At present’s visitor on the weblog is the stunning Cherylyn. She is an actual Ruhrpott youngster, however has Filipino roots. Pictures is her means of discovering the world, life and likewise her personal aspects. With the long-term challenge “Buen Vivir! Looking for the nice life‘, she and her accomplice Markus traveled to Peru in 2021 to go to the Q’eros, the final Inca descendants, for a photograph reportage. She was suggested to make use of her third eye when taking photographs of their sacred websites and that an “initiation” might help her on this. She was then drawn to Guatemala, the place she found the magic of cocoa. We talked about this thrilling subject.
Expensive Cherylyn, let’s begin with the fundamentals: what’s a cacao ceremony?
A cacao ceremony is initially a sacred ritual of the Mayan & Inca tradition and serves to connect with one’s personal coronary heart and to Mom Earth. In a protected setting, a bodily and energetic connection to the spirit of the cacao plant – IxCacao – the Mayan cacao goddess – is created via a potion constituted of pure uncooked cacao. By means of its particular energy of opening the center, it helps to harmonize, to attach with the center and to carry the physique again into concord with nature.
Primitive peoples and indigenous cultures, such because the Maya and Inca, know concerning the knowledge of “therapeutic and instructing vegetation”. These vegetation, like cocoa, have particular substances and energetic substances which have an affect on the physique and thoughts. Indigenous peoples see the impact of plant drugs because the spirit of the plant, which comes into contact with individuals via its particular person mode of motion with the intention to help them on their path with knowledge and therapeutic.
By means of cocoa it’s potential to carry the energies within the physique again into stream with the intention to give area to hidden emotions and caught feelings. On this means, insights from the problems saved within the coronary heart could be delivered to consciousness. Surrendering to emotions and perceptions on this cacao ceremony is sort of a therapeutic balm that’s utilized to the injuries within the coronary heart. It releases blockages and lets you really feel reconnected with your self in your physique and with nature as a complete.
On what events is such a ceremony carried out?
Particularly, the explanation for this ceremony is to harmonize the imbalance between human beings and Mom Earth, which begins within the coronary heart and manifests itself via the interplay on the surface. The efficiency and, above all, the passing on of the information of the unique sacred cacao ceremony of the traditional cultures had been beforehand reserved for just a few guardians in secret and had been saved underneath lock and key. As a result of prevailing discord and on the similar time the gradual awakening of consciousness within the Western world, the cultures of the traditional world are more and more keen to speak in confidence to different cultures with the intention to steadily share their hidden and long-guarded information for posterity.
The guts-opening cacao ceremony, which we’re encountering an increasing number of within the West nowadays, is mixed in and with varied contexts. Its type of expression is now as various because the aspects of the practising celebrant and is a door opener for the collective consciousness. It thus additionally serves to lift consciousness of the need to reconnect with oneself, with Mom Earth and her creatures and to name again into consciousness each the knowledge of historic cultures and the knowledge that’s inherent in each coronary heart.
How does a cocoa ceremony work?
For me, the cocoa ceremony begins with the attentive and loving consideration to the preparation of the cocoa and the preparation of the ceremony. For instance, the uncooked cocoa block is processed by hand whereas chanting and gently grated with devotion. Earlier than a cacao ceremony begins, the contributors are free of on a regular basis power with purification via one of many components, resembling hearth with incense. A sacred area is opened, which serves as an appreciation and acknowledgment in gratitude of the forces and is a vital side of shamanic ceremonies and rituals. This creates safety for all these concerned, in order that with the assistance of the supporting forces, not solely can the energies stream freely, however they will additionally stream freely.
Earlier than connecting with the cocoa potion, meditation, for instance, is used to attune oneself to it. The reference to the cocoa potion begins with the intention from the center. By asking for permission to attach with the knowledge of the cocoa spirit, via appreciative gratitude and thru the clear intention of why the connection was requested, a loving and therapeutic self-awareness is feasible.
This request and intention could be breathed into the potion as an expression of thanks, for instance, whereas the cup is held to the center. By taking the cocoa potion, a direct connection could be felt bodily within the coronary heart area. Right here you will need to all the time take heed to your physique, with out strain and with out judgment, with the intention to permit and settle for all sensations and emotions that come up, with the understanding that IxCacao will carry out precisely what is able to categorical itself with its loving power. The physique additionally decides how a lot to take. Surrendering to it with humility and gratitude is the important thing to the connection. By opening the center, for instance, emotions can stream freely via feelings, photographs can come up earlier than the internal eye, solutions to sure questions can reveal themselves or the physique’s notion could be sharpened. There could also be a must relaxation, to lie all the way down to hear or to maneuver gently with dance to really feel the stream of the physique.
The artistic energy of creation can even present itself in that the necessity arises to precise oneself via the voice, artwork, portray or writing/journaling. Right here the therapeutic connection can categorical itself individually and be accompanied and supported by sounds, music or singing, all the time with the heartfelt intention of coming again into concord with oneself with the intention to be in reference to Mom Earth and all her creatures. The cacao ceremony could be carried out in a bunch, in a person session or alone.
You additionally conduct cocoa ceremonies your self. How did that come about?
In 2022, I accompanied a change & initiation journey of feminine energy with my digicam, which was initiated by initiated Mayan clergymen who initially got here from Germany. Along with 40 ladies from German-speaking nations and the Mayan elders, we went to the Mayan locations of energy from central Guatemala to the north to carry out their rituals. I informed them beforehand of my intention to study extra about strengthening female energy and my heartfelt want to attach with the knowledge of cacao in depth, and I used to be informed that this journey would additionally take me to the jungle of Guatemala for the primary time to probably the most unique cacao, that my request was no coincidence and that I’d get all my questions answered there.
After receiving my additional initiation in 2023 after I was given the Quechua title “Kahuacñawi” (The Recognizing Eye), I shared my request with them and requested for a coca leaf studying to see if my want & feeling to unite the forces was proper right here. A Q’ero shaman linked with the spirit of the coca plant and used the coca leaves to offer me the solutions to the questions that he was in a position to learn intimately from the studying. Regardless of nice worry and doubt that my feeling was improper and even misleading, I used to be blessed with unimaginable information. My feeling in my coronary heart was confirmed that I used to be allowed to carry out their sacred Pachamama ritual with the ability of IxCacao within the spirit of the Q’eros.
Why cocoa specifically? What makes cocoa so particular?
It was in Guatemala that I first heard concerning the prophecy of IxCacao, the Mayan cocoa goddess. In Mayan tradition, the cacao plant is sacred. Regardless of capitalism and industrial processing and mass manufacturing of chocolate, there are nonetheless a number of cacao farmers who’ve protected the unique cacao plant in response to the unique Mayan custom, with out plantation, with out pesticides. These cacao vegetation develop underneath the safety of the copal tree in the course of the jungle and are allowed to develop freely and wildly alongside woodpeckers and molds. They harvest the pods by hand, let the beans ferment and dry underneath the solar. The Mayan ladies roast the beans by hand on a hearth bowl and sing about them with their Mayan songs. There, the Maya are stated to have saved the ability of IxCacao alive by honoring her holiness. Based on them, she is the goddess of meals, fertility, mercy & love and is a primordial female energy that was obtainable to all individuals in instances of concord with nature. Based on custom, she can also be stated to be the blood of Mom Earth.
When its particular preciousness was acknowledged by nice powers, its energy was abused by their energy, in order that it was used as a barter good, for instance, and finally solely a fraction of society had entry to it and this was denied to the broader inhabitants. As a substitute, it turned a “potion of the gods”. Based on her prophecy, the ability of IxCacao withdrew utterly into the jungle to attend for the second of best separation, with the intention to reveal itself to individuals in order that they will reunite with their hearts, with one another and with Mom Nature, in order that the world’s grievances could be introduced again into stability via her.
Have you ever ever had a particular expertise throughout a cocoa ceremony that you just wish to share?
Each cacao ceremony is a profound expertise for me. Nevertheless, I notably treasure the Wachuma therapeutic ceremony of my pricey buddy Alicia. She initiated her therapeutic ceremony in a particular circle of female energy. Her cacao ceremony with the shamanic drum journey serves as an vital side of integrating the connection and as a therapeutic conclusion to her San Pedro retreat. When she discovered of my coronary heart’s want to mix the Pachamama ritual in an IxCacao ceremony, she invited me to carry out it at her residence. This particular appreciation to be a part of her therapeutic ceremony on this feminine circle and the belief in my path touched me deeply. After I was allowed to carry out this highly effective ceremony with the Pachamama ritual in her protected area with the very particular powers for the very first time on this type, I used to be overwhelmed by a deep reverence, humility and pure gratitude. My tears welled up and dripped over the reward to Mom Earth that I used to be making an attempt to wrap. Within the heart of my coronary heart I felt a deep ache, unhappiness and sorrow whereas the track “Akaal” by Ajeet performed within the background of the ceremony. On the similar time I felt the appreciation, love & belief of my buddy, the gratitude of this particular circle within the female power in addition to the interacting energy of IxCacao and Pachamama replenishing me and my cells. It was indescribably overwhelming, magical and above all therapeutic. I used to be in a position to really feel that this path of the center was undoubtedly the suitable one. It was a profound and significant expertise for which I’m so eternally grateful.
What position does music play in cocoa ceremonies?
In my view, music performs a vital position. It not solely connects a bunch, but in addition transmits extra than simply audible sounds and frequencies. Within the sounds/phrases, emotions in addition to intentions, which could be felt on a sure degree, could be transmitted and may contribute to opening up much more to the therapeutic energy of cocoa and the ability of music. I due to this fact think about cacao ceremonies together with, for instance, singing & sound circles of mantras or coronary heart songs to be very highly effective, as they will bundle and potentiate the energies within the collective and show to be very efficient within the intentions. Therapeutic frequencies could be despatched out as a drive subject and acquired on the similar time. The mantra “Akaal of Ajeet”, for instance, is a really highly effective mantra that touches my coronary heart deeply. In honor of IxCacao and Pachamama, I’ve rewritten this track, which now all the time accompanies me on my path. I wish to share it with everybody in order that this intention and the therapeutic energy of this mantra can unfold on this German-language IxCacao model in oneself and in very particular person cocoa ceremonies.
If you’re now – how and the place might you participate in a ceremony? Is there something to keep in mind?
In religious circles there at the moment are a lot of particular individuals who really feel known as to supply heart-opening cacao ceremonies in varied contexts. Be it ladies’s/males’s circles, singing/sound/music circles, therapeutic retreats with pure drugs, empowerment & course of help, ecstatic dance and far more. You might also come throughout cacao ceremonies at religious festivals and yoga studios. However maybe the connection within the group appears unusual at first, so {that a} cacao ceremony might initially happen in a really intimate or even perhaps utterly alone in silence. It is very important take heed to your coronary heart and your very personal wants.
As with every ceremony wherein connections with energies are created, the intention of each oneself and the training celebrant is of nice significance and is decisive for the ability of the ceremony. With out truthfulness or deep appreciation of the powers and guardians of the knowledge of historic cultures, ceremonies and rituals have little or no therapeutic energy. Right here too, you will need to all the time take heed to your coronary heart with the intention to really feel snug within the respective set and setting and to have the ability to interact with the ability. Above all,
the origin and high quality of the pure uncooked cacao is crucial side when utilizing and mixing it within the ceremony. When choosing the cacao, it ought to vibrate as excessive as potential energetically, i.e. come from a loving and appreciative cultivation.
As a cocoa ceremony is an consumption of a high-dose uncooked cocoa potion with particular substances on an empty abdomen, the well being situation and tolerance of particular person energetic substances and substances ought to all the time be checked earlier than participation and extra and enough fluid consumption ought to be taken into consideration. There are additionally contraindications to excessive doses, e.g. cardiovascular illnesses, being pregnant, breastfeeding moms, and so forth., which ought to be clarified upfront earlier than deciding on a cocoa ceremony. Regardless that cacao in its uncooked type stimulates biochemical & psychoactive processes, it is among the finest researched medicinal vegetation, which could be very loving and mild in its energy, in order that no fears and doubts want come up earlier than a connection, if all well being issues are excluded. From childhood we really feel the deep connection to cacao and as most of us know, we love cacao and for good purpose. =)
For those who loved the interview, learn extra right here about Cherylyn’s present picture challenge that’s very near her coronary heart, “Oh My Goddes” with IxCacao!
Thanks a lot for the speak and the attractive footage, Cherylyn!
