How I started working with cacao & my favourite recipe!

Here’s how I used to ceremonial cacao to slowly and gently return to my body after becoming a mother and in recovery:

1. I kept it simple: I made cacao in the pan with just water then started with lighting just one candle whilst I sipped. There was no extravagant decor, altar or circle set up. Just me, the cacao and one candle.

2. I set intentions during the whole process: When chopping up the raw cacao paste, stirring it in the pan, adding water, when lighting the candle, I would speak to the cacao. Outloud or in my head, I’d tell the cacao my hopes, my wants and my needs. Sometimes as simple as ‘to sit for 5 minutes’ or ‘for my busy brain to quieten’.

3. I did it every day for weeks: Once I had a little routine down with my new baby, the cacao and with me, I started to do this everyday. What this did was start to build a relationship with me and the cacao.

4. The deeper my relationship with this medicine, the more I heard: In doing my own practice everyday, I heard my body, my heart, my womb and mama cacao more clearly, and more loudly every time.

Can you set aside 10 minutes everyday for devotion to yourself? What’s holding you back? What does ceremony, for you, look like?

Cacao Drink Recipe:

My favourite recipe with cacao isn't with just water- although this is the most common way I drink it!

If you just want to enjoy a cup of hot cacao and fancy something a little more indulgent, but without the timely process over the stove, then this is perfect for you:

In a blender, add:

-Your chosen amount of ceremonial cacao, chopped(45g for ceremonial dose, 25g for daily dose)

-Filtered, boiled water(the amount depends on how thick and creamy you'd like your drink but I'd start with at least 150ml)

-50ml almond milk (or any other plant based milk)

-1/2 tsp Turmeric

-1 tsp organic honey

-pinch of salt

Blend it all together to get a lovely frothy top

Pour it into your favourite mug & enjoy!

Try this recipe a few times to get the consistencies right for you- the important thing is that you enjoy it x