Cacao Shamanism

Cacao shamanism

The sacred art of cacao shamanism has been performed for thousands of years as a tool for deeper understanding of ourselves and the environment around us. As the reader is well aware of by now cacao is known as food of the gods. Some have been recently describing it as the food for the collective conscious shift. This medicinal plant has reentered our consciousness at the most pivotal time in our modern history. There is, and has been a tremendous shifting over of personal and cultural values worldwide- cacao medicine and those who administer it are helping to facilitate this shift. Indigenous people tell us that when the delicate balance between nature and humans is compromised, cacao shows up to soften peoples hearts and restore harmony.

“The cacao tree is here on earth to heal the etheric heart of man and this mission is as important as plankton fixing oxygen from the sea.”

Deva, living spirit of the cacao plant

There are cacao ceremonies held in different pockets of the world, most notably Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador, South America(the Amazon), and more are sprouting up here in the United States. The cacao ceremony is an intimate gathering of people brought together to explore the language of their heart. This may be held in a decorated space, prepared and cleansed with sage or other wonderful aromatic herbs. The group will sit in a circle, legs crossed or comfortable sitting on a cushioned pillow. The cacao shaman will usually sit at the top of the circle in the center, directing the ceremony, and comforting the group as they explore within. A jug of premium cacao is prepared for the ceremony, this cacao is usually unsweetened as were cacao potions done in traditional ceremonies in both South and Central America.

There is a rich lineage of psychoactive plants that have been used alongside cacao in ceremonial fashion. It appears, based on the historical usage and scientific data, that cacao is able to soften or round out the effects of known entheogenic plants. The effects of these plants can be very strong causing someone to experience a “bad-trip”. Terrence McKenna would explain a bad trip as being forced to learn a spiritual lesson faster than one is accustomed to learning. Cacao helps to facilitate this experience and even potentiate the subtle effects of these power plants. On their own, plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and psilocybin can be overwhelming for many. Cacao is potent but very subtle, not forceful, it opens up the gateway but does not push you through the door.

Cacao appears to work on specific triggers that effects neurotransmitter mechanisms in charge of a variety of functions, including psychotropic pathways. The three main activation points, as pointed out by David Wolfe in Naked Chocolate, are tryptophan/tryptamine, phenylalanine/phenylethlamine, and cannabinoid/anandamide.