Ceremonial Cacao: A Sacred Heart Medicine for Ritual, Wellness & Connection
- Ksandra Roehr
- Jul 23, 2025
- 4 min read
In many Indigenous cultures across Central and South America, plant medicine has long been used as a way to bring the body, mind, and spirit back into balance. Whether through ceremony, ritual, or daily relationship with the land, these sacred plants were never just about healing symptoms—they were about restoring harmony. They connected people with the Earth, with community, and with the deeper parts of themselves.
Ceremonial cacao is one of those sacred allies. Known as “the food of the gods”, cacao has been revered for thousands of years, used in ceremony by the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and other Mesoamerican cultures to open the heart, enhance connection, and guide spiritual insight.
In today’s world—where overstimulation, stress, and disconnection are often the norm—this ancient medicine still carries profound relevance. Cacao offers us a gentle, heart-centered pathway back to presence. Back to our bodies. Back to ourselves.
And that’s where I come in.
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How I Met the Spirit of Cacao
My personal relationship with cacao began during a plant medicine journey in the Peruvian Andes. It was one of those life-altering ceremonies that strips away your identities and leaves you bare. In the midst of that unraveling, when I wasn’t sure who I was anymore, she came.
The spirit of cacao—what I now call Grandmother Cacao—entered not with intensity, but with warmth. She didn’t demand anything of me. She simply placed her energetic hands on my heart and reminded me: “You are ready.”
Ready to serve. Ready to walk the medicine path. Ready to hold space.
Since that moment, cacao has become one of the most important allies in both my personal practice and the healing sessions and ceremonies I offer to others. Her medicine is steady, nourishing, and deeply feminine—a balm for the nervous system and a bridge into the heart.
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Ceremonial vs. Regular Cacao: What’s the Difference?
Most people know cacao in its commercial form—processed, powdered, and often mixed with sugar and additives. While it still contains some of its original properties, this version is a far cry from cacao in its whole, ceremonial form.
Ceremonial cacao is made from 100% pure cacao beans, stone-ground into a paste that retains the natural fats, minerals, and spirit of the plant. It’s minimally processed, ethically sourced, and often grown with intention by small communities who understand and respect its sacred use.
Physically, ceremonial cacao is rich in:
• Theobromine, a heart-opening stimulant that increases circulation and energy without the crash of caffeine
• Magnesium, which supports the nervous system and muscle relaxation
• Antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation and support cellular health
Energetically, it offers a gentle but powerful opening of the heart space—allowing for emotional release, deeper self-awareness, and access to spiritual insight.
I personally work with an organization called The Mayan Wisdom project out of Guatemala. The cacao is grown, processed, and sold by the Mayans. It is deeply rooted in educating the world more about its traditions and focuses heavily on returning traditions back to a culture that has lost so much. https://www.themayanwisdomproject.com
That said, I truly believe that any cacao can become a ritual when approached with intention. It’s not just about what you’re drinking—it’s about how you’re relating to it.
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How I Use Cacao in My Healing Work
At Flow State, in co-facilitation with La Unica Wellness offer monthly Full Moon cacao ceremonies as well as private sessions where cacao is integrated into the healing experience. Whether someone is joining a group journey or working one-on-one with me, cacao is often the first step: a moment to slow down, breathe, and arrive fully in the body.
I use this medicine to help clients move out of their minds and into their hearts. When we sip cacao together, we create a bridge—between the physical and spiritual, the seen and unseen, the emotional and the embodied.
In ceremony, cacao is often paired with other modalities like:
• Somatic breathwork
• Energy healing (Reiki, Theta, and intuitive channeling)
• Guided meditation and visualization
• Sound therapy
• Sacred movement or vocal activation
What I love most about cacao is that it doesn’t push. It invites. It doesn’t overwhelm—it steadies. It reminds us that healing can be tender, loving, and deeply rooted.
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A Simple Ritual to Connect with Cacao
You don’t need to attend a formal ceremony to begin building a relationship with cacao. Here’s a simple ritual you can try at home:
• Make your cup slowly. Stir with your breath.
• Use clean, intentional ingredients—water, alternative milks with no fillers, and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. Avoid cane or white sugar.
• Burn sage or palo santo. Call in your heart.
• Ask: What do I need to feel today? or What part of me is ready to be held?
• Sip in silence. Let the medicine speak.
Whether you’re preparing for a big transition, tending to emotional wounds, or simply seeking a deeper connection with yourself, cacao can be a sacred companion.
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Come Sit With the Medicine
If you’re curious to experience this heart-opening medicine in a grounded, welcoming space, I invite you to join me for a monthly Full moon cacao ceremony at Flow State Holistic Health.
These gatherings are crafted with care—woven with intention, sound, shamanic healing, and a spirit of community. Each month brings a new theme, a fresh prayer, and an invitation to return home to your heart.
Private sessions are also available for those seeking a more personal or therapeutic experience with cacao as part of a larger healing journey.
This medicine is here for you.
And I’d be honored to share it with you.
Visit La Unica Wellness online to book a free consultation or a learn more about private sessions under the “services” page.
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