Learning the Art of Making, Preparing and Serving Cacao

By -
logo for Embodied Cacao Ceremonialist Training
“mastering the sacred art of ceremony and ritual" - Rhonda Spence


A different kind of article this time but that is how I roll!

This past weekend was wonderfully amazing and a long time coming. I participated in the Embodied Cacao Ceremonial Training created and facilitated by Rhonda Spence at her beautiful retreat space in Angus, and my body, mind and spirit is still overflowing from the experience.

Cacao is the raw material from which chocolate is made. It comes from the cacao tree, which is native to Central and South America. The cacao pods, which grow on the tree, contain cacao beans and pulp. These beans are roasted, fermented, and ground to create cocoa powder or cocoa mass, which are the primary ingredients in chocolate. Cacao is rich in flavonoids, which are antioxidants that have been linked to various health benefits, including improved heart health and cognitive function.

The training kicked off with a powerful cacao ceremony on Friday night surrounded by an incredible group of women. It was a really lovely experience and so different to other cacao ceremonies I have attended. This ceremony was to be the basis of what we were going to learn the rest of the weekend.

Saturday was a surprisingly glorious summer day, and so we took full advantage of it by holding the entire class outside in the garden. Imagine learning about shamanic practices with a cacao theme amidst the sounds of birdsong and a gentle breeze – pure bliss! The day was further enriched by a visit to the ancient Carlungie Earth House and a refreshing stroll on Monifieth beach as the haar came in.

On Sunday the haar was still in but luckily we were in the kitchen, learning how to sacredly acquire, prepare and serve Mama Cacao. It definitely had a “witches around the cauldron” feel to it.

This weekend was such a gift, sharing the space with fellow alchemists who will go on to facilitate their own cacao ceremonies. Thank you, Rhonda, for sharing your knowledge, your home, and your beautiful energy with us. It was an absolute honour to be a part of this experience. This training was truly beyond anything I could have imagined. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

If you're looking for a wonderfully magical, awe-inspiring and cacao-insightful training that will deepen your connection to yourself and Mama Cacao, then I wholeheartedly recommend this experiential training with Rhonda. You won't regret it!

If you want to experience a cacao ceremony, please get in touch. I will be adding it to the list of services available on my website soon.


If you are interested in learning more about how I can help you, please drop me a message on LinkedIn, or get in touch to find out more.
Location: Newbigging, Dundee DD5, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rain, A Crow, and Falling Stars: Haiku Love Reborn

By -
Image
“Rain falls down kissing the crow on the bright green grass, yellow stars falling" - Powered by Dall-E 3. Haiku is the traditional Japanese poetic form which captivates readers with its brevity and evocative imagery. I first created a created a haiku in the 1990’s and I have been mystified by their conciseness and beauty ever since. Yesterday (26.05.2024), I attended a haiku workshop called “Nature’s Meditation”, facilitated by Nora D’Ecclesis and organised by Thane Lawrie , and it was a truly empowering experience of our own individual sensory journeys on a dreich Sunday lunchtime. Surrounded by other members of the Aberdeenshire Soto Zen group that I attend (albeit on Google Meet) who were also interested in this concise art form, I learned about the power of observation and how to condense vivid imagery into a mere 17 syllables. The workshop fuelled my creativity and left me with a newfound sense of poetic achievement. After a great dive into the history of haiku and
Read more

When Wrong is Right: Learning from Failure through Play

By -
Image
@intHRface EDIT: 22.04.2024 - Conference Title Updated! This week's article is all about what I perceive to be, without a doubt. the most exciting work-related event in my diary every year and I am so looking forward to it. If you are a trained facilitator of the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method, this is certainly something that may be of interest to you. Event: The 8th International LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Conference Dates: Wednesday 2nd - Thursday 3rd October 2024 Location: Hotel Legoland and Conference, Billund, Denmark This conference takes an unconventional approach, using the concept of "the right kind of wrong" to challenge traditional views on mistakes. Through LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® exercises and inspiration from world-class facilitators, you'll explore how to learn from mistakes, embrace innovation, and avoid becoming boring! Traditional View of Mistakes: Typically, mistakes are seen as something negative, leading to failure and needing to be avo
Read more

The Whirling Dervish of Life: When Disparate Worlds Collide

By -
Image
"The Whirling Dervish of Life" powered by DALL-E 3. I have known for about ten years that two of my seemingly disparate worlds in two very different timelines had become very close. That well-known phenomena of six degrees of separation had become one and this had filled me with a joyful warmth in the knowing of this connection. However I never expected these two worlds to collide, and I certainly didn’t realise the deeply profound effect it would have on me. I needed to know more about this. I needed to make some sense of it and that is the basis of this week’s article. Life unfolds in compartments. We navigate the world of work, the haven of family, the solace of friendships. These spheres often feel distinct, each with its own rhythm and cast of characters. But then, sometimes, the universe throws us a curveball – a moment of intersection. It's like two planets on vastly different orbits suddenly finding themselves drawn together by an unexpected gravitational pu
Read more