Ceremonial Cacao is a special type of cacao that is minimally processed, retaining more of its natural qualities compared to regular cocoa or chocolate products. It's typically made from high-quality, organic cacao beans that are carefully fermented and dried. Unlike mass-produced chocolate, Ceremonial Cacao is not roasted at high temperatures and often does not contain sugar or dairy.

It's often used in traditional rituals and ceremonies, particularly in indigenous cultures in Central and South America, where cacao has been regarded as a Sacred Plant with spiritual and healing properties.

Ceremonial Cacao is consumed as a warm drink, sometimes mixed with spices, and is regarded for having mood-enhancing, heart-opening, and energizing effects. It's often used in meditation, healing practices, or as a tool to foster connection with oneself and others.

Participating in a ceremonial cacao ceremony can offer a variety of emotional, mental, and physical benefits. People choose to participate in these ceremonies for several reasons:

• Emotional and Spiritual Healing: Cacao is often regarded as a heart-opening substance, believed to help individuals release emotional blockages, tap into deeper feelings, and foster a sense of connection. The ritual of drinking ceremonial cacao can create a space for introspection and healing.

• Meditative and Mindful Experience: The ceremony is typically accompanied by meditation, intention-setting, or prayer. This creates an opportunity for deep reflection, mindfulness, and a heightened sense of presence. Many people report feeling more centered and connected to their inner selves after participating in a ceremony.

• Community and Connection: Ceremonial Cacao is often consumed in a group setting, creating a sense of unity and shared experience. It's a way to bond with others, whether for spiritual growth or social connection. The ceremony fosters a safe and supportive space for open, vulnerable conversations.

• Energizing and Heart-Opening Effects: The natural compounds in cacao, such as theobromine, can stimulate the body and mind, providing a gentle boost of energy and focus without the jitteriness associated with caffeine. The ceremony can enhance clarity and creativity, while also encouraging emotional openness and joy.

• Connection to Tradition: For many, participating in a cacao ceremony is a way to honor ancient traditions and connect with the cultural significance of cacao, particularly its importance in indigenous Mesoamerican cultures.

• Holistic Health Benefits: In addition to the spiritual and emotional aspects, ceremonial cacao has physical benefits. It contains antioxidants, magnesium, and other nutrients that support cardiovascular health, mood regulation, and overall well-being.

People participate in cacao ceremonies to experience a deeper connection to themselves, others, and the present moment, while also benefiting from the emotional, spiritual, and physical properties of cacao.

The ceremony is facilitated by Amaru Zitlallinikue from Guided By Grandma.

To learn more about Amaru, you can read her story by Clicking Here.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to us via our Contact Page.

Amaru is mostly based between New York City and South Florida

She travels often to Peru and Mexico.

We have brought ceremonies and healing work to many places including New York City, Upstate NY, Boston, Western Mass, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Asheville, Kansas City, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Northern California, Mount Shasta, etc…

If you’d like Amaru to travel to your city for a Cacao Ceremony, please get in touch via the Contact Form.

We also hold virtual Cacao Ceremonies online via Zoom (Group and Private)

Feel free to inquire about private ceremonies either in person or on Zoom,

The ceremony is always different based on the group, location, intention and season.

However, here are some elements that we tend to work with:

• Ceremonial Cacao - We ask that everyone drink the cacao together, since it is a Cacao Ceremony

• Hapéh (optional - we will share more about this medicine in person)

• Sananga (optional - we will share more about this medicine in person)

• Mapacho (optional - we will share more about this medicine in person)

• Singing, drumming, music (Feel free to bring your instruments, if you play them. You are NOT required to sing. But you are welcome to join in, if you’d like to.)

• Meditation - guided by the facilitator

• Breathwork - guided by the facilitator

• Reiki - guided by the facilitator

• Somatic movement - guided by the facilitator

• Sharing circle - guided by the facilitator

EVERYTHING in the ceremony is optional and consensual. We share the purpose of each medicine, the intention, and the proper use. If you have never heard of hapéh, sananga, or mapacho that is okay! They are OPTIONAL and we will tell you about them in a clear way before we offer them to you.

All of our work is gentle and mindful. Please read our testimonials here.

We hold group Cacao Ceremonies in public event spaces - Such as a yoga studio, for example.

However, we also work with individuals privately, as well as private group ceremonies for events, gatherings and special occasions such as birthdays, engagements, weddings, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, baby showers, life celebrations, etc…

We do not mix Cacao with alcohol, so please be mindful that these ceremonies are alcohol-free, conscious gatherings.

The upcoming schedule is listed on our website: Cacao Ceremonies

If you’d like to join us at a future ceremony:

1. Please subscribe to our email list using the form at the bottom of this page

2. Reach out to us on our Contact Page

3. Connect with us via Instagram: @GuidedByGrandma

We recommend coming to the cacao ceremony in a similar way that you’d arrive to a yoga class.

Do not arrive hungry, yet try not be too full… You want to have space (literally and metaphorically!) for the cacao.

The cacao can be energizing, so we recommend not drinking caffeine about 3-4 hours before the ceremony, depending on how sensitive you are. Cacao can also be dehydrating, so make sure to drink enough water throughout the day leading up to the ceremony.

Dress comfortable and in layers, and be ready to potentially sit on the floor.

Always feel free to bring a yoga mat, meditation cushion and/or blanket, if you have them - We will provide them IF we have access to them however that depends on the location of the gathering.

It’s always a great idea to bring a personal water bottle, notebook, pencil, instruments that you play, and sacred objects that you may work with, like feathers or crystals, for example.

Flowers for the shared Altar are always welcome. Not required, but if you have the time and budget to pick some up, we always appreciate it!

Some of our ceremonies require additional items. For example, at our Dia de los Muertos Ceremony, we asked all participants to bring a white candle, photos of their ancestors, and marigold flowers.

Feel free to ask us if there are any specialty items to bring to the specific ceremony you are joining us for. Every ceremony is different based on the group, location, intention & season.

Cacao does not have any contraindications however please let us know if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on a prescription medication. If you happen to be on an SSRI or MAOI, it is okay, but we’d like to give you a smaller dose of cacao.

Please always be honest with us so that together, we can help you make the best choices.

Cacao Ceremonies are gentle, yet powerful.

They are for anyone who is interested.

No previous experience is required. We only ask that you come with an open mind, open heart, no expectations and deep respect for the process and the space.

There is no contraindication with Ceremonial Cacao, however we always like to be aware if someone is pregnant, breastfeeding, or on prescription medication.

If you are taking an SSRI or MAOI, it is recommended to take a smaller dose of cacao and to drink water during the day leading up to the ceremony, as ceremonial cacao can be dehydrating.

Cacao contains caffeine, so it is recommended not to drink additional caffeinated beverages within a few hours before ingesting cacao.

Arrive to the ceremony with an open heart, open mind, and no expectations.

When approaching any plant medicine ritual, it’s good to arrive with a sense of curiosity, humility, gratitude and respect.

No one can tell you how or what you will feel. That is between you and the spirit of the cacao…

We do our best to start on time, so please arrive on time. We also do our best to end on time, but please know that we are on spirit time, and it’s possible to end slightly before or after. Please communicate with us if you have a strict time restriction.

The best way to contact us is through the contact page on our website: Contact Page

You can also connect with us on Instagram and send us a DM: @GuidedByGrandma

If you do not hear back from us in 24-48 hours, it is okay to ping us again.

Please note that sometimes we travel for extensive periods of time where we do not have access to internet service. In those cases, we try to leave a note somewhere… But if we don’t, please do not take it personally if we are not able to respond to you in a timely manner.

Our Cacao Ceremonies are a safe space.

Please respect the wellbeing and privacy of everyone who joins us in ceremony.

If someone shares something personal or sensitive, it should go without saying not to repeat what anyone has shared.

We must honor everyone’s vulnerability.

Please silence your phone and make sure it won’t vibrate. Better to turn it off completely or put it on Do Not Disturb. Please do not take any photos during the ceremony. We can take photos before or after, but not during.

It should also go without saying - please DO NOT touch anyone else UNLESS it is during a guided exercise where the type of touch has been discussed (example: Reiki) and both partners involved give clear CONSENT.

DO NOT bring any alcohol or other types of street drugs to our events.

Our gatherings are sober and conscious. We do not mix alcohol or drugs with the Ceremonial Cacao, Hapéh or Sananga plant medicines.

Our ceremonies are known to be fun and enjoyable. We like to laugh and infuse humor into the work. However, they are not “parties.” They are guided rituals that may include different forms of meditation, energy work, singing, music, movement and the sharing of elevated thoughts, concepts and ideas.

To be clear - Ceremonial Cacao is not a psychedelic, however please do not underestimate the power of this gentle, heart-opening medicine.

During the ceremony, it is normal for people to release tears and emotions. Please do your best to refrain from saying things like, “Don’t cry.” That is common conditioning from childhood, and we are here to transcend those outdated patterns.

If someone is crying or releasing emotion, we think that’s great, and we let them go through it without judgement. Please do not touch them. Let them be so that they can move through the emotion uninterrupted.

The only way out is through.

It’s customary in our society to be afraid of our emotions, and the emotions of others, however, in this space, we allow people to release whatever has been stored.

With that said, please always be mindful of your emotions. We ask you to consider everyone else in the shared space and not to scream, yell, or display any type of aggressive behaviors.

There is always a balance, and we want to find the balance, and keep the space harmonious.

If you need to yell or release something in a physical way, please schedule a private ceremony, where you can have the personal space to go deep in that way…

In group settings, it’s important to be mindful of the collective and considerate of others.

Together, we work to create an environment of safety, freedom, respect, truth and healing.

Being in a group ceremonial setting teaches us a lot about what it means to be a good neighbor, and how to be a unique individual while still being a considerate member of the collective whole.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

If you are moving through something that is very big and need additional support, we are aware of other resources and we can refer you to the best practitioner for your particular situation at this time.

We work with 100% natural Ceremonial Grade Cacao from Colombia

The Cacao is from the Sierra Nevada Region, prepared by the Arhuaco People.

The Cacao is 100% Natural, Single Origin, Fair Trade, Vegan, Gluten Free, Sugar Free and No Additives

Yes, if you’d like to purchase cacao, please email us via our contact page.

We work with 100% natural Ceremonial Grade Cacao from Colombia

The Cacao is from the Sierra Nevada Region, prepared by the Arhuaco People.

The Cacao is 100% Natural, Single Origin, Fair Trade, Vegan, Gluten Free, Sugar Free and No Additives.

If you’d like to read a few of our testimonials, you can do so by Clicking Here.

If you have sat with us in ceremony before, and would like to share your experience you can reach us via our Contact Page.

Thank you. Gracias. Irake. Mitakuye Oyasin. Tlazocamati. Pamparios. Haux haux. Ihuuuu! Ometeotl.