Our cacao rituals offer us an opportunity to connect with expanded states that support our mental wellbeing - such as gratitude, forgiveness, and connection.

If you’re interested in learn about cacao’s beneficial neuromodulators that support neuroplasticity and boosts your mood, read our other article here.

Gratitude

More than anything, cacao ritual connects us to gratitude. We’re advocates for beginning our cups of cacao with gratitude. The idea of “Gratitude as the words that come before all else” is an ancient tradition of the indigenous Six Nations peoples of Northeastern North America.  Not only is this a spiritually sound practice, but the evidence shows it supports the physical and mental wellbeing of those who practice it as well. 

Gratitude offers us the opportunity to take stock of what we value in our life, offer reciprocity of thanks, and anchor and amplify these feelings. Studies also show that those who practice gratitude daily sleep better, experience lower stress in their personal and interpersonal lives, and are likely to be at lower risk for depression and heart disease. (Clinical Psychology Review) 

Put into practice: If you don’t already, you’re invited to weave in a gratitude practice at the beginning of your cacao rituals. Before you drink, name 1-3 things in your life you are grateful for and really feel where and how they live in your body, savoring for some moments before moving on. In addition, keeping a daily gratitude list in your journal can be another way to deepen this practice and see the effects ripple out in your life. 

Forgiveness

When we sit with cacao, we can open our hearts and awareness to grief and grievances stuck just below our surface level of awareness. We can call upon the support of cacao in conjunction with the timeless practice of forgiveness. When we practice forgiveness, we are releasing someone else and ourselves from residual pain caused by harm. 

Forgiveness is not about condoning what occurred and it doesn’t imply that you need to let someone back into your life after trust has been broken. Instead, it releases yourself from continuing to harbor pain or animosity and experience the freedom of acceptance and release. 

On top of this, studies show it has positive impacts on one’s mental health. “Practicing forgiveness can have powerful health benefits. Observational studies, and even some randomized trials, suggest that forgiveness is associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and hostility; reduced substance abuse; higher self-esteem; and greater life satisfaction.” (Harvard Health Publishing)

Put into practice: In your next cacao ritual, consider a forgiveness practice. With the heart centered support of cacao in your system, hold in your awareness someone who you are ready to forgive. 

Then, work with the Hawaiian Ho’oponopono practice by repeating this mantra:

I’m sorry

Please forgive me

Thank you

I love you

(There are many great songs for this mantra that you can find online. We love this version by Mary Isis). You may or may not feel like you actually mean the words, that’s fine,  just keep going with it and let your intention of forgiveness carry you through the practice. 

Connection

Human beings have evolved in tribes and communities and our sense of connection to others greatly impacts our mental health. In addition, cacao offers us the remembrance of connecting to our unseen allies of plant spirits, elements, and all those we are in relation with beyond the human world. 

Studies show that those who have a strong sense of connection with others have lower risks for long-term diseases such as heart disease, stroke, dementia, and depression or anxiety. Those with a strong social relationships are shown to live longer, be healthier, experience more well-being, have better quality sleep, manage stressors with greater ease, and maintain healthier habits. (CDC)

Put into practice: You’re invited to connect with our cacao loving community and the plant spirit Cacao herself, by joining our weekly cacao ceremonies and our connecting with community on our What’sApp thread.