MENU
Let Mama Cacao and the Gongs open your heart to joy and the infinite possibilities of Life.
Wowzer! I had a feeling they'd love each other.... after all, they both embody a high frequency consciousness.... and yet really, truly I had no idea about the combined magik they could create....
And so it was last weekend that I introduced the plant medicine, Mama Cacao to Sound-Well's gongs. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who joined me, you were amazing! Each and everyone of you brought presence, curiosity, open-heartedness, authenticity and honesty to the process. What an uplifting experience and a pure joy to witness and be a part of. 'Thank you!'
Thank you also for the flower offerings. The gongs loved being decorated with the crimson camelia. It was a beautiful way to honour them whilst introducing a new consciousness into the space. And it felt as if they absorbed and amplified the Spirit of Mama Cacao. Powerful and gentle all at the same time.
✨ "Ceremony" is the act of making something sacred.
For those of you already familiar with Sound-Well events, you will know I include ceremony and ritual whenever I can! Whether it is the lighting of a candle, energetic spatial cleansing, invocation of angels, spirit guides and Ascended Masters, playing of the gongs or grounding with chai at the end – it all takes place within a sacred space that has been created with the intention of aligning all present with the divine energy of Life – Love – All That Is.
I believe creating sacred space enhances our lives. It provides us with a place of peace and sanctuary – which I talk about in my blog: Creating Sacred Space at Home - Why You Need It & How To Create Some (sound-well.co.uk)
I realise that for some people, words such as ‘sacred’ and ‘divine’ may feel loaded but truly the words aren't important. It's the feeling that matters.
Rituals are a series of consistent, meaningful actions that help us feel more connected to a presence greater than ourselves - whether it be Source, God, Universe, Divine Being, Nature, Love, whatever you may call it.
✨ Rituals provide a sense of comfort, peace and connection to ourselves, our environment, and our communities, and help us feel more in control in what can sometimes feel like a chaotic and often brutal world.
✨ They come in many forms, from lighting a candle honouring sacred moments, to intricate ceremonies with rites, symbols, and words. It can be a morning meditation, physical practice, going for a walk, or simply sitting in silent contemplation to prepare for the day.
Without sharing too much detail, Sunday’s Cacao Ceremony began by creating a circle in which all participants could gather. We practiced the art of setting clear intentions – something that sounds simple enough but which in itself can create resistance from within if there’s a sense of not deserving what is wanted.
This was followed by sharing the story of Cacao, including some of the mythology and history of this ancient plant medicine, a little magik and afterwards we shared and drank the cacao together.
The soft, rich, velvety texture of the cacao has an earthiness in both smell and taste and whilst sweetener was available, in essence we shared hot chocolate in its purest form.
The cacao ceremony was captivating and drinking the cacao gave me a warm feeling of contentment. I came away feeling very relaxed and even more sure of my new path in life, thank you. Suzanne
People then relaxed into the warm comfort of their nests and bedding brought with them and the sound bath began.
Afterwards we shared gong chai, apple and chocolate dates as people gently came back to earth before sharing what they had received and would take away from the experience.
"I came into Alex's Cacao Ceremony feeling dulled by life, not realising how closed-up my heart was feeling until it warmed and opened under the influence of the cacao! In the safe and welcoming space of the cacao ceremony I could feel myself uncurling, going from tightly wound to relaxed and able to breathe freely again. It was then the sounds of the gongs and other instruments could get to my heart to rearrange and realign things, so that the next day I am happier and more in love with being alive. Thank you to Alex, the cacao and the gongs!" Laurie
Everyone present, seemed to leave enlivened. To see how people physically became lighter and more filled with their own joy was beautiful to witness.
For me personally, the whole day was expansive, enlightening and beautiful… such a blessing to then step out into nature under blue skies and a dipping sun – and to feel the universal love and oneness of All That Is.
Cacao is considered a super-food that contains many amazing benefits for both physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing. Recently, it has found its way into the mainstream as an alternative to confectionery chocolate.
Ceremonial-Grade Cacao is wild-harvested, non GMO, fairly traded, organically grown, and benefits all stakeholders. Pure ceremonial-grade Cacao Liquor is made from the highest quality beans that have been very lightly roasted and ground into a paste. There is nothing added to the mixture - this is pure 100% ceremonial Cacao
Used as a food, a medicine, and a currency, Cacao has been cultivated throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America since the Early Formative Period (1900-900 BC). Cacao was so highly valued that the ancient native peoples celebrated it, immortalising its place in their society through oral history, stonework, pottery, etc., and chronicling its use in rituals and everyday life.
In recent years, Cacao as a superfood has been gaining popularity and more mainstream attention because people are beginning to realise it's important medicinal and wellbeing properties.
* Cacao is the highest ranking food, as a source of antioxidants on the ORAC scale, 40 times the amount of blueberries.
* Cacao that is used to produce cocoa products contains high levels of flavonoid antioxidants said to be effective in preventing heart disease, strokes and cancer.
* Cacao is also one of the highest food sources of magnesium, the relaxer mineral. Magnesium fights acid buildup, neutralises toxins, reduces pain, and builds strong bones and teeth. It also contains high amounts of minerals such as iron, chromium, zinc, and copper, which all contribute towards a balanced healthy system.
* Cacao is also a rich source of stress-fighting tryptophan, an amino acid that gets turned into the neurotransmitter serotonin and then converted into the hormone melatonin.
* Cacao has over 300 compounds, many of which help to positively alter a person's mood, and specifically contains Serotonin, Dopamine and Anandamide - the Bliss Molecule.
* Cacao boosts the body’s natural production of serotonin, increasing our mood and ability to fend off stress. It plays a key role in dopamine production that increases our alertness, learning, creativity, satisfaction, attention and concentration levels; Anandamide induces feelings of wellbeing and states of heightened happiness, while improving memory, motivation, higher thought processes and movement control.
* Cacao also contains Phenethylamine (PEA), that we naturally produce in our bodies when we fall in love. This is likely one of the main reasons why love and chocolate have such a deep connection.
Cacao has many amazing, life-affirming qualities that support health and psychological wellbeing. It is a heart-centred anchor so that wherever one is going, it is with more love and less fear.
She is a powerful Plant Medicine that helps us release emotional blockages that no longer serve us, find forgiveness in ourselves and others, and shows us the way forward if we are stuck or afraid of making the necessary life changes in order to move on. Cacao enables us to access and release past conditioning along with patterns of behaviour and addictions that are buried deep in the unconscious.
All ages, from children to elders can enjoy the uplifting and healing benefits of cacao.
However, whilst cacao is generally safe to drink and not a typical allergen, there are some contraindications to be aware of. If any of the following apply to you, please let me know before booking an event so I can be sure to offer you an amount that works best for your health and wellbeing at this time:
1. Cacao contains caffeine, (same amount as green tea and less than coffee) so bear this in mind if you are sensitive to caffeine.
2. Cacao also contains an amino acid called tryptophan. This is the precursor to serotonin, (the neurotransmitter in charge of your mood and a commonly prescribed anti-depressant). If mixed with cacao and depending on dosage, it can create some unpleasant side effects (headaches). For this reason, please let me know if you need a smaller, homeopathic dose of cacao so you can enjoy the benefits without overdoing it.
3. If you have a diagnosed heart condition.
None of these mean you can't drink a small amount of cacao and benefit from having the healing frequencies and energy of this plant medicine in you.
Drinking a small amount of cacao in pregnancy has not been shown to have any harmful effects.
If you’re uncertain whether or not cacao or a sound bath is right for you, best to check with your doctor first.
Since my 8-day immersive learning about and experiencing Cacao from the inside out, I have personally felt a subtle yet powerful shift in both my outlook and my general sense of wellbeing. I am more in-tune with my own inner guidance and intuition. I feel more relaxed and joyful, more trusting of Life’s flow, more confident and more sure of my own inner resources to both create, express and navigate Life’s challenges. I am more able to acknowledge my qualities and strengths with a grounded sense of rootedness and authenticity. I feel excited about Life and the unfolding adventure. I wake up smiling and look forward to each day in a way that I remember feeling as a child. In short, I feel renewed, invigorated and enlivened!
There is no doubt, a cacao ceremony is a powerful opportunity to commune directly with the gentle loving spirit of Cacao where you get to open your heart, heal emotional wounds, release old and stale blockages and hear the guidance and wisdom from within to move forward in Life with more ease and Grace.
I have experienced for myself, how Cacao and the Gongs can help to release emotional blockages and echoes of painful past experiences around the heart. And how when absorbed with mindful presence and intention they can both dissolve negative energy, lift depression, and help realign people with their own natural flow and inner harmony.
The healing, high frequencies of Cacao and the Gongs are subtle yet powerful - leading us into making small, simple changes that can make a big difference in our lives. From eating healthier, exercising and relaxing more, being creative to nurturing ourselves more often - these sacred beings and their uses can help us remember, that it is also the small steps that lead to big life changes over time.
For more information and to book a private session please email here.
And to view or book any upcoming sound baths, cacao ceremonies and retreats please visit our Events Page
