I love the word “ceremony” and am drawn to learning ways in which I can bring more ceremony into my life. Recently I talked with a man who traveled to Guatemala in 2003 and ended up staying. It was there that he started communicating with the spirit of cacao (yes, you read that right), who then guided him to create cacao for the western world, a world which, by and large, had forgotten about this sacred plant medicine. Cacao is known as a “super food” with all kinds of nutritional benefits. But it’s also known to open up the heart, provide clarity, and the ability to think more creatively. “Sign me up!” I thought. Fast forward to last month and tried my first cacao ceremony centered around abundance.
In truth, I made it up as I went along. In my mind, the most important thing was to infuse an energy of joy, faith, and a child-like wonder. I set up a small table and filled it with candles, crystals, angel figurines, my Kwan Yin figurine, a carved bear I had bought in Muir Woods, and some crisp five and ten-dollar bills to honor the energy of money. I closed the curtains, lit the candles, put on some Native American drumming and flute music, and even took out a drum I had bought a couple of years ago from a small metaphysical shop.
I’ve never had any formal drum lessons, but there is something so deeply satisfying about beating a drum. The sound vibrates through your whole body.
This brought up a memory of Kindergarten when we would have “music time.” All of my classmates would rush to a large box of instruments. There was a xylophone, maracas, tambourines, a recorder, and various other small instruments. But the most coveted instrument was the drum. We’d all bang away on our instruments, a cacophony of sounds with almost no rhythm. Back in present time, I laughed to myself as I tried to beat the drum to the music playing in the background.
I called in my Angels, Guides, Mother Mary, and any other spirits “here for my Highest good and the Highest good of all.” I saluted the four directions. I called in the spirits of Earth, Air, Fire & Water. I felt silly, but kept going. I talked with my unseen audience, explaining what I was doing and what I was hoping to accomplish, sipping on my cacao (much like hot chocolate) as I went. I danced, I drummed, I chatted, and sipped some more.
Before I knew it, I was bursting with happiness. I kept experiencing goosebumps which is my sign that my Angels and Guides are with me. I felt fully supported. I’ve done many cacao ceremonies since that first one and each time, although I feel silly, it’s not an embarrassed silly. It’s the kind of silly you experience with your best friend, where you can’t hold in giggles.
I thought I had been searching for ceremony. Turns out I was searching for silly.
Friends, if you know anyone struggling to bring more abundance (in all areas) of their personal life or business, please send them my way. I meet with clients for 4 sessions, and each session is tailored to their manifestation needs.
These are fun, yet powerful, “real world” teachings.
Dear Carol,
Wonderfully enlightening. Emancipation of The Divine Breadcrumb. You bring to life true nature and freedom. Kids don’t have to be taught to play a drum. AS a left-handed kind, being moved to use the right hand, I wish I had a set of drums! I was being taught to play Brahms Lullaby on a grand piano. A drum allow you to be in tune with another level of consciousness. The drums take a life of their own, driven by a heart beat of enlivened creativity. A drum replicates an an ever increasing heart beat as excitement and freedom joining the light of Angels, Guides and Mother Mary. Mary is, I know has a divine influence upon you. Something I feel rather special. Thought you were searching for ceremony when in fact it turned out being silly. Great!
Wonderful words, Carol. You do shine a bright light upon anyone reading this remarkable and uplifting essay.
Simon
Thank you for sharing a story from your own childhood, Simon. So special! I’m glad you enjoyed the essay. It’s always fun to go down memory lane. 🙂
Thank you, Byron! I agree! 🙂
Wonderful, (and wonderfully silly) stuff Carol, thanks for sharing. We all take ourselves much too seriously these days.
BE