Welcome to your Cacao and Cellomedicine Ceremony.  

This is a heart opening experience that blends the ancient plant medicine of ceremonial cacao with deep, resonant live cello. For thousands of years Indigenous Maya and Aztec civilizations, consumed cacao in a bitter, spicy elixir mixed with water, chili peppers, and cornmeal to invoke physical vitality and spiritual clarity for all major spiritual rituals, royal ceremonies. As well, the beans were used as a currency more valuable than gold. 

Today we invite you into sacred space not to replicate ancient indigenous rituals exactly, but rather honor their lineage by using unrefined, sustainably sourced beans to reconnect modern communities with nature and themselves, empowered with the added scientific knowledge that raw cacao contains several healing compounds including Theobromine ( Theobroma from Greek meaning “food of the gods”). We visited and sourced our cacao from the farm where this potent cacao is grown in the rich volcanic soil of Ometepe island, Nicaragua, and lovingly prepare the beverage with traditional recipes.

What to Expect 

A cacao and cello ceremony is an internal journey unique to each person, but typically lasting 3-5 hours and peaking at 1-2 hours. We will open the space with breathwork and shared intentions, drink the cacao mindfully, then get comfortable while live music supports deep relaxation and release. Integration could include journaling, gentle movement, or sharing insights in a circle. 

Some physical and emotional phases you might experience:

• Warmth and Circulation: Within 20 minutes of drinking physical sensation of warmth in the chest and a slight increase in heart rate as blood flow increases by up to 30%.
• Nervous System Reset: Sound vibrations and magnesium shift your body out of “fight-or-flight” and into a deeply relaxed state.
• Emotional Amplification: Cacao acts as an emotional amplifier rather than a hallucinogen. Emotions, memories, or creative insights might gently surface, making them easier to process.
• Vibrational Somatic Release: The cello’s low frequencies can physically vibrate the tissue in the body. Participants often report feeling the music “washing over” specific areas where they hold stress or grief, helping to physically shake it loose.
• The “Afterglow”: As the ceremony concludes, participants typically feel grounded, mentally clear, and deeply connected to themselves and the room around them. 

Dietary Preparation

How participants prepare their bodies significantly impacts how they absorb the cacao and experience the cello frequencies.

• Fast Lightly: Eat a light meal 2 to 3 hours before the ceremony. Avoid heavy, greasy, or large meals, as a full stomach slows down the absorption of the cacao.
• Hydrate Well: Cacao is a natural diuretic. Drink plenty of water throughout the day leading up to the session, and bring a water bottle to the ceremony.
• Skip Caffeine: Avoid coffee or energy drinks for at least 4 to 6 hours beforehand. Cacao contains stimulants; mixing it with caffeine can cause jitters, anxiety, or a racing heart. 
• Avoid Alcohol and Dairy: Do not consume alcohol the day of the ceremony. Avoid dairy products for a few hours before, as dairy blocks the body’s ability to absorb the beneficial flavonoids and nutrients in cacao. 
• Dosage: A standard ceremonial dose is roughly 25–40 grams of pure cacao paste.
• Precautions: Use caution or lower doses if you are pregnant, have a severe heart condition, or take high blood pressure or antidepressant medications (due to theobromine and MAOI properties). 

More about the Chemical Compounds in Ceremonial Cacao

Ceremonial cacao is a potent biochemical cocktail that naturally alters brain and body chemistry to create a state of relaxed alertness and emotional openness. 

• Theobromine: The primary stimulant in cacao. Unlike caffeine, which spikes the nervous system, theobromine dilates blood vessels and increases circulation, offering sustained, jitter-free energy. 
• Anandamide: Known as the “bliss molecule.” This neurotransmitter binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, naturally mimicking the feeling of deep joy, ease, and well-being. 
• PEA (Phenylethylamine): Often called the “love chemical.” The brain releases PEA when we fall in love, boosting focus, lifting mood, and heightening sensory awareness. 
• Tryptophan & Serotonin: Cacao contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid the body uses to manufacture serotonin, the brain chemical responsible for emotional stability and happiness. 
• Magnesium: One of the richest plant-based sources of magnesium, which immediately relaxes skeletal muscles and calms a racing nervous system. 

Medical Contraindications & Safety Warnings

While ceremonial cacao is a safe, gentle plant medicine for most people, its chemical compounds (specifically theobromine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors) require caution for certain medical conditions.

• Antidepressants (SSRIs / MAOIs): Cacao contains tryptophan and low levels of MAOIs, which naturally increase serotonin. If combined with high-dose pharmaceutical antidepressants, it can occasionally cause headaches or mild serotonin imbalances. Participants on these medications should request a half or “homeopathic” dose. 
• Heart Conditions: Theobromine significantly increases heart rate and dilates blood vessels. Anyone with a serious heart condition, severe cardiac arrhythmia, or unmanaged high blood pressure should consume a very small dose or skip the drink entirely. 
• Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: Cacao is generally safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding but in smaller amounts. Theobromine crosses the placenta and enters breast milk, acting like a mild stimulant to the baby. A half-dose is highly recommended.
• Allergies Please let us know if you have any food allergies. The beverage typically includes cacao, coconut, chili, vanilla and spices.