Cacao has been used for millennia by the Maya, and it brings the people who consume it incredible benefits. It can be considered a top superfood for the incredible variety of physical effects it brings us, including the deep work it does in our cardiovascular system, the relief and relaxation of the muscles, the ability to open up the lungs so we can breathe deeper, its incredibly high amounts of antioxidants, etc.
But cacao goes deeper than that, it has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier and regulates the neurotransmitters of the brain such as dopamine and serotonin, which creates a sensation of happiness and relief. Fully bringing us clarity of mind and the consciousness to go through the day and interact with others in a mindful way.
And the Maya say that this is one of the few foods that has the ability to touch the spirit, activate our empathy and connection to Mother nature, and heal us from the inside out!
But for ceremonial cacao to be considered ceremonial it must…
✨ Come from a farm without monocultures or chemical fertilizers
✨ Be worked on by people in the community who have cleansed themselves before coming close to the medicine and have profound respect for it
✨ Be made by hand
✨ Be respected in its spiritual ways - for instance, Maya spiritual leaders energize the cacao by cleansing it with incense and other elements, traditional music is played during the process of preparation, and the workshop is sitting in nature in a place surrounded by Mayan altars
Cacao is offered daily @ Alive oaks to keep the heart open