Cacao ceremonies: history, a recipe, and cacao on Sundays at Two Birds Church

Do you feel drawn to cacao? A lot of people find it helps them slow down and get in touch with what they’re feeling, and cacao ceremonies now happen all over the world.

What cacao is

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is a tropical evergreen tree that grows in the Amazon Basin of South America. Its beans are used to make cocoa powder, chocolate and other products. Indigenous peoples of the Americas have used cacao for thousands of years. The ancient Maya and Aztecs believed it was a gift from the gods, and they used it in religious ceremonies. Today’s cacao ceremonies are a modern practice that draws on that history.

Before you drink

Unlike some plants, cacao leaves you perfectly okay to drive afterward. It does contain caffeine, so go easy if you’re sensitive to it.

If you take any medication, ask your doctor before drinking cacao.

How to prepare cacao

If you’re using blocks, chop the cacao into chips. Many people sing while they do this, to put their intention into the cacao. Many cacao ceremony leaders trained in Guatemala, where many Maya people live today and where there are beautiful cacao songs in Spanish that get passed on to students. Cacao has reached people in a lot of places since, and there are songs for it in English too. There’s no perfect offering. You can sing a song you know, or start humming a melody and see what words come.

Then simmer the cacao with water and spices like cinnamon, ancho chili and vanilla bean. Let it cool slightly and it’s ready. Chips and blocks still have their natural fats, so they’re creamy on their own. If you use cacao powder, swap the water for a creamy plant milk to make it easier to drink.

The Two Birds Church cacao recipe

• One part cacao chips to three parts almond milk (we get cacao in bulk)
• Simmer on the stove and stir with love until the cacao chips melt
• Add cinnamon and unrefined sugar to taste
• Pour into cups
• Sprinkle rose petals or lavender petals on top
• Serve to the community

What shapes a cacao ceremony

Cacao ceremonies are usually led by a facilitator with a group, though you can hold one for yourself. People often describe cacao as heart-centered: wherever there are feelings, it opens us up and lets us feel them. The feel of a gathering also depends on who leads it (a leader might bring a playful, loving, serious or deep energy), who makes it out that day, even the weather and the season.

There’s often a theme, too. A Winter Solstice cacao ceremony might take “going within” as its theme, since winter is a time for introspection, slowing down and hibernation. “Healing” might be the theme if there’s been a lot of chaos and people are looking for some peace.

Cacao on Sundays with us

Cacao is part of every Sunday Service at Two Birds Church in Anna, Texas. Service runs from 3 to 6pm and opens with cacao: for about the first 30 minutes we hang out and drink it together. Around 3:30 we sit down for a sharing circle on a prompt. After that comes meditation, sound, breathwork or movement, depending on the week.

In the circle we practice authentic listening, which means listening to understand instead of listening to reply. No advice-giving, no fixing. It helps people open up and feel heard.

On the last Sunday of the month we stay after service for a sober, family-friendly potluck. Bring a dish if you can.

Drinking cacao at home

At home you can drink cacao alone or with someone you love, and with a loved one it can be a very intimate experience. Set an intention before you drink, then see what happens. If you like, make a small altar with a few things that stand for your intention. If you want to connect with your ancestors, for example, you could set out their pictures.

You’ll need:

• Cacao chips or a block (about 40 to 50 grams)
• Water
• A stovetop or teapot
• A mug
• A sweetener if you like, such as honey, sugar or agave
• Optional: cinnamon, cayenne pepper or vanilla extract, to taste

The best cacao for drinking usually comes in chips or blocks, and you can find good ones that are organic and fair trade. Search online for “ceremony-grade cacao” to see what’s out there. Two Birds Church buys cacao in bulk from Ecuador, since we drink so much of it, so we keep bags of it at the church. Ask for one before or after a Sunday Service if you want some to take home.

Getting to know cacao

Like any relationship, your relationship with a plant deepens the more time you spend with it, and you may feel more connected to some plants than others. For some of us, cacao has become like a best friend: always there when we need it, helping us open up and see things from a different angle.

Whether you’ve had cacao with us before or you’re new, we’d love to have you. If you’re looking for a community to explore your spirituality with, and some delicious cacao, come to Sunday Service, 3 to 6pm in Anna. You can also see what else is coming up on our calendar.