A sacred expression of an ancient ritual
Cacao, the drink
of the heart
Cacao ceremonies are having a moment, but they are not new. For thousands of years, people have gathered around a warm cup of cacao to open the heart, reconnect and heal. This is what we do together at the start of every retreat, and here is why.
The ancient practice
Heart blood, and drinking together
To understand the ceremony we go back to the Maya. The word cacao is said to come from the Mayan Ka'kau, “heart blood”, and Chokola'j, “to drink together”. The Maya told that the gods gifted cacao to people, and even that it was one of the ingredients used to create humanity. Its botanical name, Theobroma, still means “food of the gods”.
Cacao was a way to restore balance and connection with the divine. It was shared at weddings, births and farewells, and by priests in their daily practice. Some was drunk privately, but mostly it was, as the word says, something people drank together.
There is a Mayan legend that whenever people and nature fall out of balance, cacao comes out of the rainforest to open hearts and bring the world back into harmony.
The cacao
Not your chocolate bar
Ceremonial cacao is prepared carefully to keep everything the bean offers: nothing added, nothing taken away. The beans are fermented, lightly roasted, peeled by hand and stone-ground into a thick paste. Some ceremonial cacao even grows wild.
It is naturally rich in magnesium and iron. Its special ingredient is theobromine, a gentle stimulant that lifts you more softly and for longer than caffeine. Where coffee tightens, cacao tends to open: it widens the blood vessels and warms the body from the chest outwards.
What goes in the cup
- Pure ceremonial cacao, gently melted
- Warm water and a little cacao butter
- A touch of natural sweetness: coconut sugar or honey
- Sometimes cinnamon, rose, vanilla or a pinch of cayenne
Always served thick, warm, and a little bitter. The bitterness is part of the medicine.
The ceremony
How a ceremony unfolds
A ceremony is arranged to support what cacao does naturally: ground you, open the heart and bring a group together. The circle amplifies everything.
- 1
Preparation
The cacao is prepared by hand with intention: pure ceremonial cacao, warm water and a little natural sweetness, served thick and warm.
- 2
Blessing & intention
We sit in a circle, hold our cups and each quietly set an intention: healing, clarity, courage, or simply rest.
- 3
Drinking together
We drink slowly and together, noticing what opens in the body and the heart. Cacao is gentle: it warms rather than rushes.
- 4
Practices
Breathwork, guided meditation, movement and sharing: practices that help the heart open and the group become one.
- 5
Closing
We give thanks for what we received and carry it home into ordinary life.
Your personal ritual
A morning cup, received
You don't need a circle to begin. Make your cup in the morning and turn it into a small practice of the Art of Receiving:
1
Hold the cup with both hands
Feel the warmth. Take three slow breaths before the first sip.
2
Name what you are ready to receive
One thing, today. Say it quietly, or write it down.
3
Drink slowly
No phone, no rush. Notice what softens in your chest and shoulders.
4
Say thank you
To the plant, to the hands that grew it, and to yourself for making the time.
Ceremonial cacao is gentle, but it is a real stimulant. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, or take antidepressants or other regular medication, please check with your doctor first.
In person · spring 2027
Drink it together
A full day in a secret garden near Toronto: cacao ceremony, a chef's table, breathwork, meditation and coaching. Eight seats.
Join the waitlistOnline · from Nov 4
The Art of Receiving
Six weeks to practise receiving: love, help, rest and abundance. Seven lessons, meditations and six live coaching sessions.
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