Sacred cacao is a medicine plant with a high vibration, one that reconnects us to the Earth, to our own sacred nature, and to ancestral knowledge. Traditionally used by Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Olmecs and the Maya, cacao was regarded as the food of the gods, a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds.
Today, the return of sacred cacao reflects the meeting of an ancestral wisdom that refuses to fade, and a modern world that longs to find its way back to the Earth and its teachings.
What are cacao ceremonies?
I’d describe Cacao Ceremonies as gentle, accessible shamanic experiences (even though the work underneath them can be transformative, both in the moment and over the long run). Unlike other shamanic experiences, drinking the sacred brew won’t put you into a trance state, and it won’t bring on hallucinations, psychedelic visions, or out-of-body experiences.
Cacao ceremonies vary depending on the facilitator or shaman leading them. Today, they’ve evolved to weave in many spiritual wellness practices suited to our times:
Singing bowls, sacred chants
Yoga
Pottery workshops
Card readings
Ecstatic dance
Women’s circles and sharing circles
Hiking
Channeling and mediumship
Qi Gong...
Sacred cacao increasingly accompanies music events and gatherings of awakened souls, where drugs, alcohol, and animal-based food no longer have a place — creating a collective healing space, held with kindness and respect.
In the Mayan cosmovision, all things that exist have a spirit.
— Carlos Barrios, The Book of Destiny
The Maya Legacy: A Thousand-Year-Old Cosmovision
Cacao in the Popol Vuh
There are many versions of the Popol Vuh, the Maya creation story. In some of them, cacao plays a central role:
Created by the Goddess of fertility, alongside corn, to bring divine nourishment to Earth.
Stolen by the gods of death and taken to the underworld, then rescued by the hero twins and brought back to Earth as a symbol of abundance and the soul’s journey.
As the first food to grow from the corn god, once again a symbol of transformation and abundance.
In Mexico, it’s Quetzalcoatl who brings the cacao tree to humans, then turns into rain to nourish and grow the cacao trees.
These myths reveal cacao’s sacred place within the Maya cosmovision, where it accompanies courageous souls on their journey through the different realms.
Today, the thousand-year-old heart of this ancient cosmovision still beats within the Maya world. The foundations of this wisdom lived in secret for a long time; now they’re blossoming out in the open.
Contemporary wisdom keepers
Today, the millenary heart of this ancient cosmovision still beats in the Maya world. The foundations of this wisdom have lived in secrecy, and now they are flourishing in broad daylight.
The Arch’ij (wisdom keepers) hold the space for this awakening of wisdom. Some of them integrate Cacao into their practices. For thousands of years in Mesoamerica, Cacao was perceived as a fundamental essence of life, deeply woven into the destiny of humanity, accompanying and protecting souls to fulfill their journey through the different realms.
The ancient civilizations of Latin America were deeply linked to the earth; they lived in harmony with nature and honored the environment in which they lived. Fluent in the language of the earth, they asked for permission before harvesting and hunting, and regularly made prayers in its honor.
Sacred cacao: entheogen and nootropic
Scientific definitions
Cacao is a psychoactive medicine, which can be described as both an entheogen and nootropic.
Entheogen: Entheogens are psychoactive substances that induce alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior with the aim of fostering spiritual development or otherwise in sacred contexts. Anthropological study has established that entheogens are used for religious, magical, shamanic, or spiritual purposes in many parts of the world.
Nootropic: “Smart drugs“, “cognitive enhancers“. Substances that are claimed to improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, attention, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals.
This dual nature explains why cacao facilitates both the spiritual experience and the enhancement of mental capacities.
The scientific benefits of cacao
Exceptional biochemical composition
Theobromine dilates our cardiovascular system, which allows for 40% additional optimal oxygenation of the body → Increased concentration, mental clarity. Very effective when combined with breathwork such as cardiac coherence.
Phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the “love molecule,” also known as natural ecstasy, releases neurotransmitters that increase our levels of dopamine → feelings of joy and positive mood.
Anandamide: Bliss molecule, “Ananda” meaning bliss in Sanskrit. Anandamide is an endocannabinoid that mimics the psychoactive molecule in cannabis, THC! Although it is only present in very small amounts, it is a powerful substance that provides the sensations of joy and euphoria that many people experience when consuming cacao.
Serotonin & Dopamine : These neurotransmitters help regulate mood, appetite, digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual desire.
Magnesium : Helps our muscles and our body relax, and regulates our nerve functions as well as blood sugar and blood pressure.
Not forgetting Iron, Chromium, Manganese, Potassium, Calcium, Theophylline, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamins A – B1 – B2 – B3 – B12 and D.
A medicine for women
Cacao for your moons: Rich in magnesium, cacao helps to relax smooth muscle cells. Its richness in iron promotes and supports healthy blood circulation. These essential minerals, combined with serotonin which improves mood, make cacao one of the perfect supplements for women during menstruation.
Natural coffee alternative: Cacao is rich in healthy fats (cacao butter) and it is these that help slow down the metabolism of carbohydrates in the blood. Thus, cacao provides more complete and solid energy than coffee. Its theobromine is the stimulating and energizing chemical substance. Cacao is not addictive, and there is no recommended limit for its consumption other than what your body dictates.
Mama Cacao: meeting the spirit of the plant
The spirit of cacao, often called Mama Cacao, can be perceived as a wise and benevolent Mother, who delicately comes to untie the knots of our heart. Her medicine helps us align with our inner gentleness, fostering a sincere connection with oneself and with others during group ceremonies.
For me, Mama cacao is like a goddess who watches over us patiently, awaiting an inevitable inner awakening from us. She loves it when we talk about her and sing to her, like a flower. And the more we sing, the more she will unfold within us.
I have noticed over time how the same recipe, with the same cacao, can result in a totally different texture and taste depending on the dedication we have put into preparing the beverage! It is like an agreement, for her to deliver her wisdom, her knowledge, her ancestral know-how to us.
Do you think you could experience all this with a Hershey’s bar?! I think you have now grasped the difference.
Testimonials of transformation
My personal journey
Since my husband and I have been consuming ceremonial cacao, our lives have taken a different turn. We like to use cacao for all our important decision-making. We have noticed that over time, and after each ceremony (collective or as a couple), we were making aligned life choices followed by concrete actions!
Solo: When I create my cacao ritual alone, I get out of my head and my fears. Cacao allows me to open my heart and connect to my inner wisdom. Over time, I began to channel songs & meditations, for myself or the community.
As a couple: The cacao ritual allows you to connect with the other person and enter into conscious communication. Listening and exchanging from the heart is so obvious. Cacao makes masks fall away and the heart never lies.
In a group: The ceremony allows you to raise the energetic frequency in an even more intense way and reach a level of collective calm and well-being. Time stops. A magical space is created where everything becomes possible, where everyone connects on another timeline made of choices aligned with their soul.
→ Discover my songs & guided meditations on Insight Timer app.
📱 Important note: The app and the audio are free. Upon first launch, the app may offer you a premium subscription - Simply skip these steps by choosing “later” or by using the X in the top right corner of the subscription offer page, to access the free content.
Emotional healing and release
Emotional release: Cacao can be quite stimulating for some people and can, in some cases, have a laxative and purgative effect. This is not a bad thing. It is the way cacao encourages the body to get rid of what no longer serves it.
The emotions, beliefs, and thought patterns are stored in the body over time and, if they are not processed correctly, they can manifest as illness. It has never been more important for us to FEEL. To allow our emotions to guide us, to flow through us so that they can be released into the universe to be transformed.
The central role of ancestors
In the ceremonies I offer, ancestors occupy a central place. They provide guidance and care, and through cacao medicine, we can more easily connect with them. Mama Cacao is not limited to a simple opening of the heart; it also acts on a quantum level, reconnecting us to the universal memories contained in our flesh, our bones, our blood, our heart.
By consuming this brew, we do not only nourish our body; we travel through time and space, bringing to the surface earthly and ancestral memories. Each sip connects us to Mother Earth and to the ancients, revealing aspects of our personal and collective history that were buried deep within us.
Working with Maestra Cacao
Working with Maestra Cacao invites us to dive into a sustainable healing process. It is a subtle medicine, which awakens the memories of our ancestors and brings us back to our purest essence. We enter more easily into contact with the benevolent energies that surround us: Ancestors, Guardians of the earth, spirits of nature... who bring us guidance, care, synchronicities.
Why connect with the spirit of cacao
The spirit of cacao is so transformative, on so many levels, that it would be a real shame to miss out on it, in these times of great individual and collective change. In this chaotic transition, the spirit of cacao is an outstanding companion, in the love and strength of nature.
A prophetic myth
An indigenous myth tells that whenever the balance between humans and nature is threatened, cacao comes out of the rainforest to reopen the human heart and bring harmony back to Earth.
This prophecy feels especially relevant today, as we watch cacao’s remarkable comeback in Western societies. Hailed as the modern-day superfood, this medicine plant has become a pantry staple for holistic-health enthusiasts everywhere.
The modern evolution of ceremonies
We still have a long way to go before the practices (and the respect that comes with them) are fully restored in our Western association with cacao medicine - but we are on the right track.
Modern ceremonies seamlessly integrate:
Ancestral traditions: Respect for Mayan protocols, offerings, prayers
Contemporary practices: Yoga, meditation, art therapy, breathwork
Modern science: Understanding neurological mechanisms
Personal development: Tools for introspection and transformation
How to start your journey
If everything you just read makes you want to try sacred cacao for yourself, here’s where to start, one step at a time.
New to cacao? Start with your ears, not your cup. Listen to one of my chants or guided cacao journeys on Insight Timer app — no ceremony, no preparation, just a first taste of what this medicine feels like.
Ready to get your own cacao? Follow my guide on this blog for choosing and buying sacred cacao, so you know exactly what to look for and where to find it.
Want to be guided through it? Join one of my ceremonies, in person in Portugal or online, and let me walk you through your first cup step by step.
It is with deep respect and great gratitude toward the guardians of this ancestral wisdom that I share this guide with you. It has never been more important to raise awareness and support the indigenous communities that have shared and protected this medicine for millennia. May we honor them with every cup of cacao we consume.
May this mark the beginning of your love affair with cacao 🌿
Plants respond when we talk to them and when we open ourselves to their wisdom and their medicine.
