August Ritual Report

Each month we offer a ritual report complete with key dates and relevant themes for you to weave into your cacao practice. When we connect with the energies of the seasons, the stars, and the collective consciousness, we can amplify our personal rituals. 

Let's dive into August’s magic...

• August 1 | Lammas/Lughnasadh

• August 7 | New Trecena Begins

• August 8 | Lion’s Gate Portal

• August 9 | International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples

• August 9 | Full Moon in Aquarius

• August 11 | Mercury Goes Direct

• August 23 | New Moon in Virgo

• August 26 | Women’s Equality Day

• August 30 | National Grief Awareness Day 

August 1 | Lammas/Lughnasadh

Lammas or Lughnasadh are harvest festivals that mark the halfway point between the summer solstice and fall equinox. This time signifies the waning of summer and invites us to gather with community in celebration and gratitude for the abundant harvest . This is a great day to try out a group cacao recipe and share with your friends to honor all the bounty in our lives. 

Go Deeper: Celebrate with this iced cacao recipe and adjust the quantities to prepare for friends! 

August 7 | New Trecena Begins

In the Mayan Calendar, we begin a new trecena (13 day cycle) with 1 E’. E’ is the nawal/nahual energy of the day that corresponds to setting out on a new path and the beginning of a journey. Coupled with 1, this day is ripe for envisioning new beginnings - similar to the energy of a new moon. 

Go Deeper: When you sit with your cacao, feel into what in your life is new, inspiring, and ready for your devotion and create a 13 day plan for how you intend to actualize this. 

August 8 | Lion’s Gate Portal

In numerology, the number 8 signifies abundance and infinity. Today’s date of 8/8 is an ancient day honored by the Egyptians as a powerful portal. In Egypt, this time was marked with the rising of the star Sirius and the flooding of the Nile River. 

Go Deeper: With your cacao in hand, create a gratitude list for the blessings of your life and create a second list of the blessings you are calling in with this portal - giving ‘thanks in advance’ for all the blessings yet to come. After a month, review the list and reflect on what has unfolded from your prayers. 

August 9 | International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples

On this day we honor not only the indigenous peoples who stewarded the medicine of cacao - giving thanks to the Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs, Toltecs, Marañon and more - but also the indigenous nature that exists in us all. At some point in all our lineages, we have been indigenous to particular lands. 

Go Deeper: Reflect on your ancestral lineage and the lands you come from, as well as offering gratitude to the lands that your cacao comes from. 

August 9 | Full Moon in Aquarius

This full moon connects us with the Aquarian archetype of the humanitarian, eccentric, and revolutionary. We celebrate what has come to fullness in our life and honor what is ready for release.

Recommended Cacao: Connect with the energy of celebration with Oaxacan Spice, enhanced with spices that support circulation and motivation - so we can envision the better world with a replenished system! 

August 11 | Mercury Goes Direct

Mercury retrograde gets a bad rep - and it’s likely because of all the hiccups we can experience during this time in the realms that Mercury rules such as communication and travel. However, retrograde times are ripe for review and refinement…

Go Deeper: As Mercury goes direct, prepare your cacao and reflect in your journal about what you’ve learned and discovered since retrograde began July 17th. What is ready for release, what is being refined? 

August 23 | New Moon in Virgo

The New Moon in Virgo invites us to plant seeds in alignment with the Virgo archetype which is concerned with bringing the spiritual into the earthly plane, maintaining the health of the body + mind + spirit, and refining our processes to make sense and be useful. 

Recommended Cacao: Bridge the deep earth wisdom of Virgo into your being with Mystical Mushroom, packed with 11 functional mushrooms to help maintain the health and balance of your entire system. 

August 26 | Women’s Equality Day

For centuries women have campaigned for equal rights and we continue to see these efforts today. We give thanks for the courageous luminaries who paved the way for the freedoms we experience today and continue to put our efforts and prayers towards equality and dignity for all. 

Recommended Cacao: Enjoy Uplifting Uganda which is prepared by over 50% women farmers and know you’re supporting women’s equality. 

August 30 | National Grief Awareness Day 

Grief is a powerful and human emotion that can often be pushed to the shadows. Cacao supports us in feeling our emotions more deeply and can help us confront and integrate these powerful experiences.

Go Deeper: We all carry grief within us and it can be so healing to give it space to move through. Prepare a cup of cacao and invite her spirit to help you sit with these powerful emotions. Cry, write, intuitively move your body and allow the feelings to flow. Integrate and ground back into your body by placing your feet on the earth, taking a bath, or other elemental activities that help you reconnect.