The medicine of the heart
Cacao is a gentle plant medicine that was used many years ago by different ancient cultures from Meso- and South America, such as the Mayas, Aztecs and Machiguengas, to connect with the world and activate the heart space.
Cacao as a plant medicine entered my life in the middle of the pandemic, and it brought me deeply into my heart and from there guides me to walk my highest path.
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I had the opportunity to directly learn from cultures and traditions from Meso- and South America about their connection with cacao and received the guidance to bring this medicine to the busy, modern Western world. However, the deepest connection I found by sitting with the plant itself and let her guide me back to my own intuition and inner wisdom & knowing. This is what I would love to enable and empower you, too - to find back to all the guidance that waits inside of you, in your center.
What touches me deeply about the medicine of cacao is that it carries exactly the qualities and energies that I oftentimes miss in this busy world. Cacao is gentle and soft, warm and caring, understanding and supportive. It brings people from their overactive minds into their heart, grants them access to long-suppressed emotions and brings them together in open-hearted circles with other people
The energy of cacao is often described as healing, maternal and very gentle. This is why the plant medicine is also known as Mama Cacao in Spanish.
Mama Cacao carries the energy of unconditional love and joy. It supports us in building a loving connection with ourselves and others. It is therefore a perfect guide on the path to more self-compassion and self-love and can also help us to dive deeper in coaching sessions or in combination with breathwork.
A beautiful, heart-opening and deeply connecting ritual is a cacao ceremony. Based on ancient rituals, it nowadays often involves setting intentions, meditating, singing, dancing, sharing and opening the heart to all emotions in a protected circle. Want to dive into your own ritual? Find here some music to accompany you.
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I like to integrate cacao into my women's circles in and around Munich, where we come together in a non-judgemental circle, shed roles and masks and explore all facets of femininity. In ancient cultures, it is a tradition for women to come together in a circle to share, feel, celebrate and connect with our inner wisdom. How wonderful to bring this tradition back to life. For me personally, women's circles are a space for safety and to simply be.
Chocolate is a divine, celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea, and universal medicine.
— GERONIMO PIPERNI, QUOTED BY ANTONIO LAVEDÁN, SPANISH ARMY SURGEON, 1796
Tradition & Culture
Cacao was an integral part of the lives of the ancient Maya and Aztecs. It served as a drink and food, was used as a means of payment and was a companion in many spiritual ceremonies and rituals.
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Among the Maya, the consumption of cacao was a privilege for the elite, as it was considered the food of the gods and therefore a precious substance.
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Theobroma Cacao (Latin) literally means "food of the gods" (Thea (god), Broma (food), in combination with the Mayan word Ka'kau). What fascinated me when visiting Peru was meeting a tribe belonging to the Machiguenga, who explained that in their native language, cacao is called Sarigemineki, which also translates to fruit of the goods. Isn't it fascnating, how different cultures miles apart from each other come to the same naming convention?
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The oldest cacao beans thus far where found in the north of Peru. I was excited when connecting with Peruvians who are currently working on tracing back the breadcrumbs of their cultural heritage, to discover the deep connection and rituals that have existed over 5.000 years ago.
Cacao as your companion
Join me as we share this beautiful medicine and heart-opening rituals.
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No matter if it's a birthday, anniversary, farewell, new beginning or festival - cacao is a wonderful companion to honor and celebrate the little and big things in your life.
Contact me for your inquiry or join me for the next cacao circle.
Want to buy cacao for at home?
I am so excited to share with you that you can purchase a very grounding Cacao from Peru, the jungle of Cusco, from me. I have visited this region in March and November 2023, met Indigenous who live and grow cacao there to reconnect with their roots, and sat with the cacao trees while feeling the richness and abundance of the jungle. The Andean region has a very "earthy" energy, a deep connection with Pachamama (Mother Nature, Gaia) and the Chuncho Cacao that I am sharing with you holds this quality and energy.
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Contact me via heike@bitterle.de to place your order or ask any questions around this magical, healing plant medicine.
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Your own cacao ritual
Ready to dive into your own magical ritual?
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1. Prepare your place with smudging, blankets, pillows, soft music
2. Set your intention - everything is energy, and intentions are so supportive to focus your mind
3. Prepare your cacao, with your intention in your heart. Chop it, melt it (below 65 degrees), in filtered water, add your favourite spices, sing to your cacao
4. Get comfy, let Mama Cacao touch your heart and soul, feel how with every conscious sip your intention is sinking deeper into your heart and your whole system
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If you have any questions around creating a ritual, please send me a message.
Here is some music to accompany your journey within:
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Mindful consumption
Please be mindful with your body.
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The consumption of cacao in ceremonial doses (>30g) is not recommended for people who are taking antidepressants (cacao contains MAO inhibitors), who suffer from severe heart disease, have very high blood pressure or suffer from epilepsy. Raw cacao also contains histamine. Smaller amounts of cacao are recommended for pregnant women.
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Cacao supports detoxification and circulation. It's therefore crucial to listen to your body's needs by drinking sufficient water, allowing it to release any substances released by cacao.
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The theobromine found in cacao can induce a state of relaxed alertness, which is by the majority of people experienced as a lot more comfortable and softer than caffeine. This state can support your creative flow or inner calm for meditation. However, it might be helpful to consider refraining from consuming cacao at least four hours before bedtime or adjusting the dosage accordingly.
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Cacao can be genuinely dangerous for pets such as dogs, cats, or parrots. They cannot metabolize theobromine efficiently and can quickly overdose.
This is what rituals are for. We do spiritual ceremonies as human beings in order to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of joy or trauma, so that we don't have to haul those feelings around with us forever, weighing us down. We all need such places of ritual safekeeping.
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love