Two years ago, consumed by self-doubt and hesitation, I sat with a group of people and in my shaking voice, shared all that I had learnt about cacao from reading and my personal experience. Sai was bent over a chopping board, rhythmically chopping discs of cacao into neat slivers as a pot of water simmered nearby. I remember thinking to myself “what have I gotten myself into”. But once I commit, I commit. So, I spoke about cacao to this group of kind people who listened with an open mind. Sai prepared a simple drink made out of cacao and water and we all consumed it mostly in silence punctuated with remarks and questions about cacao. The drink was followed by a sound bath, and the fact that we have not looked back since then is enough to allude to the power of the experience. This was our first cacao immersion, even before we came up with the term “Cacao Immersion”.
Our cacao immersions have evolved from that day about two years ago and a lot has changed. For example, my voice does not shake anymore and my opening thoughts are “I am so grateful to be doing this” Instead of “what have I gotten myself into”. What has, however, remained the same and rather strengthened, is our belief in the transformative powers of cacao. For the sake of this article, I am tasked with explaining our cacao immersions in words. This is difficult because words are not enough to describe the peace that descends upon each group as they sip their cacao, the sense of expansion they experience after finishing their drink, or the feeling of 'coming home' at the end. But I will try.
Let me first address why we don’t call what we do 'Cacao Ceremonies' and why we decided to adopt the term 'Cacao Immersion.’ Cacao was considered sacred in the ancient civilizations of Olmecs, Mayas and later Aztecs that thrived in regions that we now know as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvadore and Belize. These cultures were the first people to grow cacao, and it was part of all significant events, ceremonies, and rituals. The foremost reason for us to keep our distance from the term is that there was no one specific “cacao ceremony” that was performed by these ancient people and the term itself was coined only as recently as early 2000s when individuals from the western world started offering and working with cacao in ceremonial contexts. The second reason was that even though the term itself is of modern import, in recent times, some members of the descendant communities in these regions have requested this term to be not used when people outside of these cultures and communities offer cacao as it can misrepresent the authenticity of their traditions. We always want to be respectful of the cultures that have been connected at source with cacao and at the same time make it quite clear that what we are offering is not an ancient ritual rooted in that tradition, but something we’ve crafted based on our personal experiences, connection to cacao, and our understanding of its power. So, we found “Cacao Immersion” to be an apt term to describe what we do – which is use cacao as medium for an immersive, self-exploratory journey.
Now that I have that out of my way, let me tell you what happens at Oona’s Cacao Immersions – We make a simple drink out of cacao, water and a natural sweetener. Everything, be it chopping the cacao, pouring the water or frothing the drink is done with a lot of care and intention. As we prepare the drink, we take the participants on a journey through the history of cacao, its biochemistry and its effects. Since cacao as a drink is fairly new to most people, we like to give as much information as possible to ensure that our participants feel safe, comfortable and are fully informed about what they are going to be consuming. Once the drink is served, the participants are slowly led into silence. We encourage them to sip the drink slowly, without any rush to get anywhere. This makes each sip of cacao an anchor into the present moment, what is here and now. The participants are also led by gentle prompts and invitations, making the simple act of drinking cacao, a meditation in itself. Gradually, the participants find themselves in a state of expansion, peace, joy and calm. It is hard to truly describe the feeling in words, but imagine feeling light, in the flow, grounded, a soft glow of joy, connection and love - all at the same time.
When we started experimenting with cacao in our own life and experienced this state ourselves, we realised that while it was profound in itself, it was also conducive for deeper inner work as one is naturally more open and receptive while being relaxed, peaceful and joyful. This is what we bring to our cacao immersions. We take our cacao immersions to the next level by introducing carefully designed activities that take people on a journey of reflection and personal exploration. Some examples of these activities are forest bathing, journalling, art-based expression, guided visualization etc. What we have experienced from all these cacao immersions is that the state achieved through cacao creates the perfect inner environment for the reflective and explorative work. It helps people reach their own depths and experience moments of clarity, breakthroughs, emotional releases, creativity, or simply peace. Each individual has a different experience, but one thing remains common – they are able to experience a homecoming, a return to the self. Witnessing this journey from outward to inward, from chatter to silence and from the “persona” to the “person” is what we consider the most humbling part of what we do.
A lawyer by profession, slightly awkward, full of doubts, and often lost, I found more than one reason not to do this or to question my fitness for it. Yet, through these experiences, as I witnessed people and their beautiful, vulnerable selves, I wanted to take every opportunity to create time and space and play a moment’s role in their journey. I still don’t have an answer to what makes me qualified to do this. Maybe it is this very lack of any qualification, my bare and imperfect humanness which is my best qualification. I have no other title to associate with my name—I am not a healer, therapist, or shaman. I view my role as simply that of a friend and a medium for sharing cacao, holding space and facilitating connection. The rest is done by cacao and the people who undertake these journeys and return with something unique. Each cacao immersion is an immersive experience for me too—an immersion into the beauty of my fellow human beings and the power of cacao.
Share:
We are what we eat
The Power of Silence