Cacao Ceremony — A practice of letting go and Gratefulness
Divine nectar, a vital seed, a universal medicine, and the most addictive and exquisite gift of the earth. Can you guess what we’re talking about?
Almost universally agreed that cacao and chocolate are the most delicious things in the world. But when did humans first start making chocolate?
Image by @leonardasuque
Archaeological evidence shows that cacao was first cultivated and used by ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, about 3900 years ago (1). In the ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures, this plant was so cherished, not only to be used as currency, but even to be given a divine status. Cacao was a fundamental element in Mayan culture. It was used as beverage and food, as coin, as medicine and it also appeared in numerous spiritual ceremonies.
Considered the “Food of the Gods”, this seed was a sacred offering to the Mayan divinities, and the absolute protagonist of the (still nowadays) traditional Cacao Ceremony.
Parallel to the tangible aspects - such as aroma, texture and taste - cacao is believed to have spiritual and energetic properties. It embraces our souls and warms up our hearts, helping us to burn away old and heavy energies. It opens our eyes, to see things more clearly. It is a pure and maternal spirit, that can teach us about balance, gratitude and being human.
The word cacao derives from Mayan “ Ka'kau' “, as well as the verb “ chokola'j “, to drink chocolate together.
The Mayans drank chocolate together during the Cacao Ceremony, and they prepared it as a frothy, hot, and bitter drink, following this simple and ancient recipe (2):
1. Mix the cacao paste with water.
2 Add spices such as chili peppers.
3. Pour back and forth from cup to pot until it develops thick foam on top.
4. Sweeten with honey or flower nectar.
Now that our sacred drink is ready, we can begin our cacao ceremony.
Photo at Jashita Tulum Hotel | Cacao Ceremony can be booked with 24hrs in advance. Please contact our Front Desk concierge@jashitahotel.com
Intention, Space, and Gratefulness
We first need to set our intention: What do we want to let go of? What do we hope to receive? What can we offer to our loved ones?
We must create a sacred space, a loving and comfortable altar using incense, herbs, and amulets that lift our energy. We can now invite the cacao into our hearts and space, connecting with our intention.
Meditate, sing, play instruments, be silent and breathe. Allow all the answers to come to us while sipping our heartwarming beverage. We’re now open and ready to receive. Finally, we can give thanks and close the ceremony by expressing our gratitude, speaking words from the heart, and thanking the cacao for its sweet guidance — What are you grateful for?
(1) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/chocolate-domestication-cocoa-ecuador
(2) https://www.cacaomama.com/history-spirit/
– EXPLORE MORE ON THE BLOG
