Every once in a while, nature offers us a doorway - a moment when the cycles of Earth and sky align and invite us to pause, reflect, and reset.

On the 21st, a new moon in Virgo arrives with a solar eclipse, amplifying its power to release the old and plant new seeds of intention. And on the very next day, September 22nd, we cross the threshold of the autumn equinox - a moment of balance between light and dark, harvest and rest.

Across cultures, equinoxes and eclipses have long been honored as sacred thresholds. When these alignments converge, as they do now, the energy is magnified - offering us a profound opportunity to set intentions, honor the Earth, and return to balance. And cacao, with its gentle heart-opening medicine, is the perfect ally to support us through this season.

Today we’re sharing a cacao ritual for this upcoming potent weekend! If you like to plan ahead and want to schedule time to drop into ritual space,  you’re welcome to engage with this cacao ritual in the 2 days leading up to the new moon & eclipse and in the 2 day window afterwards. 

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Why Cacao Ceremony Matters at the Equinox

Ceremony has always been about aligning ourselves with what is true in the moment - the turning of the seasons, the cycles of the moon, the subtle rhythms of our own hearts. The autumn equinox is one of those moments. It is a threshold of balance, a reminder that life is not endless growth, but a dance between light and dark, action and rest.

When this balance point arrives alongside a new moon and solar eclipse, the invitation is even stronger. Eclipses are seen across traditions as times when the veil thins and transformation quickens. New moons carry the energy of beginnings - the perfect time to plant seeds of intention. Together, they create a window where the prayers you offer and the visions you hold carry extra weight, rippling into the months ahead with amplified clarity.

Cacao is a gentle yet powerful ally for moments like this. It softens the nervous system, opens the heart, and roots us back into the Earth, so that the intentions we plant come not just from the mind, but from the deepest truth of our being.

Your Equinox Ritual with Cacao

There are many ways to honor this season, but what they all share is presence. Whether you only have a few quiet minutes or wish to create a fuller ceremony, cacao can guide you into the heart of the equinox.

Begin by preparing a space that feels grounded. You might gather autumn leaves, seeds, stones, or fruit to create a small altar-  a reflection of the season’s harvest and the turning of the wheel. Light a candle, take a breath, and invite stillness into the room.

As you hold your cup of cacao, let gratitude be the opening. Speak your thanks for the plant, the people and lands who tended it, and the blessings in your own life. September 21st is also World Gratitude Day, making this the perfect time to let your gratitude flow beyond words and into a felt sense in the body.

Sip slowly, and with each sip, listen. The new moon and solar eclipse invite you to release what no longer serves and to plant new seeds of intention. You can reflect on the following prompts, either journaling or contemplating them. Allow the answers to arise within you, not from your mind, but from a deeper place in your heart.yourself: 

• What am I ready to let go of?

• What am I ready to grow? 

• Where in my life do I need more balance between light and dark, effort and rest?

• What am I most grateful for in this season of transition?

When you close, offer something back- a prayer to the land, water poured to the soil, or a small act of kindness you’ll carry into the days ahead. In this way, the ceremony becomes a circle of giving and receiving, rooted in reciprocity.

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