The cacao elemental spiral is a visualization of how the elements of earth, water, fire, air, and aether are woven throughout the four stages of the chocolate making process. At first glance the numbers may seem mixed up, but not if you follow each of the four arms of the spiral from the center outward! Then you can see how each step of the process touches each of the four physical elements (with the fifth element, aether, at the very center of the spiral).

Beginning with the cacao pod spiral, we see earth, water, fire, and air creating the ripe growing conditions for healthy cacao seeds.

Moving into the fermentation spiral, we see earth, water, fire, and air working together to create the perfect conditions for the flavor development of chocolate post harvest.

Moving into the chocolate making spiral, we see earth, water, fire, and air dancing throughout our process at the Ora Cacao factory where we transform cacao beans into ceremonial cacao.

Ending with the cacao ritual spiral, we see earth, water, fire, and air weaving you into sacred relationship with all things as you sit down to enjoy your cup of cacao.

Each arm of the spiral begins at the center, the source, and completes as it moves into infinity, the beyond. Each arm begins and completes in the aether element, the mysterious cycle of life that repeats itself for all eternity.

And so it is. The elements of earth, water, fire, air, and aether are intricately woven into the transformation of cacao from seedling to drink. We hope this diagram helps you appreciate the many layers of elemental magic that combine with the intrinsic medicine of cacao to offer you healing and epiphany when working with cacao.