Cacao Ceremony & Heart Yoga - Maraekakaho

Join us for a charity event and an evening surrounded by community and elevated by the healing nature of Cacao, Yoga and Yoga Nidra. This is a one off event at Maraekakaho Community Hall with the intention to raise awareness and donations from each ticket for Lifeline Aotearoa.

Lifeline Aotearoa has been helping New Zealanders in crisis for over 50 years. We receive an average of over 10,000 calls and 10,000 texts per month from people of all ages and ethnicities who are struggling with a wide range of issues including relationship and work problems, mental health, grief, abuse, bullying and loneliness. We help an average of 8-10 people a day at high risk of suicide. Calls to our helplines are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our free community helplines, 0800 LIFELINE, Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 TAUTOKO and Kidsline, 0800 KIDSLINE as well as our text support service HELP (4357) are answered by qualified counsellors and trained volunteers.   Our mission is to reduce distress and save lives by providing safe, accessible, effective, professional and innovative services.    

~ CACAO CEREMONY ~  In a ceremonial circle we will share a cup of this magical cacao plant and and allow it to awaken our heart and soul.  Cacao is an amazing plant medicine – a powerful aphrodisiac, mood enhancer, and an antioxidant that protects the heart. It is densely packed with nutrients and proven to be the most pharmacologically complex food in nature.  It can improve your memory, reduce heart disease, shed fat, boost immunity, increase blood flow and nutrition to the brain, heart and skin – the whole body is nourished.  Cacao contains the neurotransmitters and chemicals responsible for wellbeing, as well as anandamide, known as the bliss molecule that leaves us feeling euphoric, moderating pain perception, as well as assisting in regulating appetite and mood.  When high quality cacao beans are prepared for ceremony as they will be in this offering, all the mood enhancing nero-chemicals in cacao become particularly active.  Sacred cacao ceremony participants often report heightened awareness, focus and intensified sensations.  Cacao is not only healing for the body, but also for the soul and spirit as it is heart opening and an amazing meditation aid.   The cacao that will be served is first quality ceremonial grade and comes from its native land, Guatemala.   Radha works with Shaman Keith Wilson’s cacao, carefully and ethically sourced premium beans that are made into paste around the magical lake Atitlan. Cacao Shaman Keith was the pioneer of the revival of Cacao as a sacred ceremonial drink.  The tradition of drinking ceremonial cacao originates in the ancient culture of the Mayas in Central America. It was believed to carry the spirit of fertility and abundance. The goddess of chocolate, Ixcacao, was also known as the ‘queen of love and pleasure’, connected with the energy of the heart. Later cacao was served in ceremonial context in nowadays Mexico, in the Azteca and Olmec cultures.  

~ HEART YOGA ~  With the spirit of the cacao in your being, further clear the energy pathways to the heart with therapeutic Yin Yoga and deep, relaxing Yoga Nidra.  Suitable for all ages and stages, this gentle practice will target the connective tissue of the body with long, slow stretches. Specifically removing any deeply lodged tension and blockages in the energy centre of the heart – allowing the life force to run unobstructed and the true luminosity and light of the heart to shine forth.  This is a peaceful, prop-supported practice, with plenty of time to slow down, tune in and let go of what no longer serves you – just like our natural environment transitions to during the arrival of the colder months.  We will finish in relaxation with a short, yet powerful Yoga Nidra practice that will take you even further into a serene, blissful state where you can meditate on the infinite space of the heart and pure oneness.  Yoga Nidra, promotes deep rest and wellbeing. Also known as Yogic Sleep, 20 minutes is said to equate to two hours of sleep. It can help you remain calm, need less sleep and sharpen your mind and creativity long after practicing it.  Rather than rushing off, and shutting the doorway that you have opened, we will leave a short moment following this practice to free write. This helps seal in any subtle insights that might otherwise slip away like morning dreams. Please bring your journal or something to write in if you would like to do this.  Radha will also integrate music and ancient philosophy/poetry into the experience to guide you on this journey. For they too are the language of the heart.  

**There will also be a unique opportunity to purchase Guatemalan jewellery at this events with some of the proceeds going towards Lifeline Aotearoa. **  

BOOKING  Booking in advance is essential to ensure pre-preparation of the cacao.  

Please register with Lauren by sending an email to laurenalbans@hotmail.co.uk or text 0210662356  and please make your pre-payment of $30pp to 02-0766-0149917-001  

Wear comfortable clothing. Please BYO an extra blanket and cushion for your comfort during the experience. All other equipment is provided.  

Drink plenty of water before and after ceremony to avoid dehydration and avoid eating at least two hours prior.  

About the facilitator: Radha was among the first people to bring cacao ceremonies to New Zealand. She encountered the cacao plant in ceremonial context in 2012 while living in its native lands of Central America for several years. It was love at first sight and her relationship with the spirit of this super food grew as she learned how to prepare the rich cacao drink from the tree to the cup. Having participated in various ceremonies facilitated by shamans, healers or friends in Mexico, Guatemala and Peru, Radha started facilitating ceremonies herself in 2014 in Europe. An experienced space holder being a yoga teacher and a retreat facilitator, she loves sharing her passion for community, authenticity and self-knowledge in combination with the cacao spirit.  Radha serves only best quality ceremonial cacao by chocolate shaman Keith Wilson.