Simple Cacao Prep
Before we meet online you’ll want to have your cup of cacao prepared and ready to drink. The following two videos will hopefully make this process as easy as possible. Blender or stovetop prep—it’s up to you!
cacao, warm water, Himalayan salt, cayenne
cacao, rose tea, mushroom powder, cinnamon
preparing your cacao
Basic recipe: 1 ounce (28g) of cacao and 4-5 ounces of warm (not boiling) water. Chop cacao and mix ingredients with a whisk or in a blender. A starting dose is no more than 1 ounce of cacao.
Optional Cacao Boosters: Sweeteners - date, monkfruit, coconut sugar, agave, maple syrup, or honey. Spices – Himalayan salt, cinnamon, cayenne, chili pepper, cardamom, mesquite, maca, or medicinal mushrooms like cordyceps and lion’s mane.
*Cacao can have laxative and diuretic effects, so drink ample water and start with a lower dose to determine how your body responds.
Want to jazz up your cup of cacao? Check out some of my favorite recipes here: Self-Care and Sacred Cacao
preparing your space
This means cleaning everything in your space so you can focus on one thing only—preparing and blessing your cacao.
Start with a fresh clean surface to chop (if yours is not already ground) and blend your sacred cacao drink. See “preparing your cacao” above for instructions.
This is not necessary for the first time, but if you decide to make this a regular practice, it is nice to prepare an offering—whether to the spirit of the cacao, the earth, the waters, etc. Your offering can be in the form of flowers, copal/herbs, songs, prayers or some other intentional display. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, but consider giving back with an offering that, to you, represents love and appreciation.
Play music, sing, light a candle, and/or smudge the area with sage or Palo Santo to clear the energy of the space to open your ritual.
Do what you intuitively want to do before you start to ensure that your mood is positive and relaxed. This step is uniquely personal—everyone does it differently—but it is important to bless the space and honor what you are about to do.
key tips
Consume cacao on a light or empty stomach.
Avoid caffeine at least 3 hours before.
*If you are sensitive to cacao, new to ceremonial grade, or have any of the conditions below, consider starting with half the recipe, i.e. ½ ounce of cacao (15g) + 2-3 ounces water (and some non-dairy milk if you would like) for your first ceremony.
Leftover cacao can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Rather than emptying any remaining cacao down the sink, consider mindfully pouring it onto the earth, giving the nutrients back to mother nature. Maybe bless your favorite flower or tree and say a prayer as you release it back to Pachamama.
contraindications
Those with serious heart conditions, who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or currently taking MAOI / SSRI antidepressants are discouraged from taking ceremonial doses of cacao due to medical contraindications. Cacao naturally has small amounts of caffeine and may dilate blood vessels. You may still participate but may require a smaller, energetic dosage (5g-15g as you listen to your body) or other special precautions. Raw cacao contains histamine. Dogs and animals should not be given raw chocolate, as they lack the enzyme to metabolize theobromine (which can be fatal).
If any of these apply to you, please contact me to discuss your situation prior to the ceremony. ♥
see you shortly
I look forward to sharing this beautiful medicine and opening my heart with you very soon!