Vanessa Ellen |

Cacao ceremonies can be held in so many different ways it really is down to the facilitator and what experience they are offering… from ecstatic dance to singing, relaxing meditation or sound journey. It could even be a sharing circle where everyone comes together to drink cacao and talk. The reason cacao can be delivered in so many ways is because it is heart medicine. It helps us to move out of our heads and come back to our heart. When we are operating from heart consciousness we are open to receive and give in the most loving, nourishing harmonious way.

No matter what the activity of the ceremony the thing they all have in common is the intention No matter what the activity of the ceremony the thing they all have in common is the intention of connection. To enable the people who are coming to receive the cacao to enter, an energetic and physical space of comfort, non-judgment, and open-heartedness. A place for one to really be who one truly is, or if need be to discover who one is.

A ceremony is a place of presence, it calls for stillness and silence allowing one to let go of the fast jumble of mind, all the stresses and thoughts of the day or future projections. Instead allowing one to step out of the flow of mind and enter the space of cacao.

Most ceremonies will start with everyone coming together, becoming quite, connecting with the breath, becoming present, then connecting with the cacao and the reason they are at the ceremony, setting intentions. This is the perfect opportunity to distress from the day and to give self full permission to only focus on the ceremony giving the mind a wonderful rest.

Most Cacao ceremonies are focused on combining the heart opening aspects of cacao with other holistic activities. Which is perfect as the cacao can often be the invitation one needs to step past fear and discover what lies beyond. I personally facilitate cacao and singing circles, I find the cacao really helps the group to focus on connecting with the songs and their voices from a feeling perspective rather than a performance-based stance. then they worry less about how they sound and rather enjoy singing and experience sound and felt sensation, there can often be laughter and tears as this new found joy is realized.

Cacao and movement is another perfect combination and the cacao can really help us connect with our bodies, worrying less about what we look like to others and more about how we feel within ourselves. Allowing us to explore more fully or bodies and self-expression. This is also true for energy work, breath work, tantra, and any intimacy work/workshops. Cacao really can help peel back the layers and the mind chatter until all that is left is love.

Cacao with a sound journey experience is a beautiful way to relax and go within to receive clarity of vision again as it helps reduce the mind noise and help us focus on feeling and experiencing with our hearts, to really receive the healing vibrations of the sounds being created and allowing these vibrations to guide our thoughts and intuition in a way that is aligned to our heart also know as our highest good.

From years of working in ceremonies with sacred plants and Amazonian frog medicine, I have really learned to appreciate the power of a sharing circle and cacao is a perfect facilitator for this too, again it enables us to speak more freely from the heart. There is great healing in being able to speak one’s truth without judgment, to be heard and to witness others sharing from this beautiful space of vulnerability, it is through sharing our deep emotional landscape that we can connect and gain true insight that we are all here having a shared experience; feeling our emotions, going through ups downs, transitions and metamorphosis, we really are all one and we are all doing our best. We all want the same thing… to be, experience, feel and give love.

Love,

Vanessa

For more information on running cacao ceremonies please visit
houseofcacao.com
vanessaellen.com/cacao
Instagram: house.of.cacao
Vanessa offers one to one training via zoom web chat, personal retreats in Costa Rica
She really is here to empower you with your journey into the world of cacao and sacred plant medicine.
email:
vanessa@vanessaellen.com

About The Author

Vanessa’s life today is one continuous expression of service in supporting others to connect deeply with their own hearts through the many vibrations of love, harmony, and cacao. Her journey has gone from a life in design and advertising to a pivotal moment of awakening that now has her deep in the MYSTERY SCHOOL OF THE NATURE OF ALL LIFE.

After experiencing a bout of depression she knew she had to make a change. Various poignant moments of spiritual realizations lead her to Africa, India, Portugal, America, Australia and Costa Rica where she now resides.

“When we embody the vibration of love, all can be healed and we become whole.” – Vanessa Ellen, Founder of House of Cacao Vanessa faced her fears and committed to a journey of self-healing, her deep intrigue for ancient cultures lead her to study, Paganism, Gnosis, Hinduism, other religions, cultures and healing modalities, receiving a spiritual awakening deep to her core during a sound bath turned her on to the power of sound & vibration. It was this moment that she recognised the depth and power of sound and its vibration and how it has been used in ancient civilizations to change matter, to transcend emotional states, to literally create worlds. Thus began Vanessa’s quest to understand human existence and deep intrigue for the lost and hidden wisdom of tribal medicine and ceremony. Her kundalini awakening, where she describes it as sitting in the arms of God, lead her to becoming a Kambo medicine practitioner, from there she would embark on a two-year-long emersion with Ayahuasca and other plant medicines become a guardian and space holder for ceremonies. Spirit Guided her to move forward with Cacao, to serve and teach all about this beautiful heart medicine.

Vanessa’s deep commitment to change has demonstrated the absolute power of vibration, thought, and sound. Using modalities of Cacao, Energy, Meditation, Conscious movement, Vibrational sounds & healing tones, Mantras, Plant medicine, and Empathy. She embodies the energies of Light Vibration, Mary Magdalene, Kali, Nature and Plants Spirits, Vanessa offers a true conscious shift through her work. In knowing the truth of her own existence she can bring you closer to yours.