Cacao and Spirituality: Addressing the Elephant in the Room
In the spirit of transparency—since many of you have worked with me or are contemplating doing so in the future—I want to share my spiritual perspectives with you. It’s important that you feel genuinely aligned and safe with whomever you choose to support you on your healing path, whether that’s me or someone else... whether it’s in cacao circles or in private somatic healing sessions.
a bridge between worlds
I’ve been getting the sense that many in my smaller community and the collective have been tip-toeing around religious conversations lately. It’s getting a bit loud “out there,” so some of us are silencing ourselves and our truths so as not to offend.
Please know that I am an open door. You cannot offend me with your beliefs or your questions about mine. The way I see it, we’re all trying to figure it out. We’re all on our own unique spiritual quests, and the journey can be deeply personal.
As I’ve said before, I consider myself a bridge between mainstream wellness and more holistic approaches to healing. This realization started when neuroplasticity profoundly impacted my ability to feel joy amid debilitating illness in 2016. Fast forward to today, and somatics (meaning navigating life via the body more so than the mind) and emotional release are the foundations of how I’ve continued to heal myself and support others in their healing.
enter ceremonial cacao
Upon being introduced to ceremonial cacao in 2020, I quickly realized that this plant medicine was meant to be a central part of my healing regimen. While it’s a superfood powerhouse nutritionally, its benefits are truly somatic and emotional as well—helping me to be “in” my body and feel my emotions.
The spiritual benefits are also part of this plant’s healing repertoire. I’m discovering this more and more as I deepen my exploration of its origins and historical customs. This continuous study is also intricately woven into my desire to be cautious of cultural appropriation.
reverence and respect
When sharing the medicine of cacao, I offer an invocation or blessing. Whichever word I use, the essence is the same—to express profound gratitude for the lineage and cultures who discovered cacao and gave it sacred status.
This invocation may seem like an unusual replacement for a traditional Christian blessing one might recite before a meal. It is, and it isn’t.
Some have asked if it is a prayer to a Mayan god. It most definitely is not.
It is a heartfelt thank you for the love and energy that went into the cacao being served in the circle, from seed to cup. It is a heartfelt thank you to and calling in of the energy of cacao. “For the Mayans, everything in existence is alive and has a spirit. The Earth, the mountains, the animals, the four elements, all deserve our respect. They are often referred to as the energies of creation because they enable our existence.” - The Mayan Wisdom Project
The ancient Mayans (and other Mesoamerican cultures) were polytheistic and believed in multiple gods and goddesses. In the aftermath of European colonialism, most religions in Central and South America were replaced by Catholicism. The complex history of the indigenous peoples in the various regions where ceremonial cacao is grown is of great interest to me. Still, their religion and customs do not reflect my own.
my approach
I consider myself a Christian, as that was how I was raised. I resonate very much with the teachings of Jesus himself, more so than the church. I am also curious and open-minded, having found immense wisdom in the teachings of other spiritual prophets.
It is my honor to share my somatic healing modalities and to hold space for many of you on this path. It is essential for you to know and feel comfortable with the person(s) you choose to assist you on your healing journey. Ceremonial cacao is known as a heart-opener. When we allow ourselves to lead from our hearts, we can appreciate other spiritual teachings and cultivate a deeper connection to our own.
I am not here to convince you that my answers to spiritual questions are the right ones or that my way of sharing the medicine of a culture very different from ours is the correct way. I’m here to offer the healing modalities that have changed my life, share the beautiful medicine of cacao with reverence, and support those who genuinely feel called to work with me.
*Please note: I refer to cacao as “it” in this post only to help bridge the gap between worlds. “She” is actually the appropriate way to refer to this plant, as the indigenous cultures who work with sacred cacao sense her feminine energy.
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