My journey with Ceremonial Cacao began in 2018, when my daughter was just 1.5years old. I was in the height of my sleep-deprivation years, trying to heal from the trauma of her birth and navigating life as a new mum.

I was definitely very lost. Having given birth at 38 years old, I really felt like I knew myself! How wrong could I be - Motherhood unraveled me and a whole new version of Emma was making her way out of the shadows!

So on this day back in 2019, I attended my first Womens Circle. I went with a new mum friend and everything felt right about being in that space. We sat in Circle together, relaxing and sharing, and the host then gave us each a cup of Ceremonial Cacao.

As a HUGE chocolate lover I was very excited to taste it, but I was also feeling a little anxious. Ceremonial Cacao is a Plant Medicine and these words scared me a bit.

(An intimate Cacao Ceremony for the Mothers in my BECOMING WILD programme closing Retreat)

Did this mean it was drugs 😳

I was terrified of drugs.

I've never tried them (nor wanted to) and I'd had a previous relationship with a Cocaine and Weed addict, which firmly cemented my deep aversion to them.

I was also aware of some of the great spiritual Gurus who had spoken openly about their 'awakening' during the 70's, as a result of their experience with psychedelics.

I didn't want to go on any kind of trip!

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I should also add at this point, that I don't drink coffee (it gives me the jitters and the shits!), I rarely drink alcohol, or take pharmaceutical drugs, so my body really doesn't do/know stimulants!!

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I was quickly reassured that this wasn't what Ceremonial Cacao was about.

Cacao is considered a heart Medicine, and when drank with intention, and in ceremony, it has a beautiful opening effect on our heart - I'll come to that and it's other positive effects more in a moment.

So I enjoyed my Cacao experience that day (it didn't taste like a hot chocolate though, it was sooo bitter. I've since found a brand that tastes SO good!), coming away from the Circle feeling softened, connected and relaxed.

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Then, when I moved to Folkestone in 2021 and I was trying to find my people, I attended a Cacao Ceremony and Sound Bath, this time feeling a lot less anxious and with no association to recreational drugs!

Again is was another beautiful and heart enriching experience, and I even took my husband and daughter along to the next one, which was really lovely.

Fast forward to today and Ceremonial Cacao is very much part of my life.

I drink it a couple of times a week and I use it as part of my offerings.

(My own personal Cacao Ceremony on one of the days Motherhood felt full and I needed to reconnect to myself and find more love, and compassion) 

SO WHAT IS CEREMONIAL CACAO?
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The brand I use is called Fly KAKAO. It's a non-profit and female owned (literally one incredible woman called Makenzie).

The Cacao is sourced from the jungle of Peru (a native strain called 'Chuncho') via direct trade (I thank the farmers and their family, whenever I drink it). A large part of KAKAO's non-profit mission is to help protect the native strains of cacao and support the communities which cultivate them.

It's made using the whole Cacao bean (unlike raw cacao powder you can now buy in supermarkets). This means it includes the cacao butter, which makes it taste a little sweeter and creamier and has a higher nutritional value (more nutritional info below), as well as a higher concentration of the plant compounds in it that elicit cacao's blissful and heart-opening effects.

I should also add here that CACAO is different to COCOA/drinking chocolate powder, which is highly processed, has very little of the original cacao bean in it and also contains sugar and milk powder.

KAKAO is traditionally stoneground (by hand) and minimally processed.

And what I love about this particular brand is that it also comes already in granular form ready to scoop (other ceremonial cacao comes as a block). This means, as a busy Mum, it's so much more accessible for me. Whilst I love the idea of delicately carving the block and slowly creating a paste as an extension of the ceremony, I simply don't have time for that - I've got snacks to provide, emotional regulation to deal with, and birthday parties to reply to, cartwheels to watch etc, etc.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CEREMONIAL CACAO?
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• Improved Mood
• Enhanced creativity
• Enhanced cognitive function (hello mum brain)
• Prolonged focus
• More energy - without the jitters or the crash (hello sleep-deprived Mamas)
• Relief from the effects of stress
• Relaxation (a calming of the nervous system)
• Easier access to emotions and feelings
• Deepened meditations and inner-work
• Euphoric connection to self, others, and nature
• An open and receptive heart
• Increased confidence in communication (hello asking for your needs)
• Feelings of bliss and connection
• Increased blood circulation and digestion
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Reading that list, it's as if Mama Cacao was designed to support Mothers! And I'll tell you something, with it's heart-opening qualities, I definitely have more compassion and patience with my daughter when I've had a cup of Cacao!

If you like to know the science behind that very positive list, here is some information about the compounds found in Ceremonial Cacao, and how they positively affect human physiology (taken directly from the KAKAO website):

1.  Theobromine: hence the scientific name, theobroma cacao. Theobromine is one of the finest members of an alkaloid class of compounds known as xanthines. Theobromine has been proven to lower blood pressure, increase serum HDL cholesterol (the good kind), and enhance lung functioning by opening up air vessels via smooth muscle relaxation. Theobromine also enhances cognitive function by increasing blood flow and oxygenation to the brain and doubles as an antioxidant capable of mitigating oxidative stress and reducing inflammation. For those that love to exercise, theobromine also blocks adenosine receptors, enabling a short-term increase in muscular contractility.
2.   Tryptophan: An essential amino acid and the sole precursor for the neurotransmitter serotonin, commonly known as the "feel-good chemical." Serotonin is well known for its ability to combat stress and improve our mood by promoting the feelings of comfort, contentment, happiness, and relaxation. Serotonin can also improve sleep, provide relief from the symptoms of depression and anxiety, modulate pain thresholds, and increase our sense of emotional well-being.
3.  Phenylethylamine (PEA): better known as "the love drug" for its association with infatuation, this is the compound your brain releases naturally when you're falling in love. PEA stimulates the central nervous system to release the body's natural opium-like compounds called endorphins. This is somewhat similar to the sensation of orgasm. PEA also signals the body to promote the sensation of alertness, focus, and mental acuity, all while elevating one's mood, speeding up metabolism, and boosting memory.
4.  Anandamide: Sanskrit word meaning the "bliss molecule," Anandamide is best known for its role in producing the feeling of happiness. Anandamide is an endogenous cannabinoid found naturally in cacao and the human brain. While anandamide won't leave you in a mind-altered state, its happiness producing effect does offer some protection against stress-related psychiatric diseases including major depression, generalised anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anandamide also plays a role in memory, appetite, sleep, and pain relief.
5.  Magnesium: every cell in the body contains this mineral and requires it to function. Magnesium helps increase energy, calms nerves, aids in digestion, and relieves muscle aches and pains (among a whole host of other benefits).
6.  Copper: a mineral required for biological processes such as iron transport, glucose metabolism, and infant growth and brain development.​
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So as a Mother who has suffered with trauma (and subsequent PTSD, PND), exhaustion, anxiety/frayed nervous system, brain fog, stress, low energy, sleep deprivation, resentment, anger and full blown rage - you can see why I'm rather fond of this natural Earth Medicine!!

(Mothers enjoying a Cacao Ceremony at my CHILLED MAMA Mini Retreat on the beach - precious child-free time to refill our cups, both metaphorically and literally!)

I would never use Cacao to substitute all the healing and nervous system work I have done/continue to do, however it is a great companion.

So if all this has left you feeling like you HAVE to try Cacao, it's important to note that it should be treated with the sacredness it is derived from (not the same as just chugging a cup of coffee on the go).

The best way to experience cacao for the first time is in Ceremony, guided by a leader who understands it's power and can hold sacred space, in order for you to be with your intention, and soften into your heart.

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IS CACAO SAFE DURING PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING?
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​I didn't discover Cacao until after my daughter was born, so I don't have any personal experience during Pregnancy, but I did breastfeed her until she was 6 years old, and have been drinking it for half of that time, and have found no negative impacts.

Ceremonial Cacao has a low level of caffeine in it - a full dose (40 grams) of ceremonial-grade cacao contains about 1/2 to 3/4 the amount of caffeine found in a black cup of coffee.

As I mentioned, I don't 'do' stimulants and have had no adverse effects from drinking it. I personally don't drink it everyday, but I know many people do and actually switch from Coffee to Cacao.

These words on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding come directly from the KAKAO website:​
​While we do know many moms who have safely consumed KAKAO throughout their entire pregnancy and while breastfeeding, we as a company cannot make recommendations as to what is safe for you and your baby.

We of course always encourage all mothers to check in with their intuition, in addition to inquiring with a licensed, holistic medical professional that you trust.

With all of this said, if you have been told that cacao is safe for you during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding, we feel very confident that KAKAO is a brand that can be trusted as the highest quality ceremonial-grade cacao as KAKAO exceeds the standards for both mold and heavy metal levels set by the FDA, EPA, USP, ATSDR, and California Proposition 65.

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Like many things in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding - it comes down to personal choice and what feels right for you ❤️

Emma xxxx

 Click here to Join my Beltane Cacao Ceremony on 4th May