Ceremony Preparations ~ Full Moon Circle: Cacao & Shamanic Journeying 4/11

Greetings, beloved!

I am excited to meet you and commune together in sacred ceremony! Cacao is a beautiful plant spirit full of heart medicine. A wonderful ally to grow in love and appreciation of oneself, one's communities, and Spirit. May she ignite your heart in profound ways. 🤎

I found this general blog post to be easier for you to refer to prior to any Ceremony in which we will commune with Cacao. Easy reference any time, though you may see it update throughout the year! 🤎

Here are important details for our and evening together:

We begin ceremony at 7pm. Please arrive between 6:30 and 6:50pm to settle in. You will be smudged upon arrival. Please make sure your phone is turned off or on airplane mode. To honor the container and all participants' time, the doors will close at 7pm; late arrivals will not be admitted. Please be on time.

***Please bring to ceremony:***

~ A mug for cacao

~ Water

~A journal & pen

~a sacred item to charge on the altar (optional)

~an eye covering for the journey

---

Cacao Prep:

1. Drink **LOTS** of water between now and ceremony!!!

2. If possible, eat a plant based diet the day of ceremony.

3. If possible, completely abstain from caffeine the day of ceremony (yep, coffee included). If not possible, reduce your normal caffeine intake and drink even more water.

4. If you are pregnant, or taking any type of SSRI or antidepressant, please let me know (of course only if you feel comfortable) and limit the amount of cacao that you drink at first (ask me to pour you a smaller dose), and drink *extra* water prior!

5. If possible, hold off on eating anything more than a piece of fruit/light snack within a few hours of ceremony. Early, light dinner perhaps?

6. In respect of the elder plant spirit that is Cacao, I ask that you abstain from ingesting any other plant medicines in the 24 hours leading up to ceremony. Tobacco, Cannabis, psychoactive Mushrooms, etc. Cacao is an elder plant spirit; mixing the medicine of cacao with other plant medicines is not recommended. Also, please abstain from alcohol in the 24 hours prior to ceremony.

We are drinking Cacao in medicinal quantities. The above recommendations are there to help you maximize your experience with Grandmother Cacao.

Most importantly, I invite you to come with an open mind and an open, curious heart. The medicine for our shared afternoon will meet you exactly where you are. 🤎

---

General Reflections:

The theme of this ceremony...moving stagnant waters! Fluidity!

Journal reflections:

~What has come full circle?

~How has my awareness and understanding of my self-worth evolved in the past two weeks? Over eclipse season? Over the past year?

~What are my intentions for receiving Cacao?

~What guidance does the Spirit of Cacao have for me in this moment?

~How might I express my appreciation and gratitude? My appreciation and gratitude for the Earth?

~What prayers are in my heart for the Earth? For my family? For my communities? For the collective? For my walk?

---

If you're curious 😸 A little about Ceremonial Cacao:

Theobroma (cacao) -- "Food of the Gods". Cacao has been utilized for over 4,000 years, and originates from deep tropical regions of Mesoamerica. When consumed mostly raw and without added sugar, Cacao is a superfood (the most pharmacologically complex food in nature), packed with beneficial minerals, antioxidants, nutrients and neuro-chemicals that beneficially affect our bodies and minds. Cacao is gentle, yet potent in creating an uplifting state of being. The mild bitterness of ceremonial Cacao also serves to cleanse the liver and/or release emotions. The alkaloid content of pure cacao boosts circulation and absorption of nutrients. The cacao butter, which (unlike processed chocolate) is not separated, also helps deliver the nutrients to the body and helps the body absorb them. Cacao has therapeutic benefits, including creating new neural pathways that change one's daily experience to include more joy, love, and connection. High quality cacao increases blood flow, mood elevation, relaxes the muscular system and opens a more expanded state of consciousness. When working with ceremonial doses of Cacao, your blood flow may increase by up to 30%, meaning that more blood (life force energy) is moving through your body and nourishing each and every one of your systems. This is just a small overview of the many nourishing and healing qualities of Grandmother Cacao. As you work with this medicine, you'll notice how she is connecting with you and assisting you along your Walk (physically, mentally, and spiritually).

---

It is a gift to share in ceremony! I am honored to be a conduit for this sacred medicine and to share her with you :) ! If you have any questions, I invite you to send me an email at becca@discoveryourinnernature.com.

See you in ceremony, beloved!