Cacao Connection Circle & Sound Journey

This is an invitation to gather in circle with community and ccao and get to connect within and without, with Self and with others, through ritual, sound bath, meditation, intention setting and a sharing circle

~WHEN & WHERE? 31st March, 6.30pm start at The Yoga Space Hastings

~WHAT IS A CACAO CEREMONY?

A cacao ceremony is a safe intentional space of connection with self, with the healing wisdom of nature and with community. The tradition of using cacao for ceremony and as a spiritual practice is related to the cultures of the Mayas, the Azteca and the Olmeca peoples in Central America where it was believed to carry the spirit of Fertility and Abundance. 

In a  circle we will offer a ceremonial dose cup of Guatemalan cacao and allow it to awaken our Heart and soul for all there is to be seen and met in great Loving Presence. 

Every ceremony is completely unique and different, sometimes quiet and contemplative, sometimes joyful, an authentic journey into one's own Heart, real and raw.

Cacao as a medicinal plant: Cacao is a mood enhancer, an antioxidant that protects the heart and is densely packed with nutrients - proven to be the most pharmacologically complex food in nature! It can improve your memory, reduce heart disease, shed fat, boost immunity, and create loads of energy. Cacao contains the neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of wellbeing, as well as anandamide, known as the bliss molecule that leaves us feeling blissful and euphoric, moderating pain perception, as well as assisting in regulating appetite and mood. It increases blood flow and nutrition to the brain, heart and skin, and the whole body is nourished. Sacred Cacao ceremony participants report heightened awareness, focus and intensified sensations. Cacao healing for the body, but also for the soul and spirit as it is heart opening and an amazing meditation aid.

~ SOUND JOURNEY ~

Sound has been utilized in various cultures for thousands of years as a tool for healing.

The dissolution into sound is a known form of Yoga called Nada Yoga. Just as sound dissolves into silence, all mentail chatter can dissolve into stillness and one can experience a state of blissful inner peace.

Another way to describe it, is through the term entrainment. Entrainment synchronizes our fluctuating brainwaves by providing a stable frequency which the brainwave can attune to. By using rhythm and frequency, we can entrain our brainwaves and it then becomes possible to down-shift our normal beta state (normal waking consciousness) to alpha (relaxed consciousness), and even reach theta (meditative state) and delta (sleep; where internal healing can occur).

In the sound journey, Radha would use a variety of tools, including Tibetan singing bowls, chimes, therapeutic drone harp and shamanic drum and rattle.

~ SHARING CIRCLE ~ 

As part of the gathering, we will take time to connect not only inwardly with self, but also outwardly with the community through sharing and active listening. All of you is welcome here.

~WHAT IS REQUIRED? Please wear comfy clothes and bring a cushion or a blanket to make sure you're relaxed and comfortable. Drink a lot of water before and after ceremony to avoid dehydration and avoid eating 2 hours prior.

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Facilitated by Radha 

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 the original ceremonial cacao from the magical lake Atitlan in its native land of Guatemala (Central America), by "chocolate shaman" Keith Wilson.