We, Julietta and Graciela, have been enjoying our own wonderful Cacao rituals and we’d love to share our experiences.
We should start off by assuring you that cacao is not psychedelic or anything like that! Imagine that it is the minimally touched grandmother of the chocolate you know and love. Because it has only been fermented and roasted, it is actually very bitter on its own. We enjoy creating our own personal flavors and frothing it up, but everyone is different and you should experiment until you find your own sweet spot (pun intended!).
Graciela
I started making a cacao drink a part of my daily life after a client introduced me to it at the onset of our working together. She brought me cacao for our creative meeting and for our photoshoot. It was warm and soothing and gave me such energy and creativity! Mostly, it connected my client and I together in such a beautiful way.
I decided to create my own daily cacao ritual and it has been absolutely life-changing. The flood of creativity, energy, focus, love, peace, ease, and flow is beyond anything I could have imagined. I’d love to share my ritual in hopes that you may find your way to cacao as well.
Rituals are an important part of our lives. For me, it creates comfort, excitement and allows me to access such amazing insights. Here’s how I do it…
How I Make My Cacao –
First, I put a small saucepan on the stove and add 6-7 oz of water and put it on high.
Then I start adding my powder ingredients: powdered coconut milk, coconut palm sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and cayenne pepper – then I froth all that together in the saucepan and let all the flavors get to know each other. I really love taking a good, deep breath with the addition of each ingredient. I love taking in the individual scents and just sitting in the gratitude of the journey each undertook to arrive in my hands each morning.
Next, I add 3 tablespoons of cacao while I thank the cacao for what it is about to gift me. I also put in a tablespoon of maple syrup and froth it all up. By this time the mixture is steaming, but not boiling.
I pour into my very special cup and top with crushed rose petals or sometimes bits of lavender. I love the beautiful scent as I drink.
My Cacao Ritual -
My cacao ritual starts with waking up at 5am when the entire house is asleep. I prepare my drink as above and then sit at my desk with just a small lamp on – just enough to see in front of me. I always start with fire - either a lit candle, or burning Palo Santo or sage. I bathe myself in that smoke and really breathe it all in. Sometimes I breathe in some essential oils (we only use Doterra or pure Egyptian oils!) depending on my mood. It almost feels like an indulgence! I put on a special playlist I created for my cacao mornings (coming soon to the Goddess community!) and dive into my morning prayers and affirmations. This opens me up to my most creative time – I can journal thoughts and reflections; make plans for new adventures; or even connect with my spirit guides. I really give this time to myself - usually an hour and a half until 6:30am when I start getting ready for my day. Not gonna lie: it’s glorious!
Julietta
There are 2 motivations for me drinking cacao every morning instead of coffee. First was all the incredible early morning texts from Graciela filled with creativity and energy! The woman is on fire! I definitely wanted some of that. Second, I've been working spiritually on heart opening. As someone who has always lived with an open heart, my guides have been challenging me to open it further, and I thought cacao could be a powerful ally in this part of my journey. One month into my journey, I can say that cacao is a powerful tool to open your heart, and connect to the power and creativity that resides inside you.
How I Make My Cacao –
I start by heating water in my electric tea kettle. While the water is heating I put my ingredients in my special cup. I think it's really important to choose a cup worthy of the cacao and that will support the sacredness of the experience. I usually use a dash of cayenne pepper, about a 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, a dash of vanilla extract, and a tbsp of maple syrup to add to my 3 tbsp of cacao. When the water is hot but not boiling I pour it into my cup and blend it with my frother (which over course is purple, lol). I froth until it is all blended with a nice little foam on top. Sometimes I sprinkle on some rose petals or lavender depending on my mood.
My Cacao Ritual -
Once my cacao is ready, I go sit with my favorite sacred music. I hold my cup and breathe in the amazing scent of the cacao for a bit to connect with it and give it gratitude for the gifts it is about to share with me. I'm a slow sipper so I just relax and enjoy while listening to the music. Then I sit and wait for what messages the cacao has for me. Sometimes I journal about them, and sometimes it feels better to just sit and listen. If it's important stuff about the podcast or retreat I text Graciela immediately because I know she's awake!
Join us for a cup of love!
If you feel the call, we’d love for you to join us on our Cacao journey!
While cacao doesn’t contain caffeine, it does contain ingredients that open your heart and get your blood pumping in a good way. Take care to research if you have a serious heart condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you have any questions, just reach out to us and ask away! We’d love to help. We are also hosting cacao ceremonies and women’s circles. Plus, don’t forget our international and stateside retreats where cacao is a staple. Join our mailing list to get all the deets!