For millennia, seekers have been using cacao in rituals and ceremonies to connect with the mind, body, spirit, and nature.
This is an excerpt from Lifestyle Asia’s November 2023 Issue.
Modern cacao rituals and ceremonies are inspired by Aztec and Mayan traditions where the drink was considered a sacred medicine. Aside from its association with spiritual beliefs, cacao is loaded with antioxidants and has been known to lower blood pressure as well as help with heart health.
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According to Jovilyn Cotio, a banking professional and cacao ceremony facilitator, they use ceremonial-grade cacao in their practice. “This is farmed, harvested, and processed with intention and the beans are different from what is used to make commercial chocolates,” she tells Lifestyle Asia.
Unlike the usual cup of hot chocolate, the one used in ceremonies is thick, grainy, and dense. Since the drink is made with 100% cacao, it will also taste bitter unless a natural sweetener is added.
A HEART-OPENING EXPERIENCE
Jovilyn first participated in an online cacao ceremony back in November 2021. It was a nonchalant invitation which she accepted because of her love for chocolate. At the time, she wasn’t aware of the profound difference it would make in her life.
“I experienced the heart-opening effects of cacao during that first ceremony,” she shares. Because of her curiosity, she couldn’t wait for the next ceremony and so decided to try creating a ritual for herself. “In the first 10 days of this daily cacao ritual, I let go of past hurts, released many self-limitations, developed a deeper connection with myself and with Mother Earth.”
The effects of cacao are unique to every individual. “I’ve seen effects that are polar opposites of each other,” Jovilyn says. “Some practitioners reduce anxiety and increase their feelings of joy and relaxation by taking cacao. I’ve also seen others who become more alert and motivated after consuming cacao.”
Read more by purchasing a copy of the Lifestyle Asia October 2023 magazine via SariSari.shopping or select newsstands in National Bookstore and Fully Booked. Subscribe to the E-Magazine via Readly, Magzter, and Press Reader.
Banner photo by Ed Simon of KLIQ, INC.
