.Â
While there is not an established ceremony explicit to Cacao which has been performed for millennia (as the modern interpretation Cacao Ceremony implies) this relatively new concept of a Cacao Ceremony is an experience where Ceremonial-grade Cacao is blessed and received to drink, connecting to the Spirit of Cacao and to align the energies of the spiritual heart.
Even though our modern-day Cacao Ceremonies are a non-traditional version of working with Cacao, many Mayan spiritual leaders and medicine workers support the idea of people sharing Cacao in circles around the world, if we are doing this with humility and respect for Cacao as a plant medicine.Â
Nowadays, a Cacao Ceremony usually involves a communal gathering within a sacred circle, facilitated rituals, and of course, drinking Ceremonial-grade Cacao. By creating a sacred intentional space, the effects of the Cacao are amplified. Â
The medicine of Ceremony (be it with Cacao, another plant ally, or just Ceremony itself) is a powerful space to experience. And there is a different between a “circle”, a “ritual”, a “journey”, and a “ceremony”.Â
At Cape Cacao, we are passionate about creating awareness in the Cacao and Ceremonial arenas, educating others of the difference between these terms, and how we can respectfully and skillfully engage with Cacao in either a circle, a ritual, a journey, or a ceremony.
Above all, no matter how we chose to work with Cacao, it is important that we honour the original wisdom keepers of the medicine, that we understand the historical context of Cacao, and that we go gently and respectfully into these spaces.Â
It is with gratitude, respect and reverence that we use the phrase Cacao Ceremony to share the Medicina del corazón.
Diving deep with Cacao
Cacao has the potential to be a guide and gateway to help each one of us embrace the compass and depth of our heart as a starting point for profound healing, connection and remembrance.
Cacao Ceremony can become a centerpiece of your routine ritual for self renewal that keeps you centered, connected to your heart, and living in a good way. The process of working with Cacao can be interwoven with embodiment, creative expression, and many other healing modalities that guide you in navigating your own losses, pain, and suffering.
Along the way, you will find healing and connection to yourself, experienced depth and healing in your blood family, and discover deeper connection with the elements, land, and ecology that you may not have experience before.
Gathering together to drink Cacao can create healing, connection and inspiration. Engaging with chocolate as a ritual, rather than consuming it as a sweet/candy, has direct positive impact on our individual well-being and communities, as well as our global ecosystem.
Cacao Ceremonies are becoming more popular, because they are spaces for people to connect with each other in new ways, and they are an opportunity to reconnect with ancient parts of ourselves that remember the simple power of gathering together in community.
Things you may experience in a Cacao Ceremony
While every Cacao Ceremony is different depending on the energies of the group present and the facilitation, there are some general things one can expect when attending a Cacao Ceremony:
- A safe, nourishing environment for you to connect with yourself, the Spirit of Cacao, and other people in deeper ways than one can usually access when by yourself.
- The group will be led through a Cacao blessing, where you will learn about the Cacao you are drinking, and how it was prepared.
- The ceremonial-grade Cacao that one drinks in a ceremony is sourced, made, and prepared with love and intention.
- The facilitator will guide the group through various exercises and experiences based on the intentions of the event. Some examples of these are guided meditations, breath-work, sound journeys, journaling, intention setting and conscious movement practices.
- The general arc of a ceremony is there is some sort of opening and setting of the container, a shared group experience, and then a closing where you give thanks, and acknowledge what the group created during that time.
What are the benefits of a Cacao Ceremony?
Cacao Ceremonies are helpful for getting clarity, setting intentions, and doing healing work and inner-processing. Being in a sacred space helps you get out of your normal frame of mind, allowing you to experience new insights & perspectives. Depending on the intention of the ceremony, they can also be wonderful places to connect with people in a safe, open-hearted environment. Sharing Cacao brings us into the same energetic frequency with those around us. This often results in deeper more intimate connection with ourselves and each other. When multiple people share Cacao together, we have a shared experience of mood elevation, increased vitality, enhanced intuition and empathy, and a more open, present heart.
Cacao increases the energetic field of our hearts, and when we join together, the field is amplified and woven together with multiple hearts in the room. We each carry unique medicine and messages for each other, and even if you are in a ceremony with strangers, they may share something about their personal experience that provides more clarity or inspiration for where you are in your life. When a group all drinks Cacao together, they are shifting their energy into the same frequency or vibration. This may seem a bit woo-woo, yet it’s similar to a group of friends going out for beers – they are all getting into the same journey together by drinking beverages with the same effect on the body. In the case of Cacao, it is a medicinal & healing experience for your body, mind, and spirit.
Is a Cacao Ceremony right for me?
- Cacao Ceremonies can be a great way to meet new people in your community, who are interested in healing and intentional connection with others.
- If you have a specific desire to learn more about Cacao and connect with the Cacao Spirit (often the Cacao Spirit can ‘call you’ which can feel like you are inexplicably drawn or magnetised to Ceremonial-grade Cacao), then a Cacao Ceremony is a great place to start.
- If you are interested in doing healing work, such as clearing past trauma from relationships, ancestral clearing, or understanding the root cause of physical ailments, a Cacao Ceremony can support those intentions. Note, an open public Cacao Ceremony is typically not a place where you would experience therapy, or personal 1:1 support, so if you need more in depth support for deep trauma, we recommend working individually with a therapist or holistic healer.
- If you are looking to move more, to experience more bliss in your life, to fill up with the essence of who you are, Cacao can support a deeper connection with your body.
- Every Cacao Ceremony and facilitator is different. It’s important that you do a ‘gut-check’ on the ceremony to determine if you resonate with the intention and the facilitator. If you haven’t met the facilitator in person, it can be good practice to reach out to them directly and ask any questions you may have.
This can give you an idea of what the space will be like, and you can then determine if it’s aligned with your intentions. Some spaces may be more externally focused, like before an conscious dance event, whereas others may be more inward focused, mostly in silence by the participants with the facilitator offering guided meditations, breath-work or sound journeys.
What do we know about ancient Cacao use?
Archaeological evidence of the use of Cacao dates back to 3,900 years ago in Meso-America, and recent genetic evidence dates cacao’s use to 5,300 years ago in the Amazon. Despite this long history of human use of Cacao, we know very little about ancient Cacao rituals both because of the massive genocide of the indigenous population of the Americas beginning in the 1500s, and because of how quickly ancient artifacts deteriorate in wet tropical conditions.
We do know that for the Olmec, Zapotec, Mayan, 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. We know that there were great storehouses of Cacao beans, that Cacao was used as a currency, and that Cacao was consumed as a drink. Cacao is still an important part of Maya culture today, utilised in midwifery, weddings and other social gatherings.
A “Cacao Ceremony”, in the Western context, is a relatively new phenomenon, as people seek a new relationship with cacao outside of what the chocolate industry offers. There is no relationship between modern Cacao Ceremony and the ancient us of Cacao in rituals and ceremonies, besides the desire to engage in sacred relationship with the Cacao plant.
This is a fundamental tie though, as all the information for ancient Cacao rituals likely arose from intuitive listening and inquiry with the Cacao plant, and similarly, modern Cacao Ceremony arises from a method of inquiry and relationship building with the Cacao Spirit.
Upcoming Cacao Ceremonies
View details and book with us
New Moon Virtual Cacao Ceremony
The days either side of a New Moon are powerful portals for amplifying intentions and energy.
Facilitated by Cape Cacao founder, Cacao alchemist and medicine woman, Fran, we call upon the raw chocolate medicine of Ceremonial-grade Cacao to open our hearts in this Sacred Ceremony. You will be guided through Cacao Ritual Drinking, Gentle Breathwork for Healing, Meditation, Journaling Practice & Energy Balancing.
New Moon Nature Cacao Ceremony
Join us for NEW MOON in NATURE, as Grandmother Moon takes us into a time of pause and reflection before the end of the year. We invite you to immersive yourself in the forest with our founder, Fran Siebrits, to reflect on the year that has been, to give gratitude to the lessons received, and align with your deeper truth while being held in Mother Earth.
Full Moon Virtual Cacao Ceremony
Facilitated by Cape Cacao founder, Cacao alchemist and medicine woman, Fran, we call upon the raw chocolate medicine of Ceremonial-grade Cacao to open our hearts in this Sacred Ceremony. You will be guided through Cacao Ritual Drinking, Gentle Breathwork for Healing, Meditation, Journaling Practice & Energy Balancing.
Purchase 100% Organic Ceremonial-Grade Cacao from us!
Experience the divine essence of Bali with our Ceremonial-Grade Cacao, sourced ethically from certified organic family farms. Blessed in multiple ceremonies and handled with care from tree to cup, this 100% organic, vegan, and gluten-free superfood carries the vibrant energy and love of the land, making it perfect for group ceremonies or private home use. Enjoy its deliciously creamy flavor and potent energy while we conclude your experience with a personalised blessing ritual.
Free nationwide delivery in South Africa.