What Is a Cacao Ceremony and Why We Open Our Retreats With One
The first time you attend a cacao ceremony, you may not know exactly what to expect. And I think that’s completely okay.
You don’t need to know anything about rituals, chakras, or meditation to participate. To me, a cacao ceremony begins with something much simpler: pausing, sharing an intention, and acknowledging that we’re entering a space together that feels different from our everyday lives.
That’s why I love beginning our retreats this way.
Long before cacao became something we ordered at cafés or a trend within the wellness world, it held deep cultural significance throughout Mesoamerica.
For different Mesoamerican peoples, including the Maya, cacao had social, economic, medicinal, and ritual uses. It appears in Mayan ceramics and texts, and we know it was used in ceremonial settings and during important celebrations.
For me, understanding that history changes the way we approach the practice.
What Actually Happens When We Drink Cacao?
There’s also a very physical side to the experience.
Cacao naturally contains several compounds, including theobromine, as well as minerals and polyphenols. Theobromine is a milder stimulant than caffeine and may contribute to the sense of energy and alertness some people experience after drinking cacao.
But a ceremony is about more than what happens chemically in the body.
What Does It Mean When We Say Cacao “Opens the Heart”?
Within yogic philosophy, Anahata, the heart chakra, is traditionally associated with qualities such as love, compassion, openness, and our capacity to connect with others.
So when we use the language of “opening the heart” during a cacao ceremony, I see it as an intention: allowing some of our defenses to soften, becoming more available to listen, giving ourselves permission to receive, and connecting with others from a more conscious place.
The cacao supports the moment. But the real opening comes from you.
Why We Begin Sacred Radiance This Way
When a group of women arrives at a retreat, each woman brings an entirely different world with her.
Some arrive excited. Others feel nervous. Some are traveling alone. Some arrive carrying personal questions they may not even know how to put into words yet.
I don’t expect a deep connection to happen instantly. That’s why the first ritual matters.
The cacao ceremony helps us mark the transition between “I just arrived” and “I’m here.”
We sit in a circle. We share cacao. We breathe. We set our intentions and begin getting to know one another without pressure. We don’t need to force an extraordinary experience.
We simply need to be present for the experience that’s actually unfolding.
And that principle carries through everything we do at Sacred Radiance.
Throughout our days together in Tulum, we continue exploring Kundalini Yoga, meditation, sound healing, and Mayan ancestral rituals, while also creating space to rest, have meaningful conversations, and connect as a community.
But I love that it all begins here: With a cup, with an intention, and with a group of women willing to be truly present.
Sacred Radiance 2026
Casa Coyote · Tulum, Mexico
November 11–15, 2026
If you’d like to experience a cacao ceremony within a space intentionally created for connection, reflection, and well-being, we invite you to discover Sacred Radiance 2026 and everything we’ve created for these five days together in Tulum.
